Indian Antiquary Vol 35

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 66

60
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[FEBRUARY, 1906.
and still he grew till he reached Satyalôka, and then the sun glowed like an earring in his ear. And beyond this he grew, and the sun looked like an ornament on his shoulder, still higher and higher, till it appeared like a bracelet on his wrist. Even yet higher, when it looked like a red cloth round his waist. Even still higher, when it appeared like an anklet on his foot, and at last. it seemed like his footstool. Then he filled the whole earth. His feet occupied Bhûlôka, his head filled the sky. The sun and moon were in the line of his eyes. The Pisachas lay at his feet, Gunyakas were at his fingers, Viśvas at his knees, Sadhyas at his legs, Yakshas at his finger-tips, Apsarasas at the line of his palms, the rays of the sun were in his hair, the stars at the roots of his hair, Maharshis at the ends of his hair, Asuras at his ears. His arms extended towards the four cardinal points, and his shining was greater than that of the sun.
Then Bali was overwhelmed with amazement, and paralysed with wonder, and remained speechless, while Vishnu with one stride measured the whole earth, with the second stride he measured the firmament. Then he stopped, and addressed Bali as follows: "You granted me three strides, the earth and heavens only measure two strides of mine, now show me the place for the third stride." Then Bali offered Vishnu his head for the third stride, but Vishnu hesitated and said, "I have taken all your possessions, this at least you can refuse." But Bali replied, "Wherever I go, thou art there, I cannot be anywhere without thee. Thou art full of mercy and condescension to thy devotees. Only command me how I may serve thee!" Then Vishnu was pleased at these words, and commanded Bali to return to his own regions of Pâtâlalôka, and reign there as before.
HARVEST FESTIVALS IN HONOUR OF GAURI AND GANESH. BY B. A. GUPTE, F.Z.S.,
Personal Assistant to the Director of Ethnography for India.
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I. Gauri.
On the sixth day of Bhadrapad or thereabouts, a bundle of the wild flowering balsam plants touch-me-not (Impatiens Sp.) is ceremoniously collected through maid-servants, brought home, and placed in the verandah on a low stool with the roots towards the main entrance of the house. Under the stool is drawn a magic square with turmeric powder (fig. 1). Care is taken by the maids that before the plants are removed from the soil, they are worshipped, wrapped in a cloth, and placed in a winnowing bamboo tray (see fig. 3), previously decorated with the svastika. At sunset the bundle is worshipped and taken to the entrance, when rice and water are waved round it and thrown to the left side, to guard against the evil eye. It is then placed on a chair or high stool and again worshipped, along with an unmarried girl, and all married women are served with the red powder, &c., the emblems of conjugal life.
The next ceremony consists of carrying the bundle from room to room, while the supposed foot-prints of Gauri (fig. 2) are being impressed on the floor with guldl (red powder) paste. As each room is entered, the girl, who has been previously worshipped, has to reply to the questions "Gauri, Gauri, whither have you come ?" and "What do you see?"
The first room so honoured is generally the central or chief hall. The girl then replies: "I have come to the diwan-khand, and I see that Râvsâhîb So-and-so has been sitting on a high cushion, reclined against another, and dictating orders to his secretaries, and that sepoys and chôbdars are in attendance," and so forth, generally depicting the highest desire as to the prosperity of the bread-winner. The girl is then given a mouthful of sweets, and the mistress of the house says, "Come with golden feet and stay for ever."