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In his stead the then Rajah exercised the power of appointment of a Mahant in
favor of Moti Nath, appointed as the Mahant in Samvat 1965 and formally installed on the
gadi in Samvat 1966 corresponding to 1909 A.D. Mahant Moti Nath expired in the mouth of
May 1942 A.D., and afterwards the temple remained under the direct control of the
erstwhile Sirmur State up to October, 1945 A.D. when Shri Dayalau Nath was appointed.
There are also other Kali temples at other
villages in the district. Among the other minor cults of faith that claimed followers
mention has to be made of the cult of Pap or Papra (Sin). It is the ghost of a
disgruntled dead person who was neglected by his people that causes mischief, barrenness
or disease and the Spirit has to be invoked and propitiated. It is said usually on being
invoked the Spirit will get into a child who will start shaking his head and speak
incoherently.
On being asked, however, the child will
explain whose ghost the Papra is, and also show the reason for the affliction. The
possessed child gives the direction as to what should be done so that the men at fault can
wash away their Pap (Sin).What is a class of people who claim their origin from the
Brahmins. Some of them, in the past, passed into the ranks of local deities for one reason
or the other.
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