SIRMUR

Their temples or places of worship are found in many villages. A temple of Bhat is situated each in villages Ser and Jagas of tahsil Pachhad and both are believed to be quite old. Here, the villagers worship the deity to ensure safety from diseases. A legend woven round the establishment of the shrine has come down and runs that, when Jagu, a resident of Jagas, clad in white clothes, was proceeding to Mount Kailash I some satirical remarks such as "are your climbing heaven" etc., passed by some villagers, were heard by him.

Following this incident, the Bhat disappeared on a ridge called Mara - Ki - Dhar and could not be traced "by the people. After sometime, he himself re-appeared to tell a local man to construct for him a temple and a well at Mara-Ki- Dhar. His command was carried into effect. Since then the temple is extant. The villagers have appointed a priest who offers worship to the deity on each "Sankrant" (occasion of a planet's passage from one sign of the zodiac to another).

Ser village, it is believed, once belonged to Ajmal Bhat. The Bhat was issueless and gave away all his movable and immovable property to the villagers in his life-time. For this act of munificence a shrine was built and dedicated to him and he is still worshipped, especially on each "Sankrant" (occasion of a planet's passage from one sign of the zodiac to another) and special festivals. Two images of brass, representing Ajmal are housed in the temple.

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