Folk Lore Notes. Vol. II—Konkan

by A. M. T. Jackson

The milky way is believed to be the heavenly Ganges. Well known tradition relates how Wáman (the 5th incarnation of Vishnu) went to Bali the king of the lower regions and asked him to give him land measuring three feet only. The king consented, whereupon the god Wáman enlarged his body to such an extent that by his one footstep he occupied the whole earth and by the second he occupied heaven. Upon this the god Brahma worshipped the foot of the god Vishnu which was in heaven, and from that foot sprang the heavenly Ganges which flows in heaven and is called Dudha Ganga or the milky Ganges.

The worship of stars and planets is in vogue among Konkan Hindu families of the higher castes. The polar star in particular is seen and worshipped by the bride and the bridegroom after the ceremony at the marriage altar is over.[96] A very interesting story is connected with the polar star. By the great power of his penance the sage Vishvámitra despatched king Trishanku to Heaven, but the gods hurled him down. Thereupon Vishvámitra became enraged and began to create a new heaven. Hindu mythological books say that he thus created the sages Vashista, Angiras, Pulah, Pulastya, Rutu, Atri, and Marichi, and stationed Trishanku in the sky. The Nava-grahas or the nine planets are worshipped before the commencement of all important ceremonies.[97] A cluster of seven stars called the Sapta-rishis are worshipped by men at the time of the Shrávani ceremony, while women worship them on the 5th day of the bright half of Bhádrapada.[98] These Sapta-rishis are said to have been created by the God Brahma from his own body; and teaching them the four Vedas, he handed them over to them and asked them to regulate the affairs of the world.[99]

Some people of the Ratnágiri District believe that the rain-bow is the bow used by Ráma, the hero of the Rámáyana. Its appearance on the east is regarded by them as symptomatic of the approach of rain, while its appearance on the west is equivalent to the departure of rain.[100]

The short duration of the rain-bow is held to indicate an excessive fall of rain while its long duration forbodes a scarcity of rain.[101] The appearance of the rain-bow on a river is supposed to indicate the approach of rain, while its appearance on a mountain means the departure of rain.[102] Of the two bows of which the rain-bow seems to be composed, the larger is believed to belong to Ráma, and the smaller to Lakshman.[103] Since the God Indra is supposed to send rain, the Indradhanushya (the rain-bow) is regarded as a sign of the advent of rain.[104]

By some Hindus it is believed that the milky way is a heavenly river which is a favourite bathing place of the gods.[105] Others suppose it to be a branch of the celestial Ganges which is said to have been brought down upon this earth by king Bhagiratha.[106] Some persons, however, believe that since the great sage Agastya is said to reside at Rámeshwar in the southern direction, the Ganges (the milky way) runs through the sky to the south in order to bathe him. Sometimes the milky way is believed to be a white cloud.[107]

On the authority of the Mahákála Nirván Tantra, some people of the Thána District believe that a person who cannot get a view of the polar star will die within six months; while others substitute the Arundhati star for the polar star and determine the duration of life of a diseased person by the same process.[108]

The people of the Thána District believe that the rain-bow is caused by the accumulation of moisture in the air.[109] The rain-bow is said to consecrate the region over which it appears.[110] The appearance of the rain-bow in the morning is supposed to forbode the approach of rain.[111]

Some people of the Kolába District believe that the holy persons such as Káshyapa, Arundhati and other sages, who lived on this earth in ancient times are seen shining in the sky by the sacred lustre of their powers.[112] Hindu women worship the planets Budha and Guru (Mercury and Jupiter) in the month of Shravan.[113]

The Sapta-rishis are somewhere called Khatale and Bájale (cot).[114] The rain-bow is held by some to be the symbol of Ráma and Lakshman, who visit the world in that form with the view of watching its proceedings. Others, however, believe that it represents God Indra who assumes that form to see how his orders are executed by his subordinates.[115] The rain-bow is said to foretell good if it appears either at the beginning or end of the rainy season, while its appearance at any other time is supposed to forbode evil.[116]

Hindus regard the earth as one of their important deities and worship it on various occasions. It is enjoined upon Bráhmans to worship it daily at the time of their Sandhya rite, as well as while performing the Shrávani ceremony.[117] The people of the Ratnágiri District pray to the earth as soon as they leave their bed in the morning.[118] The earth is required to be worshipped at the time of laying the foundation-stone of a house, as well as at the time of bringing into use a newly built house.[119] Since it is held unholy to sleep on the bare ground, those whose parents die, sleep on a woollen cloth on the ground till their parents’ anniversary is over.[120] Wanprastas, Sanyásis, and Bráhmans are required to sleep on the ground.[121] Some pious men sleep on the bare ground during the Cháturmás (the four months of the rainy season), at the expiry of which they present a bed to a Bráhman.[122] It is enjoined upon a prince to sleep on the bare ground on the eve of the coronation day.[123]