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TITE FOLKLORE OF GUJIRAT
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It is also said that the stors descend to known by the name of Väyu) portend the earth in human form when sins nccumulate breaking out of an epidemic : those from in the celestial world.
l'aruna-mandal, are believed to be favourable The influence of meteors on human affairs to human happiness; if they fall from is treated at length in the Varahasanhita. Indra-mandal, they forebode danger to all The phenomenon is popularly regarded as an kings; those from Agui-mandal, threaten evil omen: it is supposed to portend devasta
war between nations." tion by fire, an earthquake, a famine, an
During the monsoons, rain is believed to epidemnic, danger from thieves, and storms at
fall in that direction in which a meteor is sea." The appenrance of a bright shooting
seen to shoot." A meteor in the west is star is supposed to foretell the death of some
ominous to kings, and if it falls into the sea, great man;' and on beholding one, it is
it forebodes eril to the dwellers on earth. customary to repeat the words Ram Rīm"
The appearance of a comet is believed to several times. A shower of meteors is believed to presage some civil commotion or a
portend some dire calamity to the king and change in the ruling dynasties.
the nation. It is said that if a heavenly Some persons, lowerer, regard the appear.
body is seen, chhogālo, t chhogālā kings ance of meteors as Auspicious or baneful, i.e., great and celebrated kings) are in according to the mandal or group of stars,
danger of their lives. A comet is also from which they are seen to fall. Meteors believed to threaten all tailed animals with from the layu-mandal, (or the group of stars destruction.”
1 The Schoolmaster of Sayala. Perhaps it is the accumulation of sin in this world that brings down the saints of heaven in human form. The earth is unable to bear too much sin and would soon cone to an end if the balance between virtue and sin were not maintained. It is for this purpose that saints are born in this world and add to the store of merit on earth, by preaching righteousness to people and by leading a virtuous life.-K. D. Desai.
The Schoolmaster of Ganod, The Schoolmasters of Rajpara, Vasiwad, Upleta, and Khirasara. • The Schoolmasters of Patanvir and Sultanpur.
s The Schoolmaster of Sultanpur. The Schoolmaster of Charādwa.
The Deputy Educational Inspector of Gohelwad, The Schoolmaster of Jodia.
The Schoolmaster of Songadh. It is an act of merit to repeat the name of Rim, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu. As the death oi a righteous person is due to the growth of sin in this world, people utter the name of Ram in order to atone for
hat sin. The name is repeated as long as the shooting star is visible. Vaishnavas recite the name of Krisbna.-K. D. Desai.
It is also said that the name of Ram or Krishna is repeated, because the falling star enters the Court of God Bhagwin.-The Schoolmaster of Lakhapadar.
1 (1.e.) with a tail. Chhogā is the end of a turban, which is allowed to hang down the back.
