Storia do Mogor 281.24.6

281.24.6

Finally, at the approach of evening, a solemn procession is formed, in which is prominent the idol Parmansouery (Parameswari) with two of her children, Armogon (Arumukham) and Comra (Kumara), at her side. These two are also among their false gods. She is seated on a sort of hand-barrow or stretcher of enormous size. Isparou (Iswara) followed seated in a chair placed on a kind of throne. You could also see the idol Benaerem (Vinayakam) sitting on a big rat the size of a sucking-pig ; and Bayraou (Bhairava), so feared by the Hindus that they pay him greater honour than to the others. They came forth carried on platforms unescorted, while he was largely accompanied. When he was first placed on his wooden horse, all the idolaters then present [76] advanced one after another and prostrated themselves with their faces on the ground and kissed his feet. But what was most remarkable in the last procession at Pondicherry was the travelling throne of their great idol. For that in which the Jesuit fathers paraded the statue of the Virgin Mary is exactly the same. This fact caused much scandal to many pious souls; more so from knowing that the Jesuits took the design and the dimensions from that used for the idol. The procession was closed by several matchlockmen and some umbrella-holders. These latter protected all these divinities, particularly those whose names are given above.