Folk Lore Notes. Vol. II—KonkanJackson, A. M. T. (Arthur Mason Tippetts)
Religion
Folk Lore Notes. Vol. II—Konkan
Jackson, A. M. T. (Arthur Mason Tippetts)
Folklore -- India
At Kochare in the Vengurla taluka of the Ratnágiri District, a woman
whose husband is alive is made to represent the goddess Jari Mari,
and is worshipped with flowers, red powder Kunku and black ointment
Kájal. She is given a feast of sweet things; and rice and cocoanuts
are put into her lap by another woman whose husband is alive. She is
then carried in procession through the village with beating of drums
and the singing of songs. This is similar to the Paradi procession,
which is also common in that District. [327]
At Navare in the Ratnágiri District, in cases of small pox, the
diseased child and the person into whose body the small pox deities
called Báyás enter, are worshipped with Abir black scented powder,
flower garlands, &c. [328]
At Pendur in the Málwan taluka of the Ratnágiri District the wrath
of the female deities or Mátrikás is supposed to be the cause of
epidemic diseases, and these Mátrikás are accordingly worshipped for
their pacification. [329]
At Chaul in the Kolába District the god Shankar is worshipped by
Bráhmans when epidemic diseases prevail in a village. The worship
consists in repeating Vedic hymns. The nine planets are also
propitiated by sacrifices of boiled rice, etc. There is a famous
temple of the goddess Shitala at Chaul where the deity is worshipped
by Bráhmans, who recite Vedic hymns, whenever small pox prevails in
the village. The mantras of the goddess and the Shitala Ashtaka are
also repeated in the Pauránic style. The women walk round the temple
every day as long as the signs of the disease are visible on their
children. The goddess is worshipped with turmeric and red powders,
and clothes and fruits are given to her. The Kaul ceremony is also
practised in this District. It is worth noticing that even Musalmáns
ask for a Kaul from this goddess. The days fixed for Kaul are:--Sunday,
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The morning hours are considered
specially auspicious for the Kaul. There is another temple at Chaul,
of the goddess Shri Golába Devi. This goddess is also worshipped when
other epidemic diseases prevail in the village. Saptáha i.e. continuous
worship for seven days is also performed in honour of the deity. The
gardeners (Mális) of the village worship this deity every Tuesday
morning with cocoanuts gathered from every house in the village. This
temple is being repaired at present. [330]
When epidemic diseases prevail in the village of Poladpur of the
Kolába District the god Shiva is worshipped by continuously pouring
water over the deity's head or linga. Sacrifices of fruits and animals
are also offered to the village deity. Where there is a temple of the
deity Mári or Mahámári, the deity is worshipped through a Bráhman,
and sacrifices of cocks and goats are offered to her. The deity named
Shitala is worshipped in cases of small pox. [331]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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