Indian Antiquary Vol 03

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 98

84
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1874.
ser and a quarter of milk, and as much sour the banks of a river. While engaged in the ceremilk, honey,ghi, and sugar as thou canst obtain- mony a merchant lands from his boats laden with with these articles, worship me: after collecting goods, and inquiring the object of the assembly is thy friends and relattves, meditate on me in faith | informed that it is to worship Satya-Narayan, and offer up the articles mentioned. Having whose attributes are beyond utterance, who gives circumambulated the collection of offerings, medi- children to the barren, wealth to the indigent, and tate on me again with undisturbed mind, and sight to the blind, when worshipped with a view thou wilt obtain all thy desires. Let the assembly to the attainment of these objects. The merchant, repeatedly bow their heads, and partake of the joining the sacrifice, exclaims, "Hear what I sacrificial articles, contemplating me in the various desire. There is no son or daughter in my house: ways their necessities demand : those who wor
I fear I shall die childless-who then will perform ship me with sincerity shall obtain the accom- my funeral rites P I therefore beseech of Satyaplishment of all their wishes." Saying this, he Narayan a son or a daughter. If I obtain either I becomes invisible. The Brahman, overjoyed with will acknowledge his divinity. I will then worship the interview, hastened to the town to beg, and him with splendour, and erect a magnificent monuto his great astonishment obtained extraordinary ment to his honour." The merchant departs home, donations on the road, and returned to his house and continues for a long time anxiously waiting laden with the articles for sacrifice. He informs the desired boon. At length his wife presents his wife of the joyful turn in his affairs, who col- him with a daughter, her hand resembling the lects her friends and relations together. In the moon, her waist equal in beauty to that of the evening the Brahman performs the sacrifice accord- lion, and of such an exquisite form as to attract ing to the directions of Narayan, and soon after the admiration of the three worlds. Infancy rises to wealth and honour.
passes, and she arrives at the age for marriage. In The report of this puja and its consequences the beautiful village of Kanchonpura a most was rapidly circulated. Hearing of the story, desirable bridegroom is found; but the marriage some woodmen Assembled, and baving cut wood, ceremony is performed without any offering to went to sell it that they might perform the sacri- Satya Narayan, who is instantly offended. The fice. One of them, overcome with thirst on the father admits his son-in-law into partnership, road, lays down his burden and proceeding to the departs with a rich freight, and opens a warehouse house of the fortunate Brahman inquires his oc- in the capital of the kingdom. Batya-Nar yan, in cupation, the object of his worship, and the means the display of his vengeance, sends robbers to the through which he had acquired wealth. The place, who steal the plate of the chief man. The Brahman informs him that he is indebted to kotvål perambulates the streets in search of the Satya-Narayan for his elevation, and that his thieves, and not finding them sits down'in despair, mind is constantly fixed on his benefactor. The trembling for the safety of his hand. In this woodman makes his obeisance, and repairing to juncture Satya-Narayan speaks from the air, and his companions informs them of his interview, informs him that the two merchants had stolen and that through the favour of Satya Narayan the the plate. The merchant and his son-in-law are mendicant Brahman was become lord of Kashi- bound and carried before the king, who seizes all pura. They unanimously agree to sell their their merchandize and sentences them to twelve wood, and with the produce perform a sacrifice to years' confinement. Thus to instruct mankind the bestower of wealth. Having sold their wood, does Narayan amuse himself with mortal concerns. they collect the offerings, and on their arrival at The mother and the daughter at home look out home inform their wives of the events of the day, anxiously for them; and are obliged gradnally to and assemble their friends, who, on hearing the sell all their jewels, household furniture, &c. story, fall down in adoration to the wealth-giving They make inquiries of every traveller, but gain divinity. The ceremony proceeds, and each one, no intelligence. They thas pass twelve years of inwardly revolving the object of his wishes, with their existence, after which they are constrained a reliance on Satya Narayan, partakes of the food. 1 to enter into the service of a Brahman, whom the The third chapter closes with saying that the daughter one day sees performing the worship of woodmen became rich, erected splendid houses, Satya-Narayan. She joins in the ceremony, eats and rode about on horses and elephants, and the sacrificial articles with profound obeisance, and that the whole was the reward of their devotion. puts up a prayer for the return of her husband
Another story illustrative of the efficacy of and father, promising to devote her life to the worshipping Satya Narayan, and the misery of service of Nariyan if he be propitious. The offonding him, is as follows :-Ur-do-muk, the mother chides her on her return for the delay, son of a king, performs a sacrifice to Narayan on when the daughter relates the occasion of it, and