Indian Antiquary Vol 46

SR No.: 032538
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 508
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 433

THE FOLKLORE OF GUJARAT
85
Every bhuvà is required to propitiate his favourite goddess every third year, the cere- mony which is then performed being called Khad-Khadya-besadri. This is performed either during the Nav-ratra holidays or during the bright half of either the month of Màgh or Chaitra. All the bhuvas in the village are invited on the occasion, when there is ganjà-smoking or bhàng-drinking, partly at night. After the supper which follows this party, all the bhuvas gather together and go into convulsive fits till they are almost suffocated. Cocoanuts are then dedicated and cracked before the mātā, and the kernel is distributed among those present. The party then break up.1
It is believed by some people that the spirit of a Muhammadan saint, living or dead, dwells in such trees as the Khijado, i. e., Shami (Prosopis spicigera) and Bàval, i. e., Bàbhul (Acacia arabica). It is known by the name of chitharia that is, the ragged Pir. It is a common belief that if a rrother fails to offer a rag or a piece of cloth to such a toly tree wbile passing by it, her children run the risk of falling ill. Women and ignorant people, therefore, make a point of offering rags to such trees whenever they happen to pass by them.
According to another belief, travellers, in order to accomplish their journey safely, offer rags to such of the Khijado, Baval or Limdo (Nim) trees as are reputed to be the residences of spirits, if they happen to be on their road.
Some believe that both male and female spirits reside in the Khijado, Bàval and Kerado trees, and throw rags over them with the object of preventing passers by from cut- ting or removing the trees. Some pile stones round their stems and draw tridents ver them with red lead and oil. If superstitious people come across such trees, they throw pieces of stones on the piles, believing them
1 The School Master of Sanka.
The School Master of Davalia.
to be holy places, and think that by doing so they attain the merit of building a temple or shrine. A belief runs that this pile should grow larger and larger day by day, and not be diminished. If the base of such a tree is not marked by a pile of stones, rags only are offered ; and if rags are not available, the devotee tears off a piece of his garment, bowever costly it may be, and dedicates it to the tree.
Once, & child saw its mother offering a rag to such a tree, and asked her the reason of the offering. The mother replied that her brother, that is the child's maternal uncle, dwelt in the tree. Hence a belief arose that a chithario (ragged) uncle dwells in such trees. Others assert that the chithario pir dwells in such trees, and they propitiate him by offering cocoanuls and burning frankincense before it.
There is a Khijado tree near Sultānpur which is believed to be the residence of a demon māmo. This demon is propitiated by the offerings of rags.
Some declare that travellers fix rags of worn out clothes to the trees mentioned above in order that they may not be attacked by the evil spirits residing in them. Another belief is that the spirits of deceased ancestors residing in such trees get absolution through this form of devotion. It is also believed that a goddess called chitharia devi resides in such trees, and being pleased with these offerings, blesses childless females with children, and cures persons suffering from itch of their disease. There is a further belief that ragged travellers, by offering pieces of their clothes to the Khijado, Baval or Kerado trees, are blessed in return with good clothes.
Some believe that Hanuman, the lord of spirits, resides in certain trees. They call him chithario or ragged Hanuman. All passers by offer rags to the trees inhabited by • The School Master of Kotda Sangani. - The School Master of Ganod.