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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
Vaital, Jālio,1 Gadio,1 Paino, Parolio, Sevalio, Andhario, Fuliol Bheravo, Ragantio, 1 Chod, Gātrad,? Mammai and Verai. There are frequent additions to the number, as any new disease or unusual and untoward incident may bring a new spirit into existence. The installation of such deities is not a costly concern, and thus there is no serious check on their recognition.
The sun, the beneficent night-dispelling, light-bestowing great luminary, is believed to be the visible manifestation of the Almighty God," and inspires the human mind with a feeling of grateful reverence which finds expression in titles like Savita, Life-Producer, the nourisher and generator of all life and activity.
He is the chief rain-sender?; there is a couplet used in Gujarat illustrative of this belief. It runs:-"Oblations are cast into the Fire : the smoke carries the prayers to the sun; the Divine Luminary, propitiated, responds in sending down gentle showers." "The sacred smoke, rising from the sacrificial offerings, ascends through the ethereal regions to the Sun. He transforms it into the rain-giving clouds, the rains produce food, and food pro- duces the powers of generation and multiplication and plenty. Thus, the sun, as the propagator of animal life, is believed to be the highest deity.?"
It is pretty generally believed that vows in honour of the sun are highly efficacious in curing eye-diseases and strengthening the eyesight. Mr. Damodar Karsonji Pandya quotes from the Bhagvadgitā the saying of Krishna:
TAIFA STAZO:
"I am the very light of the sun and the moon.*" Being the embodiment or the fountain of light, the sun imparts his lustre either to the bodies or to the eyes of his devotees. It is said that a Rajput woman of Gomātā in Gondal and a Brahman of Rajkot were cured of white leprosy by vows in honour of the sun. Similar vows are made to this day for the cure of the same disense, Persons in Kathiawar suffering from ophthalmic disorders, venereal affections, leucoderma and white leprosy are known to observe vows in honour of the sun.
The Parmar Rajputs believe in the efficacy of vows in honour of the sun deity of Mandavraj, in curing hydrophobia. 10
Women believe that a vow or a vrat made to the sun is the sure means of attaining their desires. Chiefly their vows are made with the object of securing a son. On the fulfilment of this desire, in gratitude to the Great Luminary, the child is often called after him, and given such a name as SurajRām, Bhanu-Shankar, Ravi-Shankar, AditRām 11
Many cradles are received as presents at the temple of Mandavraj, indicating that the barren women who had made vows to the deity have been satisfied in their desire for a son, the vows being fulfilled by the present of such toy-cradles to the sun, In the case of rich donors, these cradles are made of precious metal,12
At Mandvara, in the Muli District of Kathiawar, the Parmar Rajputs, as well as the Kāthis, bow to the image of the sun, on their marriage-day, in company with their newly married brides, 19 After the birth of
Mr. N. D. Vora, Rajpara,
* The Deputy Educational Inspector, Gohelwad. • Mr. G. K, Dave, Sultanpore. Mr. K. D. Desai.
5. Mr. D.K. Pandya, Dhbank. 6 Mr. K. D. Desai.
* Mr. M, D. Vyas, Schoolraster, Chayavadur, • Cl. Allaho núr-us-samáwátiwal ard, mathalo nurihi-ka miskatin bihá nusbáh-Koran.
Allah ! He is the light of the Heavens and the Earth. The likeness of His Light being sinilar to a
lamp in a glass.-Fazlullah Latfullah, Mr. Jethabai Mangaldas, Schoolmaster, Gondal; and Damodar Karsonji, Schoolmaster, Dhbank. Mr. B. K. Dave, Schoolmaster, Kotda-Sangani. 10 Mr. N. M. Dave, Sanka. Nr. N. D. Vora, Rajpara.
12 Mr. X. M. Deve, Sanka
