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JUNE, 1928)
LEGENDS OF THE GODLINGS OF THE SIMLA HILLS
105
When Kot Ishwar and Bhurâ Deot& entered the temple, two goats were, as usual, offered for sacrifice, but Kot Ishwar declined to accept them, saying that he had with him a third deotá as his guest and that a third goat should be offered for him. So the people brought a third goat, but Dithù refused to accept it, saying that he preferred human flesh and that a virgin girl should be sacrificed. Kot Ishwar was displeased at this and ordered Ditha's arrest, and he was not released until he had sworn never to taste human flesh again. This pleased Kot Ishwar and be made Dith his wazir. He was given a place called Dholaser where his temple exists. Kot Ishwar deotd also assigned him his favourite, Kotala, a M&wanna, as his kårdar and this family was given a village called Bai close to Dholaser. Ditha brought with him from Marni a mohrú tree, which still stands with some kelon trees close to his temple. Rand Kirti Singh, founder of the Kumharsain State, affected this deota and gave him land worth Rs. 35-12-9. The deotá comes out of his temple when Kot Ishwar rides out in his rath at a meld. A bali meld is held every third year.
I forgot to say that Bhambu Rai was a Rajput from Bangar Desh country. Some say that one thousand years of Sambat Raja Judhistar had passed when Bhamba Rai lived in the country. It is Samvat 5009 of Raja Judhistar now.
8. The Deota Malendu, or Marechh, at Malendi.-The people of Chebishi pargana, who are devotees of Malendû Deota, say that the seven Marechh brothers came from MAnasarowar Lake and fought with Bhambû Rai when he barred their way. After his over. throw they came to Hata, whence they scattered. Malendû went to the Chhichhar forest, and after a time flew to the top of Dertû hill above Chebishi pargana. A Kali, or Kalka, called Bhagwati, who lived on this peak, received him kindly, but after a while she desired him to acquire a territory where he could be worshipped, and recommended to him the Chebishi pargana, as it was subsequently named.
The Deota Marechh left the Kalka and came to the Lanki forest. Thence he descended to the NAIA and reached Janjhat, a place where he found a brass båoli with brass steps down to the water. But some say either that he did not reach the brass baolt or that from the baoli he went to Dheongli and set himself under a bes tree.
The story goes that this Marechh, being anxious to make himself known to the people, transformed himself into a serpent, and sucked milk from the cows that grazed near by. A cow girl saw him and informed a Deongli Brahman. When he came, the serpent returned to his original form, an ashatdhatů image, and sat in his lap. The Brahman gave him dháp-dip. At that time the M&wannês of Basher and Pharâl were powerful, so the Brahman carried the image to Bashera, and the Bashera Mawannà in consultation with one of Pharal informed Deota Kot Ishwar of the new arrival. Kot Ishwar treated the Marechh kindly and gave him the present Chebishi pargana, but only on condition that he would not oppress the people, and that he should only be allowed goat and sheep (khadu not bher) to eat.
He was given a jágír of four kain of land in the villages of Pharal, Barot, Malana and Malendi, and also a field in each of the following villages, Bashera, Khabar, Khatgar, Shaile, Gheti and Dhanal. It was also agreed that Marechh Malendû should not go out for a ride on a rath unless Kot Ishwar gave him leave, and his rath is never decorated till Kot Ishwar Bende him a piece of masrü cloth in token of permission. Like Dithở he does not come out of his temple save when Kot Ishwar does so. Malendû was further ordered to observe the following teohars (at each of which Kot Ishwar sends him a goat), viz., Bisha, Rehali, Dewals, Magh and Sharuno. Lastly Malendo was asked to select a place for his temple and he chose Malendi, where one was built by the Bashera and Pharal Mawann As.
It is believed that the deotd is absent from his temple on the Maghi Shankrant for seven days during which the temple is closed and all work stopped till his return. The popular belief is that the deotd goes to fight with the rakshasas and daints at Bonda Bil, somewhere in Bashahar and returns after bathing at Kidárn&th. On his return the temple is opened
