Indian Antiquary Vol 38

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

Page 59

FEBRUARY, 1909.]
NOTES AND QUERIES.
the filings had been thrown in. After they had Among the Lalan Mahajans of Jiad town no bathed, a dispute arose and they were all killed woman, after the birth of her first son, until his with the exception of one pregnant woman. She parojun ceremony has been performed, may eat put a lamb in her lap-and went to the saint to wheat, drink fresh milk or uso vegetables ask whether she would have a boy or a girl. As taken from a khari or basket, though she may before he exclaimed, "chhu!", and on this she eat vegetables obtained from a garden. This, asked whether the child in her womb would also, is an ancient rule. be stuck or the lamb in her lap. The saint
The Mahajans of the Singal got, in Julân& replind that the lamb would be attached to her
MAlwi and Deopar villages allow no Brahman body, and accordingly it died, so the people of
or sweeper to onter their houses on the 15th this got have given up eating mutton ever since.
of Bhadon or Kitik, on which days they worship Among the Q&nungo Mahajans of Jind town
their satis, The tradition is that one of their the ears of both male and female children are not
forefathers went to fetch his wife from her bored until the parojan ceremony has been
parents' house. He was accompanied by performed, i. e., the kan chhedan or boring
a Brahman and a sweeper, who on the way back the ear's' ceremony follows the parojan: their
were tempted to rob bim of his ornaments, and females do not wear bracelets (churis ) made
killed him. His wife, when about to barn herself of lac; and on the marriage of a man's sister's
with his body, told his heirs that as he had been son, the members of his family do not take the
killed by a Brahman and a sweeper, they should bhat' to the wedding party themselves, but send
not allow any man of either of those castes to it by a Brahman or barber. As regards the two
enter their houses at the time of ber worship. latter customs, they say that one of their ancestors,
This being so, everything offered to the satie, at who did not observe them, met with misfortune,
their worship, is given to a virgin girl of the and so they have always observed them.
biradari. Further, their women do not drink
fresh milk after giving birth to a child, because The Maghân Mahajans of Jind neither curd the wife, who as described became sati, had drunk nor churn milk on the chandni dwadshf or milk before starting from her father's house. 12th of the bright fortnight of every month, but Among the Bajrå Brahmans of Jiņd town no they may use it for drinking. They say that members of the family of any age, male or Atma Ram, one of their ancestors, had great female, may eat anything prepared by a barfaith in Baba Sundar Dås Brah macuári of Barah
ber. A boy of this family once went to play in Kalán, the village which is also called Sundarpur
the bazar on the very day he had returned home after him. The saint told Atmå Råm not to curd
after his marriage, and there he was bitten by or churn milk on the 12th sudi or light fortnight
snake and died. His wife became satt with him, of each lunar month, and the injunction has
and the female barber, who had accompanied been observed ever since.
him, also became sati, as she was at a loss to know
what tale she should tell to the boy's relatives. In connection with Eati worship, certain families have some peculiar tabus, or restrictions The Mahajans of the Singal got in Kanana on the use of certain articles and so on, which village do not use the wood of a kim tree for commemorate events connected with a sati of the making roofs, or burn it ov spit on it, because family. For instance, among the Mahajans of the they consider it a dev and worship it at the Bhojan family of Jind, no female is allowed to parojan ceremony. wash her head with warm water after the
The Jats of the Amlawat got in Rapgarh and pherá ceremony at her wedding, tin her child's
Jitgarh do not cut or burn the kim tree, because parojan ceremony has been performed, because
they consider it a dev. If any one fails to a woman of the family once took a hot bath when
observe this tabu, he is afflicted with ring-worm, she became a sati!
and in order to recover must give & feast to Among the Mah&jans of the Kakrotis and
a virgin girl under the kim tree. Narwana families of Jind, no woman may
The people of Noråns in the Jind iluga never drink fresh milk after her marriage till her irrigate their fields from & johar or pond death. This castom is a very old one. [Cf. the by breaking its embankments, because hunnext para, but one.)
| dreds of years ago, their forefathers made
1 Dower presented by the boy's maternal grandfather.
2 Channel