Indian Antiquary Vol 47

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 218

202
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[AUGUST, 1918
A large market is opened during the fair. A fair is also held on the first day of every month at Uderolâl and a mid-yearly fair is held on Asu chand. At Nasarpur also fairs are held as at Uderolâl at the place where he was born, the place being considered holy and jot being maintained there.
On the island of Bukkur a fair is also held on Cheti chand. After Uderolâl had disappeared at Jhai-jo-Goth he appeared again at Bukkur emerging from the rock. He was seen and people still worship Him as Zinda Pir in the temple built over the spot. Here a light is perpetually maintained in a cave. From the Sakrant of Srawan to the Sakrant of Bado the Hindus at Sukkur lock the doors of the holy place of Zinda Pir for forty days and no one but the care-taker is allowed to enter. He too approaches the place not in a boat but swimming on an earthenware pot (mati) with his eyes bandaged. He but adds oil to the lamp and trims the wick. After the expiry of forty days a great fair is held when many baharanas ( distributed.
a ball of spiced dough) and much sweet rice are
At Uderolâl the service is in the hands of a Bairagi, who has been placed in charge by the Thakurs. From him no accounts are taken and he is in fact his own master with his own chelas to succeed him. He, however, serves all Thakurs who visit Uderolâl. It is he who adorns the tomb with its rich trappings on every day of the new moon, on every Friday, and on every thirteenth day of the moon a golden turban and a rich piece of cloth are laid upon the tomb. At the same time people offer rice cooked with sugar (gur) and baharanas, of which the former is eaten and the latter thrown into the well.
At other places where there are disciples, as at Sehwan and Shikarpur, will be found temples for the jot where, lamps are maintained night and day. At every temple or, as in Hyderabad city, at every road-side shrine, a jhari full of water is also maintained near the jot. Both are worshipped symbolically and equally. Morning and evening prayers must be offered before the jot and the jhari, or, if possible, on the river-side before running water. A Thakur as part of his worship should morning and evening ceremonially cast rice and sugarcandy into the river. At "Uderolâl" He is addressed as Lâl Udero Sâin (the holy leader), Ratnani Sher (the lion of the house of Ratanrai, and Baga Bahar Sher (Lion of the white sea).
The Daryapanthis are monotheists and worship no other gods nor are they idolaters. Their only religious books are the Janam bakhi (the story of Uderolal, in verse from which the foregoing story is taken) and other poems and writings in praise of Uderolâl.
Women partake in the worship of Uderolâl. From ancient times they visit the central place of the cult to pray for children, seating and bumping themselves at the time of prayer on a wishing-stone. They pray too on many accounts, on behalf of their husbands, for wealth or for health. When going to the river to ask such requests they carry sweet rice in a jhari which must not be opened on the way. The whole is thrown into the river as also other offerings of rice and sugar to the accompaniment of hymns in praise of Uderolál. Finally, they draw their sari (rava or châdar, the body cloth) slightly across their breast and beg for the required boon. Such prayers should be offered on Friday, the 13th day or a new-moon day. In other respects there is no special ritual or place specially set apart for women.