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THE FOLKLORE OF GUJARAT
a son to a Rajputani, the hair on the boy's The following are some of the standard head is shaved for the first time in the pre- | books on sun-worship: sence of the Mandavrāj deity,* and a suit of
(1) Aditya-hridaya-literally, the Heart rich clothes is presented to the image by the
of the Sun. It treats of the glory of the sun maternal uncle of the child.1
and the mode of worshipping him, The sun is it the observer of all
(2) Brihadaranyakopanishad and Manduthings and nothing can escape his notice. His eye is believed to possess the lustre of
la-Brahmans-portions of Yajur-veda recithe three Vedic lores, vis., Rigveda, Yajur
ted by Vedic Brahmans with a view to veda and Sāmaveda, and is therefore known
tender symbolic as well as mental prayers to by the name of The attestation of the sun. a document in his name as Sürya-Närāyana- (3) Bibhrād-the fourth chapter of the Säkshi is believed to be ample security for Rudri, the sincerity and good faith of the parties," (4) A passage in Brāhman-a portion of Oaths in the name of the sun are considered the Vedas, beginning with the words FTOTTE so binding that persons swearing in his name Thou art self-existent-is entirely devoted to are held to be pledged to the strictest truth. Sun-worship.
Virgin girls observe a vrat, or vow, called (5) Sürya-Purana-A treatise relating a the 'tili-vrat' in the sun's honour, for
number of stories in glorification of the sun. attaining is atta-eternal exemption
(6) Sūrya-kavacha, 10 from widowhood. In making this vrat, or
(7) Sürya-gita. vow, the votary, having bathed and worshipped the sun, sprinkles wet red-lac drops
(8) Sürya-Sahasranama--a list of one before him.5
thousand names of Surya. 11 According to Forbes's Rāsmālā, the sun
It is customary among Hindus to cleanse rewaled to the Kāthis the plan of regaining their teeth every morning with a wooden their lost kingdom, and thus commanded stick, known as dātant and then to offer their devout worship and reverence. The salutations to the sun in the form of a verse temple named Suraj.deval, near Thăn, was which means: "Oh God, the datans are torn set up by the Käthis in recognition of this asunder and the sins disappear. Oh the favour. In it both the visible resplendent
i penetrator of the innermost parts, forgive us disc of the sun and his image are adored,
our sins. Do good unto the benevolent and People whose horoscopes declare them to
unto our neighbours." This prayer is comhave been born under the Sürya.dashā,or solar
mon in the moutlis of the vulgar laity. 19 influence, have from time to time to observe Better educated people recite a shloka, vows prescribed by Hindu astrology.? which runs: "Bow unto Savitri, the sun, the
Cultivators are said to observe vows in observer of this world and its quarters, the honour of the sun for the safety of their cye of the universe, the inspirer of all cattle.
energy, the holder of a three-fold person
A similar custom is observed in Gujarat. Unfortunate parents, who have lost many children, vow to grow the hair of their little children, if such are preserved to them, observing all the time a votive abstinence froin a particular dish or betelnut or the like. When the children are 3 or 5 or 7 years old, the vow is fulfilled by taking them to a sacred place, like the temple of Ranchhodji at Dakor, to have their nair cut for the first time. This vow is known as bābari in Southern Gujarat.-K. D. Desai. I Mr. N. M. Dave, Sanka.
* Mr. Jethabhai Mangaldas, Gondal. Mr. K, D. Desai. • Mr. N. M. Dave, Sanka.
The Deputy Educational Inspector. Gohelwad. "Mr. M. M. Rana, Barton Fem ile Training College, Rajkot. 7 Mr. G. K. Dave, Schoolmaster, Sultacpora.
Mrs. Raju Ramjee Kanjee, 2nd Assistant, Girls' School, Gondal, 9 Mr. D. K. Pandya, Dhhank
10 Mr. M. M. Rana, Rajkot. 1 Mr. Girijashankar Karmeashankar, Schoolmaster, Songadh, The Hindus tise the tender sprigs of the Nim or Babul trees for tooth-brushes. After they have done duty as brushes they are cloven into two and the tenderest part is used as a tongue-scraper. -Khan Bahadur Fazlullah.
12 Mr. N. M. Dave, Sanka.
