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20
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
The Swayambhu (unartificial) linga of the he alights on the earth in the shape of a god Shiva is supposed to have influence over shooting star. Sometimes a big star falls on the fall of rain. 1
the earth, and thereby a noise like that of The people of the Thána District believe thunder is produced. When this happens, that the following ceremony causes a fall of people believe that a great Rája or a holy rain. Stones are taken out of a pool and saint whose merit has been exhausted is going worshipped. They are then carried to every to be born on earth. The following verse house in the village, and water is poured upon from the Mrichhakatiha Nátak supports the them by the inmates. There is a temple of view in accordance with which orthodox the god of clouds at Viranáth in the Thána people in the Konkan avoid looking at District.
shooting stars The appearance of a comet is regarded by
for utara Iwift uit the Hindus as symptomatic of a coming i groforfer H T Tanilie, evil, e.g., a big war, a great famine, or a The following four things, viz. the rainterrible contagious disease spreading itself bow, the fall of shooting stars, the delivery throughout the length and breadth of a coun- of a cow, and the death-struggle of saints or try. Some persons think that comets and holy men should not be looked at? It is shooting stars bode evil to the king."
generally believed by Hindus that a child Whenever a great person or a very holy will immediately be born in the house toman is about to be born, it is believed that wards which shooting stars are directed.8 1 School Master, Devarukh, Ratnagiri.
* School Master, Badlapar, Thána, * School Masters, Agashi and Arnála, Thána. • School Master, Mith Bav, Ratnágiri. 5 School Master, Nivare, Ratnagiri,
School Master, Mith Bav, Ratnagiri. School Master, Thána,
& School Master, Kolába.
