భారతదేశంలో జనరల్ కౌన్సిల్ యొక్క మిషన్ ఫీల్డ్

English original (OCR)

CHAPTER III

THE GENERAL COUNCIL'S MISSION FIELD INDIA

TurN map India and trace the coast-line from Cape Comorin Calcutta. About half-way between these two points you will cross the mouths the Godavery River, one of the twelve sacred streams India. The counties, called ""taluks, " which are situated the right side the Vasista branch the river, flows the sea, belong the Kistna, those the left side, the Godavery district the Madras Presidency. The territory which claimed and worked our foreign missionaries embraces parts both these districts, the whole field having approximate area 3370 square miles, which slightly larger than the State Connecticut. The estimated population for whose christianization feel ourselves responsible numbers about two and half millions. Two other missions, both them Baptist missions, are work the Godavery delta; and third, conducted the Church Missionary Society with its center Ellore, about half-way between Guntur and Rajahmundry, carries its work the boundary line our Mission. The Plymouth Brethren Mission, centered Narsapur, was established few years before our own, the Canadian (Ontario and Quebec) Baptist Mission, centered Coconada, several years after our own (1874). number the inland taluks are claimed and worked exclusively our Mission, others along the coast by the Canadian Baptist Mission, while several are worked in part our Mission and part one both the Baptist missions. The field our Telugu Mission divided into mission dis- tricts, designated the names the towns which the mis- sionaries charge the district-work reside, the names of the taluks which comprise their respective districts, fol- lows: Rajahmundry, Korukonda, Jaggampet, Samulkot, Dowlaishwaram, east the river; and Tallapudi, Tadepalli- 156

English original (OCR)

THE GENERAL COUNCIL'S MISSION FIELD INDIA 157

gudem, Bhimawaram and Narsapur districts, west the river. Each missionary confines his work the district districts over which exercises supervision. The climate South India tropical. The Godavery delta is parallel line with Southern Mexico and Porto Rico. During the cool season, which begins October and ends February, the average temperature about 80° Fahrenheit. In March the winds from the south bring ever-increasing heat, until May, the hottest month, the temperature rises to 115° even 120° the shade. During the hot season the American European must carefully avoid over-exposure the direct rays the sun. The wisest course escape the hills for midsummer vacation, thing which most the missionaries do. June the winds from the southwest bring rain-bearing clouds, and about the end the month the rainy season begins. This does not mean that there daily rain, but only that this the season during which there rain. This season continues about the middle September, when the sun crosses the equator. After month practically rain, the northeast monsoon begins to blow, continuing for about month this part the country, with varying quantity rainfall. The soil the Godavery delta alluvial deposit, the natural fertility which enhanced extensive system of canals below the anicut dam, built across the Godavery River Dowlaishwaram, forty miles from the mouth the river and five miles from Rajahmundry. fertility and wealth the Godavery delta surpassed but one other district the Madras Presidency. The larger portion the population engaged the culti- vation the soil and kindred pursuits. Rice and grain are the chief products. Bananas, cocoanuts and other tropical fruits are extensively grown. The instruments and methods cultivation are very primitive. The ordinary plow the native farmer nothing but crooked piece hard wood pointed the end with sharpened iron bar. pulled over the ground pair oxen until the iron point has scratched and loosened the soil several inches deep. the

English original (OCR)

158 THE TELUGU MISSION THE GENERAL COUNCIL

time harvest the ripened grain cut down with sickle, trodden out cattle the fields, winnowed the wind and carried baskets the heads shoulders the farm hands to the places storage market. The majority the farmers are practically serfs the employ wealthy land- holders called zemindars, they are financial bondage to money-lenders. The home the average villager mud-walled, thatch- roofed, earthen-floored hut one two low rooms, which frequently cattle, fowl and other domestic animals, well the members the family, are housed. few brass earthen pots for cooking rice storing water, and several mats, made of bamboo palm leaves, spread the floor serve beds, are the only furniture. rule children wear clothing until they are three four years age. For boys scanty garments made from the cheapest cotton fabrics are provided. The usual garment the women single piece cheap, light material, which they learn wind and drape around the body from the shoulders the ankles. Wealth and position are indicated the number and value jewels and other orna- ments worn, especially festival occasions. The monthly ex- pense family the middle class about 15 rupees $5. Many the poorer outcasts live less than half much. As elsewhere India, the lot the women the Telugu country deplorable. Many them are uneducated drudges. Only the nautch girls are educated, order that they may provide entertainment. woman has social standing religious destiny apart from her husband. The worst mis- fortune that can befall her remain unmarried. Matri- monial engagements are made parents when their daughter is still helpless babe, and before she reaches the age twelve years she married. the boy man whom the infant daughter engaged married, dies before the wedding takes place, she becomes widow whom re- marriage forbidden. The practice secluding women zenanas not common South India farther north, but among the higher castes vogue; and the Moham- medan portion the population has preserved the harem.

