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

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96
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
12. Panch or Five Pirs :-The tombs of these Pirs are situated in Dahurà, each of them measuring about twenty-seven feet. A miracle is attributed to these tombs in the phenomenon that they can never be accurately measured, each attempt at measurement giving a different résult, Women whose sons die in infancy make vows in honour of the Panch Pirs, and take them to their tombs on their attaining a certain age, where they observe fakiri for ten days.1
13. Aulia Pirt :-The tomb of this Pir lies on Mount Girnàr. It is believed to possess the miraculous power of stopping the career of galloping horses and bringing them to the ground, and of stupefying the senses of a person who enters the shrine.2
14. Miran Dàtàr:-The celebrated tomb of this Pir is in the village of Unjhà near Baroda, where a fair is held every Friday in Shravan, Persons possessed by evil spirits are said to be cured by visiting this tomb and offering an image of a horse stuffed with cotton, and a cocoanut. People from all parts of Gujaràt and from distant places suffering from physical infirmities, observe vows in honour of this Pir. Some wear iron wristlets round their wrists in his
honour, s
15. Pir Mahabali: The tomb of this Pir is situated at Gotarkà near Radhanpur, Every year a fair is held in honour of this tomb, when the chief Pujari of the shrine of Varalu goes there, holding in one hand a bayonet with its point touching his breast, and in the other, a cocoanut. It is said that when the Pujari reaches the third step
leading to the entrance of the shrine, the locked doors of the shrine fly open, and the Pujàri throws the cocoanut into the shrine. If the shrine gates do not open of themselves on his approach, the Pujari has to stab himself to death then and there."
16. Kalu Pir:-It is said that this Pir leads a procession every night, when monstrous kettle-drums are beaten by his phantom followers. On every Friday this procession goes on its rounds, which cover a large area,
Other tombs noted for miraculous powers are those of Gebalshà Pir in Charadwa, of Darià Pir in Morvi, of Hajarat Pir in Baghdad and of Khojà Pir in Ajmere."
The followers of the tenets of Swàminnarayan, Vallabhacharya, Kabir, Shankaràand Talo Bhagat look upon these personcharya, Ramanuja, Madhwàcharya, Nimbark ages as gods, and worship their images,?
Some of the spiritual teachers mentioned above maintained large establishments and made their supremacy hereditary. Their representatives (that is either their heirs or disciples) are looked upon as the embodiments of the same virtues as were concentrated in the founders of the sects. The great teachers are worshipped either in the form of their footprints, their images or their representatives,8
The worship of the following Muhammadan Pirs has been adopted by Hindus :(1) Dàtàr Pir in Junagadh,
(2) Dàtàr in Rataiya near Khiràsara. (3) Gobalsha Pir:-This Pir is noted for curing boils.
A symbol of servitude of the saint.
1 The School Master of Sultanpur.
† Aulia and Pir, synonymous terms, the first Arabic, the second Persian. Aulia is the Arabic plural of wali which means a saint. In Hindustani the plural form is used to signify the singular e. g., a single wali or saint is often spoken of as an aulia. The word Pir originally meaning an old man is used in Hindustani in the sense of a saint. Aulia Pir is the Gujarati for a single or many saints.
The School Master of Moti Porabdi.
4 The School Master of Surel.
The School Master of Charadwà. Mr. K. D. Desal.
3 The School Master of Zinzuwàda.
5 The School Master of Jaseluan.
7 The School Master of Dhank.