17. Teli beneficence
Colonel Tod gives instances in Udaipur of works of beneficence executed by Telis. “The Teli-ki-Sarai or oilman’s caravanserai is not conspicuous for magnitude; but it is remarkable not merely for its utility but even for its elegance of design. The Teli-ka-Pūl or Oilman’s Bridge at Nūrabād is a magnificent memorial of the trade and deserves preservation. These Telis perambulate the country with skins of oil on a bullock and from hard-earned pence erect the structures which bear their name.”[13] Similarly the temple of Vishnu at Rājim is said to be named after one Rājan Telin, who discovered the image lying abandoned by the roadside. She placed her skin of oil on it to rest herself and on that day her oil never decreased, and when she had finished selling in the market she had all her oil as well as the money. Her husband suspected her of evil practices, but, when next day her mother-in-law laid a skinful of oil on the image and the same thing happened, it was seen that the god had made himself manifest to her, and a temple was built and named after her and the image enshrined in it. Similarly the image of Mahādeo at Pīthampur in Bilāspur was seen buried by a Teli in a dream, and he dug it up and made a shrine to it and was cured of dysentery. So an annual fair is held and many people go there to be healed of their diseases.
[1] This article is based on papers by Mr. Prem Nārāyan, Extra Assistant Commissioner, Chānda; Mr. Mīr Pacha, Tahsīldār, Seoni; Mr. Chintāman Rao, Tahsīldār, Chanda; and Mr. K.G. Vaidya, Chānda.
[2] C.P. Census Report (1911), p. 147, referring to Professor Karl Pearson’s Chances of Death.
[3] Tribes and Castes, art. Teli.
[4] Bassia latifolia.
[5] Hindus of Gujarāt, p. 72.
[6] Weighing. 2 oz. each.
[7] Phaseolus radiatas.
[8] Mr. Crooke’s Tribes and Castes, art. Teli.
[9] Acacia arabica.
[10] Melia indica.
[11] Indian Folk Tales, p. 10.
[12] Tribes and Castes of Bengal, art. Teli.
[13] Rājasthān, vol. ii. pp. 678, 679.