English original (OCR)

THE GENERAL COUNCIL'S MISSION FIELD INDIA 1590

According caste the people may conveniently divided into Brahmins who form the priestly caste; Vaisyas, the merchant caste; and Sudras, the laboring caste, artisans and agriculturists. The Sudras are more numerous than all the other castes combined. Socially and civil life Moham- medans are ranked Sudras. The Kshatriyas, the warrior caste, ranked between the Brahmins and Vaisayas, are few in number, the Telugus having less warlike nature than the fierce Mahrattas the doughty Rajputs. The hated term "Pariah, " formerly used designate the outcasts, has been displaced government decree that 'Panchama, " which means the fifth people. The Panchamas again are divided into Malas and Madigas, the latter being the lowest of the outcasts, low that "they must reach touch the bottom the social scale. " But God has chosen the poor and the despised rather than the rich and mighty the firstfruits His saving grace, for most the converts Christianity India are Malas and Madigas, who welcome the message redemption and exaltation through Jesus Christ. The Telugu language, enriched Sanscrit and slight degree Hindustani, Arabic, French and English, musical in sound and elaborate form. The vocabulary enormous, abounding synonyms and terms philosophical, pseudo- scientific and voluptuous character; but practically des- titute words which can used express the spiritual conceptions the Christian religion. ! Pure Telugu formed from roots which general have close connection with the roots the other languages South India, such Tamil and Cana- rese. These cognate languages form separate family languages, which distinguished the term "Dravidian. " The greater part Telugu literature consists poetry, which written in the higher dialect. different the higher dialect from the dialect used common conversation that they form distinct branches study. Telugu remarkable for its melody sound, which has gained for the name the Italian India. regular construction, and, though copious, often, like Tamil, very laconic. common conversation single word short phrase often used convey the meaning whole sentence. While the language used poetry uniform, local dialects vary. There certain amount difference between the Telugu spoken Rajahmundry and that spoken the Cuddapa district. The language spoken its greatest purity in the northern circars. -Arden's "Telugu Grammar. "

English original (OCR)

160 THE TELUGU MISSION THE GENERAL COUNCIL

The original religion the Telugus, far can ascer- tained, was nature worship which degenerated into animal worship, demon worship, hero worship and animism. Brah- minism adopted the popular cults and Buddhism infused its philosophical conceptions into the system. The result form modern Hinduism, which pantheism the under- lying principle and polytheism the universal practice. Maya or illusion, karma fate, the transmigration and reincarnation of souls, and nirvana final absorption into the All-soul, are popular doctrines. The most absurd superstitions, the grossest sensuality, the subtlest dishonesty and the most in- humane religious practices have left their indelible impress on the minds and lives the people. The burning widows the funeral pyres their husbands, hook-swinging and the like, have been prohibited the British Govern- ment; but practices scarcely less repulsive, performed public Brahmins and fakirs the name religion, are usual occurrences. Thus, one these fakirs may seen lying naked bed sharp spikes, walking shoes through the soles which sharp nails have been driven, eating revolting food, suffering some other form self- torture, all order gain merit the sight the gods and their devotees. The most popular gods the Telugus are Krishna, in- carnation Vishnu, whose worship allows licentious prac- tices and obscene pictures; Siva, the destroyer, and his con- sort, Kali, goddess disease and death, whose image revolting object can found anywhere earth. Other gods which are universally worshipped are Ganesha, the elephant-headed god wisdom and good luck, and 1 Kali represented naked woman with hideous countenance. Her tongue protruding from her mouth. Her hair mass writhing snakes. She wears necklace human skulls and belt dead men's hands. She has four arms and hands. the upper left hand she holds drawn dagger; the lower left hand she holds its hair the head decapitated giant, victim her wrath; with the upper right hand Kali makes gesture beckoning her wor- shippers draw near and her reverence; with the lower right hand she makes gesture warning them away, lest coming unworthily they become the objects her fierce anger and malice. Everything connection with this image intended inspire horror and fear. There also more benevolent but less popular representation this goddess disaster.

English original (OCR)

THE HINDU GODDESS KALI

English original (OCR)

THE ELEPHANT-HEADED GOD GANESILA

English original (OCR)

THE GENERAL COUNCIL'S MISSION FIELD INDIA 101

Hanuman, the monkey-god. numerous are the images that their number said exceed that the people; and their temples and shrines may found every side, hills, under trees, near springs rocks, the banks rivers, the side roads, the streets the cities and the squares the villages; and attached each temple shrine the attendant priest pujarz, receiving the offerings of the people. To the spiritually benighted and morally degraded Telugus living the territory just described our mission field, the General Council the Evangelical Lutheran Church North America has sent and still sending missionaries, men and women, preach the Gospel Jesus Christ, and sup- porting their work behalf the christianization these people. Slowly but surely the truth prevailing, the king- dom and reign the Living God are being extended and the number converts Christianity increasing; but the task will not finished until there has been established self-supporting, self-governing and self-propagating Telugu Lutheran Church the Godavery and Kistna districts the Madras Presidency India.

II