Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore
Worship of minor local deities. Sun-worship. Circumambulation round images and other sacred objects. Exposure of women to the Sun after child-birth. The Swastika. Moon-worship. Eclipses. Worship of planets and stars. The rainbow. The milky way. Worship of the earth. Thunder an...
Besides the higher-grade deities, whose worship is enjoined and treated of in the Shastras and Puranas, numerous other minor deities, none of whom however find a place in the Sc...
22. CHAPTER XI.In all places, an auspicious day for ploughing and sowing is fixed in consultation with an astrologer. On the day when ploughing is to be commenced, the front court yard of the...
16. CHAPTER V.The beliefs current as to the cause of dreams are many. One of these is that memory of known facts or incidents heard or seen causes dreams. Dreams are also supposed to be cause...
14. CHAPTER III.Such diseases as cholera and small-pox are believed to be brought on by the wrath of the Matas or Devis caused by neglecting to offer the usual oblations. In order to propitiate...
17. CHAPTER VI.The superstitious dread of an evil eye is to be seen mostly among ignorant people, especially among women. If a boy were to fall ill, they say, "Chhotio (the name of the boy) wa...
15. CHAPTER IV.The spirits of a deceased father, grand father, great grand father, and of a mother, grand mother, and great grand mother, i.e., all the male and female ascendants up to the thi...
13. ill. There is a cobra deity, called Khetalo, near Sultanpur whose gors(attendant priests) are Nagmaga Brahmans. It is believed that this deity confers once on each generation of the gors, as much wealth as would suffice for the lifetime of all men...
12. CHAPTER II.Several stories, in addition to the legend of the Ramayana, are related of the birth of the god Hanuman. Dasharatha, king of Ayodhya, being childless, once performed a sacrifice...
18. CHAPTER VII.The Pipal is one of such trees. It is considered to be the incarnation of a Brahman, and to cut it is considered to be as great a sin as murdering a Brahman. It is believed that...
19. CHAPTER VIII.1. Hathibhai Hathi--an elephant. 2. Vaghajibhai Vagh--a tiger. 3. Nagjibhai Nag--a snake. 4. Popatbhai Popat--a parrot. 5. Morbhai Mor--a peacock. 6. Chaklibhat Chakli--a sparro...
20. CHAPTER IX.1. The cow:--is regarded as the holiest of animals. She is worshipped on the fourth day of the dark half of Shravan which is known as Bol Choth; [1500] and a vow is observed by...
21. CHAPTER X.Girls born in the Ashlesha nakshatra on the bij or second day of a month, in the Kritika nakshatra on the seventh day of a month and in the Shatabhigha nakshatra on the twelfth...
5. CHAPTER V.Popular notions about dreams. Auspicious and inauspicious dreams. Temporary abandonment of the body by the soul. Character and functions of the bhut or disembodied soul. The sta...
1. CHAPTER I.Worship of minor local deities. Sun-worship. Circumambulation round images and other sacred objects. Exposure of women to the Sun after child-birth. The Swastika. Moon-worship....
6. CHAPTER VI.Effects of the evil eye. Objects liable to be influenced by the evil eye. Precautions taken to evade the influence of the evil eye. Opprobrious names. Change of sex. Protection...
3. CHAPTER III.Deities who can cause or avert diseases such as cholera, small pox, fever, etc. Causes of the outbreak of cholera. Remedies adopted to stop cholera. Causes of the outbreak of sm...
10. CHAPTER XI.Rural ceremonies connected with agricultural operations. Rites performed for the protection of cattle. Rites performed for scaring noxious animals and insects. Rites performed f...
4. CHAPTER IV.The worship of ancestors and saints. Shraddhas and other ceremonies performed for the propitiation and emancipation of the deceased. Worship of the founders of religious sects,...
7. CHAPTER VII.Trees connected with deities and saints. Legends and superstitions connected with them. Marriage of brides and bridegrooms to trees. Snake worship. Shrines of snake deities. Dei...
8. CHAPTER VIII.Names derived from animals. Names derived from plants. Clan names derived from trees and animals. Sacred animals. Deities associated with animal worship. Worship of stocks and s...
2. CHAPTER II.The worship of Hanuman, Bhimsen and Bhishma. Local deities. Installation of deities in new settlements. Deities responsible for crops and cattle. The worship of Bhairow, Ganesh,...
9. CHAPTER IX.