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THE FOLKLORE OF GUJARAT
(4) Tag Pir or the live saint near Bhàyàvadar: This Pir is believed to have the power of curing enlargement of the spleen. Persons suffering from this disease go to his shrine and distribute dry dates among children, This is supposed to propitiate him and to effect the cure.1
(5) Miran Dàtàt: The miraculous and curative powers of this Pir are so potent that blind persons are known to have their eye-sight restored and childless persons to have their longings for children satisfied through his favour. Persons possessed by evil spirits are exorcised by merely wearing a ring in his name.2 The shrine of this Pir is situated in the village of Unava in the Gaikwàr's territory in North Gujarat. His Highness the late Gaikwàr Khanderàe has fixed solid silver railings round the shrine of this Pir in gratitude for a cure effected by him,
(6) Ràmde Pir: This Pir has obtained the epithet of Hindva Pit as he is worshipped mostly by the Hindus. He has worshippers in many places, where shrines are erected in his honour and verses and hymns composed and sung in his praise, He is evidently, as his name suggests, one of the first Khoja missionaries who practised teachings more Hindu than Musalman in order to secure a following among the Hindus. (7) Haji Karmani near Dvârikhan, (8) The Dàvalsha Pir near Amaràn. (9) The Lakad Pir and the Hussein Pir in the vicinity of Ganod
(10) Mahabali Dàda Pir:-This Pir is to be found close to the village of Varai. Milk offered to him in his shrine in indàs (egg-shaped pots) is said to remain fresh for a year. Similarly, the doors of his shrine open of themselves after the lapse of
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a year.
(11) Mangalio Pir:-This Pir is worshipped at Dadvi, (12) Moto Khandorana,
Pir-Is worshipped at
(13) Hindva Pir:-This is the Pir of the Khojàs in Pirana near Ahmedabad. He is so called because he is worshipped by the Hindus also.
(14) Bhadiàdaro Pir:-Is in the village of Bhàdia near Dhorali,
(15) Ingàràsha Pir and Bàlamsha Pir. (16) Tamialsha and Kasamsha Pir:
The shrines of these Pirs are on the Girnar hill. 4
(17) Ganj Pir:-The shrine of this Pir
is near Todia, Vows to offer a quarter of a pound of molasses to this Pir are believed to be efficacious in curing persons of fever and children of their ailments,
There is a Pir in the village of Vadhardan near Viramgam. Persons suspected of having committed thefts are conducted a chains before this Pir. It is said that, if the charge be false, the chains break asunder of themselves."
Apart from the respect paid to the Pirs mentioned above, the Hindus hold in great reverence the tàbuts of the Muhammadans.7
The School Master of Devalia.
3 The School Mistress, Female Training College, Rajkot. 5 The School Master of Todia,
The School Masters of Dhank and Vanod. The School Master of Moti Parabadi.
6 The School Master of Lilapur.
Mr. K. D. Desai.
