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THE FOLKLORE OF GUJARAT
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mouth are fierce, by whose three eyes the of this etiquette, one sneezes, he excuses himself forehead is ablaze, whose lustre is marked by saying that he is suffering from cold.2 by irresistible anger, who holds a crescent
Some people believe that a sneeze in front is inoon on the forehead and matted hair on
an indication of a broil on the road, a sneeze the head, whose body is besmeared with
on the left side portends loss of money, one ashes; whose neck is adorned by the poison
from above is a harbinger of success, one from of the fierce lord of the cobras. Oh! may
below foretells danger, while the sneeze of the success attend to thee! Oh! Great one!
man W.10 is engaged or is starting on the act The Lord of spirits! manifest thy form,
contemplated is believed to be very injurious. dance, dance; move, move; tie with a
A sneeze on the right is considered neither chain, tie; terrify by a neigh, terrify;
good nor bad." kill, kill by the adamantine wand; cut, cut off by a sharp weapon; tear off,
A sneeze in the east causes anxiety, in the tear off by the point of a spear; reduce,
south-east foretells happiness, in the south reduce to atons by the bludgeon; remove,
speaks of coming loss, and in the soutlı-west remove; all the evil spirits Swaha."1
is an indication of good. A sneeze from the There are various superstitious beliefs
west or no:th-West is considered good, from entertained by people regarding sneezing.
the north injurious, and from the east
auspicious.. According to one belief, if a person sneezes
Some lines from the sayings of Gorakhraj face to face with another who is about to begin an auspicious act, such as starting on a
run to the effect that a sneeze in the cast journey, decking his person with ornaments,
causes anxiety, one in the south-east inflicts performing a marriage ceremony, and the like,
a soand beating, one 'in the south brings a it portends misfortune to the latter; but a
visitor or guest, one in the south-west subjects
the person concerned to a taunt, one in the West sneeze on his right or at his back foretells
bestows a throne or crown, one in the northgood. A sneeze in front of a person starting
West promises sweets or dainties, one in the to perform an auspicious act is supposed to
north foretells good, one in the north-east mean that a blow has been struck on his fore
brings disappointment, while one's own sneeze head, suggesting that the act should be stopped.
is so ominous that one should never start out If, in spite of this warning, the act is
on any business after sneezing. commensed, evil consequences are sure to
The beliefs enumerated above relate to follow. A sneeze at a man's back confirms the
sneezes which occur on certain week days, unobstructed fulfilment of the ac, taken in
The sneezes which occur on Sundays have the hand, as it is believed to have patted the man
following consequences. on his back or shoulders in token of approval.
A sneeze from the east is good, one from the Sneezes on either side, right or left, portend south-east points to delay in the fulfilment of neither good nor evil.
one's intended object, one from the south As a rule, sneezes are believed to forebode brings in profit, one from the south-West evil, and it is considered highly unmannerly to results in death, one from the West in happiness, sneeze while one is about to begin an auspicious one from the north-West throws one into the act or start with a good purpose. If, in spite society of good men, one from the north is
• The School Master of Bhayavadar.
vadar
· The School Master of Kotda Sangani. 3 The School Master of Saaka.
The School Master of Kolki. 5 The School Master of Chhardva.
