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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[JULY, 1925
The Kharan and Jão people, finding that Chatar-mukh was stolen from them by the Shadoch people, pursued them shooting arrows and brandishing dangrås. The brave eighteen halted at a maidan behind Jao village, where there was a free fight,,in which Kachli Nag mysteriously helped them, and Chatar-mukh by his miraculous power turned the pursuers' a row against their own breasts and their dangrás flew at their own heads, until hundreds of headless trunks lay on the maidan, while not one of the Shadochâs was killed. The Shadoch people then carried the rath in triumph to Shathla village (in Kotgarh), in the first instance, choosing a place in the middle of the country, so that the god might not be carried off by force by the Kharan and Jão people. Thence the deotd was taken to Sakundi village (in Kotgarh), but the deotd did not like to live there and desired the people to build him a temple at Melan, nearly a furlong from the destroyed temple of the deotá Kânâ Deo to the Kotgarh side. This was done gladly by the people and Chatar-mukh began to reside here.
The people say that nearly 150 years ago Chatar-mukh went to Kidâr Nath on a játrá (pilgrimage), and when returning home he visited Mahâsu Deotâ at Nol, a village in Kiran in Sirmûr (Kiran is now British territory, probably in Dehra Dân District) as his invited guest. But one of Mahâsu's attendant deotás troubled Chatar-mukh in the temple at Nol and frightened his men so that they could not sleep the whole night. This displeased Chatarmukh, and he left the temple at daybreak much annoyed at his treatment. He had scarcely gone a few steps, when he saw a man ploughing in a field, and by a miracle made him turn towards the temple and ascend it with his plough and bullocks.
Deota Mahasû asked Chatar-mukh why he manifested such a miracle, and Chatar-mukh answered that it was a return for his last night's treatment; that he, as a guest, had halted at the temple for rest at night, but he and his lashkar had not been able to close their eyes in sleep the whole night. Chatar-mukh threatened that by his power the man, plough and bullocks should stick for ever to the walls of the temple. Mahasû was dismayed and fell on his knees to beg for pardon.
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Chatar-mukh demanded the surrender of Mahasû's devil attendant, and he was compelled to hand him over. This devil's name is Shirpål.11 He was brought as a captive by Chatar-mukh to Melan, and after a time, when he had assured his master that he would behave well, he was forgiven and made Chatar-mukh's wazir, as he still is, at Melan. Shirpâl ministers in the temple and all religious disputes are decided by him; e.g., if anyone is outcasted or any other chud case arises, his decision is accepted and men are re-admitted into caste as he decrees (by oracle).
Some other minor deotás also are subordinates to Chatar-mukh, the chief among them being-(1) Benû, (2) Janerû, (3) Khorû, (4) Merelû and (5) Basârâ. These deos are commonly called his bhoys (servants). The people cannot tell us anything about their origin, but they are generally believed to be rakshas, who oppressed the people in this country until Chatar-mukh subdued them and made them his servants. These bhor deos are his attendants and serve as chaukiddrs at the temple gate.
Benu is said to have come from Bena in Kulla. He was at first a devil. When it is believed that any ghost has appeared in a house or has taken possession of any thing or man, Deo Benu turns him out. Janeru came from Paljára in Bashahar. He, too, is said to be a devil, but Chatar-mukh reformed him. His function is to protect women in pregnancy and childbirth, also cows, etc. For this service he is given a loaf after a birth. Khorû appeared from Khorû Kiår in Kumharsain. He was originally a devil, and when Raja Mahî Prakash of Sirmûr held his court at Khora and all the hill chiefs attended it, the devil oppressed the people until Chatar-mukh made him captive and appointed him his chaukiddr at Melan temple. Merelû came out of a marghat (crematorium). He, too, is looked upon as a jamdat or rakshas. He had frightened the people at Sainja in Kotgarh, but was captured and made a chaukidår at Melan.
11 Shir means 'stairs, and pal means watch; hence Shirpal means 'a servant at the gate."
