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JUNE, 1925)
LEGENDS OF THE GODLINGS OF THE SIMLA HILLS
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4. Devi Adshakti or Durga Mata.--A Brahman of the Sakteru Pujära family relates that more than 100 generations ago his ancestors came from Kashi (Benares) and settled at Hat Koți; and that one of them came to Kacheri village with Adshakti Bhagwati. This goddess, with her sister and Kot Ishwar were shut up in the tumbi, as has been told in the account of Kot Ishwar. Adshakti flew to the top of Tikar hill above Ghåmana, a village in Kumbársain, and settled there in the form of a ling. Her presence was revealed to a Mâwanna of Tikkar in a dream, and the ling was found and placed in a temple.
Other pujáris of Kacherî say that Âdshakti, commonly called Bhagwati Mata, no doubt came from Hatkoţi, but that she was never imprisoned in a tumbi and that when the panda of Hatkoți had shut up Kot Ishwar in the tumbî the two Durga sisters accompanied him, one walking ahead and the other behind him looking for an opportunity to release Kot Ishwar. When the panda fell and Kot Ishwar escape 1, the two sisters also flew away. First they went to Rachtari village and thence to HAta.
Durga Matå settled at Tikkar, in which neighbourhood Bhuria, once a powerful MA wanni, had fallen into difficulties. He consulted Brâhmans, and they sent for a number of virgins, and, having made them sit in a row, called aloud to them that the spirit that distressed the Mawannâ, whether god or devil, would appear and reveal through one of the girls why he had harrassed the M&wanng. One of the girls then began to dance in an ecstacy and said that Bhagwati Mata was lying on Tikkar hill in the form of a ling, and that, of the two sisters, one lived at Kanda, on the top, and the other at Munda, the foot of the hill. The M&wanna and his Brahmans excused themselves to the spirits, saying that they had not known of their presence, and they promised to build a temple to the Mata. The girl in a trance walked up the Tikkar hill; the other virgins, the Brahmans and the Mewanná following her. She pointed out the spot where the ling lay and on that spot was built the temple called Matri Deori. which still exists.
At that time Polas, a Brahman from the Sindha Desh came to Lathi village and began to worship Durga Mata. He came really to look for Kot Ishwar, who would not appear before him, but at last after twelve years he revealed himself and then the Brahman began to worship bim. .
Kot Ishwar gave the pujdris of Batara village to Bhagwati Mata for her worship. These pujárís are said to have come from Kord Desh.
The Mateog Brahmans were settled in Batard and they worship Kot Ishwar daily, but at the four sankrants in Baisakh, Sawan, and Magh and at the Diwali, the Sherkota Brâhmang officiate.
Kirti Singh, the first Rand of the Kumhårsain family, acknowledged Durga Bhagwati as sister of Kot Ishwar and built her a new temple at Kacheri. Every third year & půjd meld is held and the State pays the expenses.
According to the custom of the Kumharsain family the jadolan ceremony (cutting the hair of a son or wearing nose or ear-rings by a girl) is performed at the Matri Deora. The Raņ& and his Ranis go in person to this temple with their children for the ceremony. Simi. larly on ascending the gaddi the new Rand with his family attends, at the Matri Deor&, & ceremony called the jaudid játra.
Bhagwati MAtå holds a jâgîr from the State worth Rs. 14-1-3 and also has a small kelon forest. Goats are sacrificed to her and every third year, or when desired buffaloes are also killed before her at the Matri Deorå.
Some people believe that though the Matâ has tomples at the Matri Deorf and Kacheri she is always sitting at her brother Kot Ishwar's side at Mandholi.
Bend and Bhuri are two bhors or servants of the Mata. Benu was a Ghot from Ben' in Kulld and Bhupf came from Jo Bag at Haltu. The latter is a female attendant and was originally a ghost. Both attend at the gate of the temple.
