Indian Antiquary Vol 26

SR No.: 032518
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MAY, 1897.
goes down into the infernal regions with an umbrella in his hand. In the Rig-Veda the god is represented as being the sun himself. We have here, therefore, a direct injunction from the very source of the worship. Nor are we without classical allusions to the proper use of the umbrella. In the Skirophoria, the feast of Athene Skiras, white umbrellas were borne by the priestesses from the Acropolis to the Phalerus, irrespectively of the state of the weather. Umbrellas were usual at the feast of Bacchus, where no doubt the votaries often got into a state which it was desirable to conceal. Aristophanes tells us that Prometheus had an umbrella held over him that he might not be seen by Jupiter, which gives ns the original notion without any disguise whatever. The probability that harm will happen if the celestial luminaries are irritated by objectionable movements or demonstrations, is also borne out by the old traditions of all parts of the world. The Ojibways warn their children not to point with their fingers at the moon, on the ground that if they do, she will infallibly lose her temper and bite the rude digits off. It is a well-known fact that the moon is carnivorous. The Greenlanders say, when she is not seen, that she is out hunting seals. When she has been hunting long enough, she fattens into the full moon. The stories of German folklore tell us that the finger pointed at a star will certainly rot away, because the angels kill it. If the moon and the stars are so touchy, it is evident that the interposition of an umbrella between mortals and the sun is a still more imperative protective measure.
The umbrella having such a distinguished origin, it is not to be wondered at that in the East it is one of the chief royal insignia and is guarded from being put to too common uses by severe sumptuary laws. In Africa, it is not at all uncommon to find a tribe in possession of one umbrella only, and that umbrella, the distinguishing marks of the king his entire regalia, in fact. But in India, and especially Indo-China, where Sabaism is not yet altogether dead, the umbrella is a very important State appartenance; and the King of Burmah, as every one knows, is not only Lord of the White Umbrella, but of all the umbrella-bearing chiefs. There is a very formidable etiquette of umbrellas. None but the King and the White Elephant may have white ones. The king has eight of them, duly carried round about him, all at once seven feet or more across, and elevated on twelve-feet poles. Englishmen who have unwarily expanded shades with white covers have expisted the heinousness of their offence by penance in the stocks, with nothing to shelter them from the avenging rays of the sun, kindled to unwonted anger by the bad language the victims make use of on the occasion. Nextin estimation to the white umbrellas are yellow specimens, seldom conferred on any except queens and princesses who are in especial favour. Golden umbrellas fall to the lot of princes of the blood-royal when there are any eminent statesmen, generals, tributary chieftains, and distinguished provincial governors. Then come in their gradations red, green, and brown silk-covered umbrellas, with deep fringes, or without them, and all of the most portentous width and elevation. All officials attached to the Court are allowed to signalize their distinction by varnishing their umbrellas black inside. The sun has thus the greater difficulty in detecting their trickeries and peculations. However much they may reverence thethree brilliant things," none of the umbrella-bearing chiefs are allowed to conceal their doings from these luminaries when they are within the palace precincts. If they offend against the sun and the moon, they offend equally against the king, and that potentate relieves the celestial bodies of the trouble of punishing them. The most distinguished may, indeed, carry their sun-shades as far as the palace-steps, but there the signs of dignity must be left along with their owners' shoes. The common rabble are even more exposed to the dangers of outraging the sun's sensibilities. Their umbrellas - poor things at any rate, and of Western dimensions, so that a good substantial sin under cover of them is an impossibility ought not to be used near the palace stockade at all, and must certainly be lowered when they pass any of the gates. This is, without doubt, rather a hardship: but there is no denying that the Arbiter of Existence is more immediately dangerous than the moon and he stars, or ever than the sun, and the "three brilliant things" are therefore