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THE FOLKLORE OF GUJARAT
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Holy men receive personal worship during 1 In the Kadavàsan woods, near the village their life-time. After they are dead, their of Daldi, there lives a bàvà called Bhimputi, relics, such as impressions of their footsteps, who is believed to possess miraculous powers, their photos or busts are worshipped with He surprises visitors by his wonderful feats offerings of sandal paste, flowers, red powder, and commands vows from the afflicted by mitifrankincense, lamps fed with ghi and drati gating their sufferings. Every day, before (swingings of lamps)
breakfast, the bàvà visits seven villages to Every sect of Hindus has a Maharaja or collect sugar and flour, which he throws in spiritual head, and it is considered meritor
handfuls over every anthill which he meets ious to entertain and worship him on certain
on his way. This act of charity has establishspecial occasions. The Maharaja or Guru is
ed him as a saint, and most of his prophecies received with great éclat. His followers
are believed to be fulfilled. form a procession and carry him in a palan
A Musalman named Muhammad Chhail is quin or a carriage and pair accompanied with
held in great respect by the people on account music. At the house of the person who
of his great magical powers. He is believed invites him, the floor is covered with rich
to be in the good graces of a Pir, who has cloth, over which the Maharaja is led to a
endowed him with the power of commanding raised seat specially arranged for the purpose.
material objects to come to him from long He is then worshipped by the host with the
distances, and of breaking them and making same details as the image of a god. His feet
them whole again, are washed by panchamrita (five nectars), Great men of antiquity often command that is a mixture of ghi, milk, honey, sugar worship as gods. A fast is observed by and water, which is sipped by the worshipper Hindus on the 9th day of the bright half of and distributed among the followers of the Chaitra, the birth day of Rama, whose birth Maharaja. Very often the feet of the anniversary is celebrated at noon on that day Maharaja are Washed in water, which is in his temple. On this occasion, all visitors considered as purifying as the panchàmrita. to the temple offer a pice or two to his image Great festivity and rejoicings are observed on and receive his Prasad, that is, consecrated this day at the house of the Maharaja's host, food, which consists of a mixture of curdled where crowds of the Maharaja's followers milk and sugar. The birth of Krishna is assemble eager for a sight of him. After celebrated at mid-night on the eighth day of spending about half an hour in the house, the the dark half of Shravan, when people keep Maharaja departs, first receiving valuable awake for the whole of the night. presents from the host.
The Jains observe a fast for seven days Spiritual guides who claim the power of
from Shravan Vad Baras, that is the 12th working miracles are held in high esteem by day of the dark half of Shravan, to the 5th the people. Some of these guides are said to day of the bright half of Bhàdarva, in have control over spiritual beings or to possess honour of Mahavir Swami, one of their their favour. These spirits are supposed
spiritual teachers, who is believed to have lo endow them with the power of preparing been born on the 2nd day of the bright half mystic threads, which, when worn round of Bhàdarva. This period is known as the the waist, neck or arm, cure various diseases. Pajusan, during which the Jains cause the
· The School Master of Ganod. • The School Maste: of Zinzuvadà.
