NATH TEMPLES

Temple of Gharib Nath, tahsil Paonta, has a large number of worshippers. It is believed that if a woman, who is barren or whose children die in infancy, bathes in the water of these wells, she is cured of sterility. The effect is supposed to be more certain if the husband himself draws the water. The woman herself, while on her return after the sacred bath, must not live, eat or cook in any one else's house, lest she transfers her own defects of sterility etc. to the inmates of that house.

The priest performs Puja twice daily. He visits the temple morning and evening, washes the idols, burns incense, lights a lamp of pure ghee and then retires to his house ensuring that the fire that he leaves behind in the "Dhuni" (fire place), existing adjacent to the shrine, is strong enough not to go out before he returns the next day. Animal sacrifice is not offered.

Only 'Parsad of Halwa' (sweet dish) forms the offering. People visit this temple from far and near in order to deliver their offerings of thanks giving for the fulfillment of their wishes. The residents of bhivpur and surrounding villages, at each harvest, offer some food grains in the temple, which the priest takes away to his house for his consumption and also for meeting the temple expenses.

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