Note 101 — Chapter VII · 1541-1774. MISSIONS.

The ashes of the cows’ dung are consecrated to the goddess Lakshini, and are supposed to cleanse from sin anybody to whom they are applied. The missionaries laid these ashes upon the altar near the crucifix (horrid to relate!) or the image of the Virgin, then consecrated and distributed them in the shape of little balls among their converts. This strange sort of Christians invoked a pagan divinity as often as they applied the dung to the body. Thus, when they rub it on the head or forehead, they say, Neruchigurm netchada Shiven—that is, may the god Shiva be within my head; when they rub it on the breast, they say, Manu Rudren—that is, may the god Rudren be in my breast; and so on.—See Mémoires Historiques, tom. iii. pp. 29, 30. Lucca, 1745.