(2) To worship the god Ganpati and to observe fasts on Sankasthi chaturthi, i.e., the fourth day of the dark half of every month. (3) To walk round the temple of Máruti and Pipal and Umbar trees every day, in the morning. [476] At Padaghe in the Bhiwandi taluka of the Thána District, images of Ráma and Krishna are put into the lap of a barren woman on their respective birthdays i.e., the 9th day of the bright half of Chaitra, and the 8th day of the dark half of Shráwan. Cocoanuts are also placed in her lap with these images. [477] At Mánikpur in the Thána District the goddess Shitala is worshipped by women to cure barrenness. They observe fasts, and go to the temple of the goddess bare-footed with their hair loose and throwing milk on their path. They offer to the goddess wooden cradles and children's toys in fulfilment of their vows. [478] At Shirgaon in the Máhim taluka of the Thána District, it is said that the repetition of the mantra "Santán Gopál jáy" is resorted to as a cure for barrenness. [479] At Wáde in the Thána District, women make vows even to minor deities such as Chedoba to get rid of barrenness. They also use copper amulets and cotton strings procured from a sorcerer well versed in the use of mantras. [480] At Dahigaon in the Thána District the worship of the god Shri Satya Náráyan is held to cure barrenness. Some women also distribute to the poor jágri equal to the weight of a child. [481] At Dehari in the Murbád taluka of the Thána District, the village deity Dehari Máta is invoked and worshipped by women for the cure of barrenness. [482] In the Kolhápur District, the help of the family deities and of the household deities is invoked. Women take turns round the Banyan, Pipal and Umbar, trees. Some make vows to the gods, and perform certain propitiatory rites as well as the Náráyan Nágabali. It is believed that the children do not live long if a member of the family has killed a snake, or if the funeral rites of a person in the family have remained unperformed. The following ceremony is known as Náráyan Nágabali. A snake is made from the flour of Rála (panie seed), and another made of gold is put into it. It is then burnt like a dead body. All the ordinary funeral rites are performed. After performing the eleventh day rites, homa, i.e., sacred fire, is kindled at night time, and after keeping vigil for the whole night, milk and a dakshana are given to Bráhmans. A feast is given to eleven Bráhmans on that day. On the twelfth day sixteen Bráhmans are fed, and on the thirteenth, five Bráhmans are given a feast, after performing the Shráddha rites. On the fourteenth day, again, a feast is given to about 100 to 500 Bráhmans according to the means of the host. It is believed that, after the performance of these rites, the soul of the deceased reaches heaven, and there is an end to the troubles and misfortunes of the family. [483] CHAPTER V. THE WORSHIP OF THE MALEVOLENT DEAD.