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JULY, 1925]
LEGENDS OF THE GODLINGS OF THE SIMLA HILLS
they went. Wherever there is temple to Mûl, he is now generally called Padof. At present his chief temple is at Padoâ in Bhajji, on the east bank of the Sutlej, but Koti is the jethu.. sthan or first place. Shânglû and Riṛkû are his bhors.
Rirku was a deota at Padoa, who came flying in spirit to Mûl at Koti. He ate a loaf given him by Mûl and accepted him as his master. He now drives away bhut pret when commanded by Mul, and the same is told of Shanglu.
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Thathlû deotá10 is wazîr to the Mal of Koti and when a rupee is given to him, four annas are given to Thathlû. Thathlû's temple is at Thathal in Kumhârsain and in it his image is kept, but people believe that Thathlu is always with his elder spirit and only comes to the temple when invoked or to take dhûp dip. Thathlû calls Mûl his dadû (elder). Mûl goes to Suni every year at the Dasahra and his spirit goes to Shuli to bathe. Padoa and Dharogra in Bhajjî have large temples of Mûl and there is a big temple at Parol in Shangri also. Padoî deotâ is very useful, if his help is asked, in hunting and shooting. There are two other temples of Padoî in Chebishi pargana, at Shailla and Gheti.
26. Mûl Padot of Shailla.-The Thakur's descendants also settled in village Kareot. The Gheti people, too, carried their family god to Kareot, but on their way they came to Shailla. Before that time the Nâg deotd used to be the family god of the Shaillâ people, but a leper in Shaillâ laid himself on the road and asked Padoî to cure him. Padof said that if he would cure him, he must discard the Nâg deotâ who was living in the village. The leper promised to do so and was cured. The people seeing Padof's superiority over the Nag sent him away to Dhali village, where the people still worship him. His temple was taken over by Padoî and he lives there to this day. A devotee of Padoî went to Theog and there built him a temple, only a couple of years ago [1908].
It is said that with the prince from Sirmûr came a Brahman, a Kanet named Gasâon, and a turi (musician), whose descendants are to be found in Kumhârsain, Bhajji and Shangri. Shangri State was a part of Kullû and made a State soon after the Sikh invasion of Kulla, when wazir Kapuru made Shangri State for the Raja of Kullů.
Padoi Deota of Koti has from Kumharsain a jagir worth Rs. 112. Goats are sacrificed and the Diwali and Sharuno festivals are observed, when a small fair is held.
27. Mûl Padot of Gheti.-When the jhâkur of Kangal fled or died, his fort was burnt by the Raja of Kullû, and the descendants of his house came to Kumhârsain in the time of Rana Ram Singh. They were given Ghetî village in jagir. The Koli fort was taken by them and they held it for about twenty generations. They brought with them to Gheti silver and copper images of Mûl, and these are kept at the Ghetî temple to this day.
Sixth Group-Kalls and Bagwatis.
28. The Deota Kali of Anû.-Long ago (people cannot say when) one of the zamindars of Anû went to Kidâr Nath and brought back with him an image, which he set up at Anû as Kali. Puja is not made daily, but only on the Shankrant day.
29. Kali of Dertú.-As to this Kâlî, see the account of Malendi. She has a small temple at Dertû and is believed to live there. Goats are sacrificed to her.
30. The Deota Durga of Bharech.-Durgâ deotd is a goddess who was brought by a Brahman from Hât Koti to Bharech, a village in Chagaon pargana. Brahmans worship her morning and evening.
31. The Bhagwati of Kachin Ghati.-At Kachin Ghâtî is a small temple of Bhagwati, who is worshipped by the people of pargana Sheol in Kumharsain. Though their family god is the Marechh at Bareog, they regard this Bhagwati with respect and sacrifice goats to her. She has no connection with Adshakti or Kasumba Devi.
10 The Thathlů Zamindars claim to be descendants of the Sirmûr prince, though they are now Kaneta.
