________________
70
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
for the purpose. It is believed that after The spirits known as Mahápurush haunts going to the teniple on the 13th day, the sons the Pipal and Umbar trees. Avagat the ghost and the other members of the family are at of a widow haumts the Avali (Phyllanthus liberty to go out of the house. 1
emblica) tree. Alwant, the ghost of a woman At Kolhápur it is believed that the deities dying at childbirth or during her menses, lives Etalái and Kálkái of the Konkan districts in the Nagchámpa, Surang and the Kájra keep with thein evil spirits as their servants,
trees. Devachár, Sambandh, Munje, Zoting, l'hese servant spirits obey the orders of these
Khavis and Khápra reside in trees and plants. deities. Some people in this district go to
The people of Kolhapur believe that the
spirits known as Bramhasambandh, Brahma the temples of these deities and request them to
Rákshasa, and Khavis reside in trees. lend them the services of these spirit servants.
The spirits known as Devchár and Chálegat It is considered very lucky to secure the
are considered to be the special protectors of belp of these spirits. The temple ministrant
crops and cattle. then requests the deity to give a Kaul or omen.
The people of Ubhádánda in the Ratnagiri For this purpose, the temple ministrant calls
District believe that the village deities and on the deity to enter his body, and when he
the Devachárs are the special protectors of is possessed by the spirit of the deity, he crops and cattle. Offerings of fowls and allows the applicant to take with him one of cocoanuts are made to them annually.8 the deity's servants for a fixed period. The At Kochare in the Ratnagiri District, the Guray, or the ministrant, then explains to the spirit known as Viswati is believed to be the person the period for which the spirit servant special protector of crops and cattle. is given, and the amount of the annual tribute The people of the Kolába District consider required to be given to the deity for the use of
that the spirits known as Mhashya, Khavis, her servant. He also gives him a cocoanut
and Bándav are the protectors of crops and and sacred ashes. The applicant then returns
cattle 10 home, believing that the spirit servant will
At Dahány in the Thána District, the spirit follow him, and from that time he prospers.
Cheda is believed to be the guardian of crops This spirit servant is called Chetuk, and it
and cattle.11
The people of Kolhápur believe that the can be seen only by the person in whose charge
deities of the fields protect the crops and it is given by the Guray.”
cattle. Those who are in possession of the At Achare in the Rainagiri District, the spirit
Chetuk, or the servant spirit, are sure to find of a Brahman well versed in the Vedas is called
their crops and cattle protected by this servant Mahápurusha and it is said to be benevolent.
spirit 12 It haunts Pipal and Umbar'trees.
Evil spirits are not usually invoked to At Murbád in the Thána District, the spirit frighten children, but occasionally the names known as Vetál, the king of evil spirits, is of goblins such as Bágulbáwa, Bowáji, Gosávi considered to be benevolent.*
etc., are mentioned to scare them. 13
1 School Master, Málad, Thána.
? Ráo Sáheb Shelse, Kolkapur. 3 School Master, Achare, Ratnagiri.
* School Master, Marbád, Thána. 5 School Master, Achare, Ratnagiri.
6 Báo Saheb Shelse, Kolhpu. . School Master, Fonde, Ratnagiri,
5 School Master, Ubbádánda, Ratnagir!, • School Master, Kochare, Ratnagiri
10 School Master Varsai, Kolába. 11 School Master, Dabánu, Thána.
12 Ráo Saheb Shelke, Kolhapus. 13 School Master, Achare, Ratnagiri,
