________________
THE FOLKLORE OF GUJARAT
65
according to the Halari year) Hindus offer that he would find half a rupee every mornlapsi to Raval Pir as also on cach Monday in ing in the temple until he saw and partook the month of Bhadrapad. On occasions of of the new harvest. In the month of Shrapopular distress, such as the breaking out of van, he happened to partake of some new cholera or when the rains stop for seeds and the coin could not be found as days together, the bhuwās at the place, who usual after this, although the new harves are Dal Rajputs, receive the pedi (a small was not quite ready till three months after heap of lāpsi) on behalf of the Pir, and wards. At the entreaties of the bhuna, howbeing possessed, declare the will of the Pir ever, the Mātā again told him in a dream as to when rain may be expected or when that he would find a silver anklet, weighing an epidemic will be warded off. Persons 60 tolas, on the bhogavā (village boundary) who are anxious for the success of their un- of the village of Shiyani. A number of rows dertakings observe vows in lionour of the Pir are observed in honour of this goddess with which may cost them anything from a single various motives, pice to twenty-five rupees. At the shrine of The Shakta Mātă in the western part of Nānā Raval Pir, luge kettledrums are beaten the same village prevents the Joganis or and the ceremony of arati is performed erery female fiends from spreading contagious morning and evening.
diseases. The present site of Lilapur was formerly The Surdhans near the gates of Lilapur uninhabited, and the village stood nearly one represent t'wo heroes who were killed in an mile off. Once the goddess Bhavāni directed encounter with freebooters in the Samvat the patel of the village in a dream to reside year 1836 (1780 A, D.). The knots of the on the present site, and promised him that he marriage-scarves of the descendants of the would be always happy and that none of his Surdhans are untied before them, and any of descendants for seven generations would die their female descendants visiting the images of cholera. In testimony of the reality of without a veil on their faces, are subjected the dream a box of red lac, a cocoanut, a reel to serious calamities, of red thread-called nādāsādi and chunadi About ten years ago Unad Bhagat and
-were found under the patel's pillow. The Jiva Bhagat of Paliad were one day walking village was then remɔved to its present site. together, when Unād Bhagat collected seven The descendants of the patel are called stones and placing them one over the other, Yadodā. The Mātà chose to take a Bharvad said to Jiva Bhagat that he was constructing to be her attendant. On the 15th day of the a palio, i, e., a tomb for Jivă. Immediately bright half of Shravan offerings are burnt Jivā died, and Unad had to carry out what before the Mātā, when the attendant bhura ras merely meant in jest. Some rooms are has to offer sweetmeats worth five rupees. built at the expense of the Jasdan Durbar, Every Bharvad family spends a rupec and a and a pujari daily offers worship to Jiva qrirler every third year in honour of the Bhagat. A faïr is also held in his honour Mātā.
on the second day of Bhadrapad, During the famine of the year 1895 About two miles from Jasdan in the village Samvat era (= 1839 A. .) the bhura Wilsof Bakhalvad there is a temple of Avad thinking of leaving the Nată in order to Mäta. The latter represents the queen of escape from starvation, when the goddess one of the rulers of Jasdan. On every appeared in a dream to him, and told him Vijaya-dashami, i.e., the 10th day of the
1 The Schoolmaster of Goh.
The Skoolmaster of Lilapur.
The Schoolmaster of Jasdan.
