Such was the Great Car-Festival of Juggernaut in ancient days. Of late years it has lost much of its popularity, and though thousands still attend annually, it is now looked upon more as an annual fair than a religious festival. The devotees are not half so zealous as formerly, and the priests find almost no one to drag the car. No longer do any self-made victims fall beneath its wheels, unless it be some poor, weak wretch, tired of life and desiring thus to commit suicide. The British government has caused much of this change, but more has been done by the influence which Christian missionaries have exerted upon the people. The “Lord of the World,” as they call this idol, shall yet bow before the Lord of Lords. From this account of Juggernaut and his worship one cannot fail to see the terrible degradation which Hinduism imposes on its devotees. That God should be deemed to be fitly represented by such ugly conceptions as are seen in these idols is evidence of a most degraded system of religion. Still more so is the teaching of the priests, that God actually lives in some substance in the idol’s heart. Contrast this with the teachings of the Bible concerning Him whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain! Juggernaut’s worshipers regard him as a _thing_ whom they are to keep from getting angry by petting him and caring for and feeding as for a little child; that He is a being who needs such things as clothing to protect and food to sustain Him, and who needs to be washed, and to retire to a summer resort to escape the summer’s heat. [Illustration: DISROBING AND DISJOINTING JUGGERNAUT.] A striking illustration of the inferiority of idols is given in the incident pictured below. Several converts from Hinduism concluded to undress and disjoint their idol, and finally they chopped up the several parts and used them for firewood, thus more than fulfilling the words of Isaiah (chap. xliv., 9–20), who tells of idolaters making an idol of parts of their wood and burning the residue to warm themselves and to roast their meat. KALI, THE GODDESS OF BLOOD. Kali is a very popular goddess, and yet her images are the pictures of terror. She wears a head-dress of snakes, and a necklace consisting of a chain of skulls. In her hand she holds a murderous-looking knife. Kali is the wife of Siva, the destroyer. In September a festival is held in her honor, called the Doorga-pooja. In all of Kali’s temples her idols are gayly adorned with flowers, and prayers are offered to her during days of dancing and singing. [Illustration: THE GODDESS KALI.] [Illustration: IDOL OF THE BLOODY GODDESS KALI. AT CALCUTTA, INDIA.]