RASPUTIN OF INDIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1926, Page 4

RASPUTIN OF INDIA.

POWKR mill! XI) INDOHK THRONE. Tlioro was a strange reason for Hie decision of the Maharajah of Indore to abdicate in spite of the advice pi von to him by liis legal counsellors f writes the “ Sunday Chronicle’s” special correspondent). The Maharajah has been for a long time under the influence of a good many ascetics and wonder workers from the Hindu community. One of thorn is “ Sadhu,” or saint, who has been to Tibet and who is reputed to have occult powers. I ’ EX A \(' E-M A K lilt S. It is known that for some mouths thi> Maharajah employed professional penance-makers in order to ward off the evils that were confronting him. Over £.OO hundred Brahmins did penance at Mahcshwar—the sacred place of the ancient Queen of Indore Ahnlyahai. who reigned there over 150 years ago. and who is regarded ns a deity l).v Hindus all over India. The sadhu was the chief divine in this great penance, lie is said to have sat at one place cross-legged for twenty-eight days m undisturbed meditation and deep concentration for the purpose of removing the sins of the .Maharajah by his personal sacrifice. At the end of the penance a long procession took place, with the ascetic in a palanquin and the Maharajah and Ins family, with the two wives following on foot behind. HYPNOTIC'POWERS. It is believed that the influence of the “Man Behind the Tin-one,” or the Basputin of Indore, as lie is sometimes called, was due. to the ascendancy lie gained over the ruler by his hypnotic powers, and that he was directly concerned in the abdication of flic Maharajah.

Prince Yashawnntrao, the new Maharajah, recently paid a secret visit to Sakbedo, a small village in the district of Xarsingpur in British India for the purpose of consulting the sadhu. lie returned the day before the decision of the Maharajah was given, and private news, from Indore confirms the rumour that the abdication was due to the advice given by the saint.