Indian Antiquary Vol 36

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

Page 45

FEBRUARY, 1907.)
HINDUISM IN THE HIMALAYAS.
39
own territory and established it at Bhalwag, and since then the fair has been held there. It only lasts one day. The Râjâ, with his Rânis, &c., sets out with great pomp to the scene of the fair, the procession being headed by a band, and reaches the place about mid-day. People pour in from all parts, and by two in the afternoon the fair is in full swing. The Rajá takes his seat on the side of a tank, into which people dive and swim. A wild leo is also thrown into it as a scapegoat (thé!) and some people throw money into it as an offering. In the temple of Mahadbo, ghi, grain, and money are offered by the people according to their means. The pujarls of the temple, who are Brâhmans, divide the offerings among themselves. Worship is performed there daily, and on the sankrant days Brahmans of other villages come there to worship. On the fair day worship is performed all day long. People also give the offerings they have vowed.
There is a legend about this tank, which is as follows:- Once a Brahman committed suicide in a Raja's darbdr. In consequence of this hatiyd (a profane act, especially the killing of a Brahman), the Râjâ became accursed. He tried by all the means in his power to remove the curse, but in vain, for if he had a child born to him, it soon died, and though he performed worship and tried many charms and amulets, it was all of no avail. An astrologer then told him that as a Brahman-hatiyd had been committed in his darbår, he would never be blessed with a son, unless he sank eighty-four tanks at different places in his realm for watering of kine. The Rájá accordingly constracted eighty-four tanks at different places in the hills from Tajaur to Mattiâda. Of these tanks some were very fine, and one of them is the tank in question. After making all the tanks, the Rajá sent for the builder, and, being much pleased with his work, gave him as a reward al that he asked for. But people then became envious of the kindness shown to him by the Râjâ, fearing that he would be elevated to the rank of mudhib (courtier), and so they told the Raja that if the builder did the same kind of work anywhere else, the Raja's memory would not be perpetuated and that steps should be taken to prevent this. The Rajâ said that this was good advice, and that, of course, he had already thought of it, 80 the builder was sent for, and although he tried to satisfy the Rajâ that he would never make the same kind of tank at any other place, the Raja paid no heed to his entreaties and had his right hand amputated. Thus disabled, the man remained helpless for some time, but having recovered, it struck him that with his skill he could do some work with his left band, and ho, accordingly, built two temples, one at Jâghiên Dêvf and the other at Sâdû, both now places in Patiala territory. When the Râjâ heard of this, be at once went to see the temples, and was so delighted with their work that he gave a reward to the builder, but at the same time had his other hand cut off, and the man died a few days after. It is said that after the making of the tanks, the Raja celebrated a jag on a very large scale, and four years after was blessed with a ted (son).
APPENDIX I.
Devt Tank of Tarab. This Dêvt is the family deity of the Raja of Keồnthal, and her arrival dates from the advent of the Raja's family in this part of the hills. Her legend is as follows - Tara Nath, a joge, who had renounced the world and was possessed of miraculous power, came to Târab to practise austerities. He kindled his fire, dhund, in the jungle. When rain come, not a drop fell on his sitting place (asan), and it remained dry. Hearing of the supernatural deeds of the faqir, the Raja went to visit him. The jogi told the Rajá to erect a temple to his goddess, Tara MAI, on the hill, and to place her idol in it, predicting tbat this act would bring him much good, and that it was only with this object that he had taken up his abode on the hill. In compliance with these directions, the Râjâ ordered a temple to be built, in which the jogi Tara Nath placed the Devt's idol according to the rules set forth in the Hindu Shastras for asthdpan, establishing an idol.' The Pato Brâhmans, who attended the jõgi, were appointed pujdris of the temple. This Devi has eighteen hands, in each of which she holds a weapon, such as a sword, spear, &o., and she is mounted on a tiger. The hill on which the jogi resided had, before his arrival, another name, but it was re-named Tarab after him.