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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
to the other side of Meru; and the day begins The changes in the seasons are attributed when the sun einerges from that side of the by some to Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesha mountain. Meru is sixty-eight thousand (Shiva), the gods of the Hindu Trinity. yojans* in height and penetrates the earth Brahma sends down the rains and produces to the depth of sixteen thousand yojans. corn, grass, etc., Vishnu protects and Its eastern side appears white, the southern nourishes the harvests in winter, and Shiva is yellow, the western is black, and the north- causes the heat of the summer." There is ern red. The mountain is also believed to also a belief that these three gods go down consist of gold and gems. The Ganges, in in turns to the påtal (nether regions) and her fall from the heavens, is said to have stay there for four months. Vishnu desdescended first on the top of this mountain cends on the eleventh day of the bright half and then to have flowed in four streams in of Ashadh, and on that day the rainy season four directions. The southern stream is begins. When Vishnu comes up and Shiva known as the Ganges; the northern, in takes his place, people experience the cold of Tartary, is called Bhadrasoma ; the eastern winter : but as this god always keeps a is the same as the Sita ; and the western is dhanit burning near him, the waters under named Chax or the Oxus. The top of this the surface of the earth, such as those in the inountain is believed to be inhabited by gods, wells, remain hot during this period. Such gandharvas (celestial musicians) and rishis waters are cooled when Shiva returns and (sages). 1 According to the Yoga-väsishtha, Brahma goes down to the pätāl : but the there is a kalpa-vrikshat on the Lalmani return of Shiva causes summer on the summit of Meru, where a rishi named Bhu- earth. shundkāk is engaged in devotional prayers According to another belief, the sequence since time immemorial, The Puranas of the seasons is controlled by the sun-god.8 declare that Vaivaswat Manu, the first man, There are six ritus or seasons; and the resided near Meru, and that his descendants changes in the ritus depend upon the position migrated to Ayodhyā to found there a of the sun in the twelve răshis or signs of kingdom which was afterwards ruled over by the Zodiac. Each ritu lasts for a period of Rāma, 1
two months, during which time the sun travels It is believed by some people that moun through two rashis, Vasant-ritu is the period tain-tops are inhabited by a class of recluses, which the sun takes to pass through the Min called Aghori-bavas, who devour human (Pisces) and Mesha (Aries) rashis. Grishmabeings. The Kälikä hill near Girnår is ritu corresponds to the time during which believed to be frequented by Joganis (female the sun passes through Vrishabha (Taurus) harpies) who take the lives of visitors to the and Mithun (Gemini). During Varsha-ritu hill, and it is said that none who visits the the sun moves through the signs Karka place is ever known to return. Persons (Cancer) and Sinha (Leo), and during who visit the temple of Kalikāmátä on Mount Sharad ritu through Kanya (Virgo) and Girnär always lose one of their party, who Tula (Libra). Hemant-ritu is the time falls a victim to the goddess."
which the sun takes to travel through
1 M. M. Rana, Rajkot.
The Schoolmaster of Limbdi. • The Schoolmasters of Dhbank and Sinki,
The Schoolmaster of Mendarda. • The Shastri of Jetpur, Pathishali. + A magic tree, supposed to grant all desires.
: D. K. Pandya, Dhhank. • The Schoolmaster of Upleta. • The Schoolmaster of Zinzuwadi. • The Schoolmasters of Dhhank and Gondal Taluka.
One yojan=eight miles. * Fire used for the purposes of smoking.
