1 284 Shaivism in Karndl .
2 pie, though they will worship him and sometimes assist in the cere¬
3 monies, thus deviating from the strict rule of the original cult. On the
4 Sheoratris on the 13th of Sdwan and Phdgan such people as have fasted
5 will go to the Sbivala ; hut it is seldom entered on any other days.1''’ The
6 B&nias are essentially a caste of the south-east Pun jab. On the other
7 hand, the cult of Salih i Sat war, “ chiefly worshipped by the GCijars and
8 Rajputs, " is apparently dissociated from Shaivism, for its great festival
9 is held on the Salono, in the south-east of the Province3, and this festival
10 falls on the 15th of the light half of Sawan, a day not apparently devoted
11 to Siva, for it is auspicious for the consecration of amulets, or rakhii,
12 which are then put on. Brahmans and Baivdgis take the offerings to
13 Vishnu, and there would not appear to be any Skaiva Brahmans in this
14 part of India,, though they exist elsewhere, one of their number having
15 founded the Jangam sect.
16 It appears to be impossible to reduce the ritual of any cult to hard
17 and fast rules, but that of Shiva in Karn41 offers most varied features.
18 Thus the skivdla at Kirmach Chak is visited on the badt ashtami in
19 Bhadon, while that of Jagan Nath is visited on the tarostis in Sawan
20 and Phigan, and the chabufra or platform of Shiva in Daudpura only
21 on the tarosti in J-ffifigan.,. This last only contains a stone image of *
22 Shiva, one foot high, A Jogi only attends at the fair and he takes
23 all the offerings. No puMri is employed and no scared lamp is lit.
24 On the other hand, the temple at Kirmach contains 15 stone images of
25 Sdlig Earn and 4- brass images of Lai Ji, while an image of Hanumin
26 stands in a small temple to Thiikar in the precincts of the main mandir.
27 Its administration is carried on by a Banrigi. That of Jagan Nath
28 contains a stone image of Shiva 15 inches high, one of Parbati 13 inches
29 high and an effigy of Hanu min is painted in vermillionon the wall. Its
30 administration’ vests in a Brahman. Occasionally it is said of a mandir
31 that its pvj&n must be a Brahman, but he may generally be aGosainor
32 a Jogi and may celebrate all the offices of _ the temple like a Brahman. A
33 pujdri may be hereditary or elected, or his office may. go by spiritual des¬
34 cent if it vests in any order. But a Brahman pnjdri is generally here¬
35 ditary.8 The greatest differences are found too regarding the blog, the
36 use of a scared lamp and the maintenance of fire. How far all or any of
37 these divergences in ritual are due to the various deities associated
38 with Shiva it is impossible to say, but the gods and godlings found in
39 his temple vary infinitely. For example, at the Shivaia of Ek Onkar
40 at Karin al the annual fair, held on the dhnj sudt Bhadon, is frequented
41 both by Hindus and Muhammadans who pay their devotions alike.
42 Founded by Bawa Kirpal at the charges of Maharaja Ranjit Singh,
43 in S. 1873, it contains a stone image of Mahadeo, 1 1 feet high and
44 2 feet thick, a stone image of that god only 6 inches high, and one of
45 Sfta u feet high : also stone images of Parbati (9 inches high), of
46 Lachhman (1J feet), one in red stone of Aeht-bhuji (10 inches high),
47 ‘ KarnAl S*(t. Rep, 1883, § 364
48 s Hid., § 382. ' |||;4
49 * That 18 to say, a Brahman if appointed pnjdri would transmit his office to his de¬
50 scendant*. This may seem incompatible with Ibbeteon’s -view, hnt probably a Brahman
51 who -becomes a Jogi or Goa4fu is eligible for appointment? in a Sl.iva temple as he loses
52 his Brahmanhood by entering one of those flrders aud yet retains hi* hereditary sanctity.