A striking confirmation of the view taken in this work of the symbolism
of the serpent, as the nexus between the two sexes, the female being
represented by the fig-tree, and the male by the upright stone, or
pole,[686] is found in an ancient religious custom in Mysore, India.
Captain J.S.F. Mackenzie contributed an interesting paper on this
subject to the “Indian Antiquary.”[687] “Round about Bangalore, more
especially towards the Lal Bagh and _Petta_,–as the native town is
called,–three or more stones are to be found together, having
representations of serpents carved upon them. These stones are erected
always under the sacred fig-tree by some pious person, whose means and
piety determine the care and finish with which they are executed.
Judging from the number of the stones, the worship of the serpent
appears to be more prevalent in the Bangalore district than in other
parts of the province. No priest is ever in charge of them. There is no
objection to men doing so, but from custom, or for some reason,–perhaps
because the serpent is supposed to confer fertility on barren women,–the
worshiping of the stones, which takes place during the Gauri feast, is
confined to women of all Hindu classes and creeds. The stones, when
properly erected, ought to be on a built-up stone platform facing the
rising sun, and under the shade of two _peepul_ (_Ficus religiosa_)
trees,–a male and female growing together, and wedded by ceremonies, in
every respect the same as in the case of human beings,–close by, and
growing in the same platform a nimb (_margosa_) and _bipatra_ (a kind of
wood-apple), which are supposed to be living witnesses of the marriage.
The expense of performing the marriage ceremony is too heavy for
ordinary persons, and so we generally find only one _peepul_ and a
_nimb_ on the platform. By the common people these two are supposed to
represent man and wife.”
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Footnote 686:
See pp. 230–240, _supra_.
Footnote 687:
Cited in _Notes and Queries_, fifth series, Vol. IV, p. 463.
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