| We children to
whom sex was a hush-hush affair became curious and were naturally amused by these strange
sexual exhibitions. We wondered how the pilgrims who observed vrata or abstention for days
together before the festival and were on their way to offer prayers before the Goddess
could indulge in such obnoxious things. To this day
no satisfactory explanation is offered regarding the rationale of this strange and
controversial custom. It is just contended that eroticism has always been a part of Hindu
religion, its literature and sculpture and that is all there is to it.
Another ritual, which we as children heard with horror, was
the large-scale sacrifice of cocks in this temple during the Bharani festival. It is said
that the heads of the cocks were severed by a sharp knife and blood spilt on two stones.
The practice is now mercifully stopped but for these reasons the awe and wonder in which
we held this unique temple never ceased. |
