Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0305Description
A black and white stereograph. Image is of a large group of monkey's sitting on top of a large rock. Above the image "T517 (Star)" is printed, below the image "V27428T Sacred Monkeys at Galta, near Jeypore, India." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company Copyrighted, Underwood & Underwood, Inc. Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
V27428
SACRED MONKEYS AT GALTA, NEAR JEYPORE, INDIA
The rocky slope on which you are standing is the side of a mountain a mile and a half outside of Jeypore. It is a rough, out-of-the-way place, and the best way to get up here is on the back of an elephant, if you can borrow one down in the city. These buildings belong to an old Hindu temple where there is a very ancient shrine to the Sun God.
The monkeys you see here are not "sacred" in the sense of having worship paid to them, but only regarded as creatures to be treated with special respect and consideration. The story goes that away back in the days of gosd and heroes, Rama, a princely incarnation of the god Vishnu, was in dire distress because the King of Ceylon stole his wife Sita and carried her away to the Island Kingdom. Rama went to her rescue and his adventures form the story of one of the most famous old epic poems of India. During his quest, the monkeys were particualrly freindly and helpful, building a bridge for him from India across to Ceylon, and, ever since, it is a matter of principle with good Hindus to treat them well and ignro their troublesome thefts of fruit and grain.
Here at this particular temple beastas are fed as freely as doves. One of the attendants has just come out and given a peculiar call, cattering parched peas on the ground - that is the occasion of the gathering just now.
Copyright by The Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection