Indian Antiquary Vol 08

SR No.: 032500
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 404
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 178

156
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JUNE, 1879.
he will not eat food, all our idol-worship is but a dumb show, and if he will eat, then give you him this fruit, grain, and grass to eat.” On this the Haji struck the bull with a whip, and said :"By our Lord's order arise, and eat this fruit, and these sweetmeats, thus will the infidelity of their hearts be removed, go you there, and make no excuse, but sit in the temple with joyful heart." Then the bull moved his tongue, and commenced to eat both the fruit and the sweetmeats, and the infidels were stricken with fear, and said :-"He has indeed wrought a wondrous miracle." The ball now spoke and said :-"Give me food to eat, I have been hungry for an age, bring me food, bring the cooked food of all this city, together with the people and their RÂjà, and I will eat them all if you will but give the order, O HAji." But the Haji said :“Wait, o bull, and restrain your hunger, this cannot be done except by God's order." The bull then went back to the temple, and stood in his place, and the HÂji gave him some grass, which he ate patiently, and he spoke no more throughout the day, and the Hâji told him that he would inform him as to what should happen. In spite, however, of seeing these miracles, the idolators were not converted, but scoffed at the Haji, who reproved them, and said they were all foolish to reject Islâm, which would remove their sorrows and gladden their hearts. The Râjâ said to the Haji :--"I believe in Sománåth, but you do not understand the benefit of his worship, he is a true god who removes all our sorrow, and none is equal to him." The Haji replied: --" Raja, Somanath does not belong to you, do not you be so proud on his account, I will separate him from you. He, poor fellow, is also a slave of God's order, standing with folded hands. Now, see how he will come when I call him." Then the Haji called out, -"Soma- nåth, come forth, do not delay, but assume the appearance of a Sidi, I have a duty for you to perform." The infidels all looked on rubbing their hands in astonishment. Then the idol replied from within the temple :-"I am at your service, O Pir Haji! I am coming out to you, you are my spiritual preceptor, and I will do any service which you may command, and am very willing to remain in attendance on you, let those be ashamed who disbelieve." The ling now suddenly cracked, and there issued from it a human shape of brown colour
like a Sidi. He came and adored the Haji, and said:"You are very powerful, give me now any command you please, and I will do it." The Haji placed his trust in God, at whose order the idol had issued forth, and said :-"Take this leathern bucket (dolcha), and bring it quickly filled with water, while I tell my beads and perform my ablutions." Then the idol gladly took the bucket and dipped it in the tank, on which all the water in the tank entered the bucket, and he thus filling it brimful, brought it, and placed it before the Haji. The unbelieving infidels now saw the tank dry, with both the rain and spring water exhausted, and went to the Rajá to complain, saying that the town was ruined, and that the Haji's servant had dried up the tank. Thus all the infidels cried out for water, and complained to the Raja, and said:-"All the alligators are gasping on the shore, if you will go thither and see for yourself you will agree to what we say." The Raja now said :-"O HÂji, your Sidi has gone and filled his dolchd with all the water of the tank, he has exhausted the water, and we are all oomplaining." The Haji, after keeping a little of the water for his ablutions, said to the idol :"Run quickly, and refill the tank, and leave it no longer dry, and then leave the dolchá (bucket) here, and go to your piace." The idol then quickly lifted the bucket, and emptying it in the tank, refilled that reservoir, then he replaced the bucket at the Haji's house, and then ran and leaped into the sea. The infidels though they saw all these miracles so truly wrought, yet would not believe in the Háji. Haji Mahmud then entered the temple threshold, and gave the call to prayer, whereat the temple shook and all the idols feared and trembled, and the infidels said :-“What shall we do now?" Then they all quiokly agreed to drive him away, and hurled stones and bricks at him, and struck at him with the arms in their hands, but nothing hurt him though his face became pink with anger. He now descended from the temple into the plain, and at first desired to fight, but afterwards controlled himself and remained patient. As the Hâji approached, the Râjâ called all the townspeople, and they hurled stones and brickbats at him, but though they fell all round him, not one of them touched him. The Haji then glanced angrily at the temple, and many of the famous idols