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36
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
and he is much respected by the ignorant people. At Fonda in the Ratnagiri District the exorcist is not appointed, but one who can satisfactorily interpret or explain to the village deity the sufferings of the people is generally selected.2
In the Vengurla taluka of the Ratnagiri District, the chief function of the village sorcerer is to find remedies for the cure of persons suffering from evil spirits. His position among the people of the low classes is considered high. He follows the hereditary profession of a sorcerer, and generally the eldest son suc
ceeds his father."
At Chidhran in the Panwel taluka of the Kolába District, Bhutes, a caste of beggars, are the devotees of a goddess. Some of them are called Bhagats. Devrishis are very rare. The difference between a Devrishi and a Bhagat is as follows:-A Devrishi removes the evil spirits by simply repeating the mantras while the Bhagat removes them by bringing the evil spirit into his own body and by dancing, etc.
At Chaul in the Kolába District, Bhutes g begging in the morning every day for the first nine days of the month of Ashwin (October). On the tenth day the Bhutya is given a pice from every house. These Bhutes are devotees of the goddess Shakti. At Sasawane in the Kolába District the village sorcerer comes to beg every day and is given rice, etc., but during the first nine days of the bright half of Ashwin (October) he is given copper coins.5 At Anjur in the Thána District the devotee of a particular god is called Bhagat, and one who knows how to summon or eject evil spirits is called Bhutya. A Devrishi is a person who knows the mantras for warding off the great evil spirits such as Brahma Rákshasa, Brahma Samband, etc. These three classes are res
1 School Master, Bándiwade, Ratnagiri. 3 School Master, Ubhádánda, Ratnagiri. 5 School Master, Sasawane, Kolába. r kéo Sáheb Shelke, Kolhapur.
pected only for performing their respective duties, and not otherwise."
At Kolhapur, the sorcerer is never appointed. His functions are to ask a kaul from the deity, to pray for the welfare of the people, and explain to them what he sees in his dreams. He holds no position in higher society, but the poor people who believe in him are afraid of him. Sorcerers are generally very cunning; they frighten poor people, and obtain from them presents and gifts for their maintenance."
In the Vengurla taluka of the Ratnágri District red flags are hoisted on Banyan, Pipal,
and Umbar trees, and on certain occasions offerings of coins and cocoanuts are made. It is believed that when the three kinds of trees happen to grow together, ie., close to each other, near a well or on the bank of a river, the god Datta resides there, but such cases are very rare. These trees are supposed to be the haunts of the Munja spirit, and therefore copper coins waved round the persons suffering from evil spirits are thrown underneath them. There are no sacred wells in this taluka. In the Dápoli taluka of the Ratnagiri District, the Banyan and Pipal trees are worshipped. The former is worshipped by women on the full moon day of the month of Jestha (June) and on the no moon day when it falls on Monday. On these occasions a cotton thread is tied round the tree, and offerings of glass beads, cocoanuts, fruits, etc., are made. These trees are also worshipped with offerings of copper coins, etc. In the Dápoli taluka, there is a certain place between the two villages of Anjarla and Harnai where persons passing by that side throw one or two stones, causing thereby a heap of stones there. It is be lieved that by doing this the person who throws such stones gets rid of his itch. This place
2 School Master, Fonda, Ratnagiri.
4 School Master, Chidran, Kolába.
6 School Master, Anjur, Thána.
8 School Master, Ubhádánda, Ratnagiri.
School Master, Bankavli, Ratnagiri.
