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THE FOLKLORE OF GUJARAT
147
4shvin.
Sometimes an image of the flour of Adad Sieves are considered sacred for the follow. 3 sacrificed in place of a human being. ing reasons.
This sacrifice 'is generally made on the 1. Because articles of food such a four, zighth or tenth day of the bright half of grain, etc., are sifted through them.
2. Because, on auspicious occasions, when In place of human blood, milk mixed with women go to worship the potter's wheel, the gulàl (red powder) and molasses is materials of worship are carried in a sieve. offered,
3. Because the fire used for igniting the In ancient times, when a well was dug, a
sacrificial fuel is taken in a sieve, or is human sacrifice was made to it if it did not covered with a sieve while it is being carried yield water, with the belief that this would to the sacrificial altar. bring water into the well. Now-a-days, in 4. Because at the time of performing the stead of this sacrifice, blood from the fourth
ceremony when commencing to prepare sweets finger of a man is sprinkled over the spot.3 for a marriage, a sieve is worshipped.10 It is also related that in ancient times, when
5. Because, in some communities like the a king was crowned, a human sacrifice was
Bhåtids, the bride's mother, when receiving offered. Now-a-days, instead of this sacrifice,
the bridegroom in the marriage booth, carries the king's forehead is marked with the blood
in a dish a lamp covered with a sieve.11 from the fourth finger of a low caste Hindu
The flour collected by Brāhmans by begging at the time of the coronation ceremony.
from door to door is supposed to be polluted. There are a few stones which are supposed
But it is considered purified when it is passed
through a sieve 12 to have the power of curing certain diseases. One of such stones is known as Rattano
The sambelu is considered so sacred that Paro. It is found at a distance of about two
it is not touched with the foot. If a woman miles from Kolki. It is marked with red
lie down during day time, she will not touch lines. It is bored and worn round the neck
it either with her head or with her foot.
One of the reasons why it is considered by persons suffering from ratawa" (a disease
sacred is that it was used as a weapon by in which red spots or pimples are seen on the
Baldev, the brother of the god Krishna, skin).
A sambelu is one of the articles, required There is another stone called Suleimani
for performing the reception ceremony on a Päro which is supposed to have the power of
bridegroom's entering the marriage pandal.18 curing many diseases,
It is believed that a fall of rain is expedited There is a kind of white semi-circular stone
by placing a sambelu erect in a dish when which is supposed to cure eye diseases when there is a drought 14 rubbed on the eyes and fever when rubbed
Among Shrigaud Brāhmans, on the marriage on the body?
day, one of the men of the bridegroom's party Sieves for flour and corn, brooms, sambelus wears a wreath made of a sambelu, a broom or corn pounders, and ploughs are regarded and other articles. Some special marks are as sacred
also made on bis forehead. Thus adorned, he
1 The School Master of Hålar. $ The School Master of Devalia. 5 The School Master of Kolki. T The School Master of Jetpur. 9 The School Master of Dadvi. u The School Master of Todia. 1 The School Master of Dhank.
The School Master of Kotda Sangani. 4 The School Master of Todia 6 The School Master of Dhank
The School Master of Dhank. 10 The School Master of Aman. 1 The School Master of Lilapar. 14 The School Master of Zinzavada.
