| A
curious incident has been handed down by tradition, namely that while incense was being
burnt here on Diwali day, about twenty five years ago, a sound was heard from the void
exhorting that whosoever would worship Shirigul shall be rewarded according to his
desires. Worship is performed here on every Sunday and "Sankranti." Animal
sacrifice has ceased and instead, "Halwa", Sweets etc. are offered. On the
Kartika "Amavas", once in three years, the people perform a vigil when offerings
are made. There are Shirigul temples at villages
Sarahon, (tahsil Pachhad). The Pujaris are Rajputs as in all the Shirigul temples. It is
said that Shirigul, being the son of a Brahmin woman had a soft corner for the Brahmins,
and exempted them from performing the duty of a Pujari. The Mahasu (Mahashiv) temples at siyol and other villages usually have a Pujari
who gets into trance and solves problems for the devotees. "Jagra" (night-long
vigil) at Mahasu temple is quite common.
As mentioned before Mahasu is Lord Shiva himself. There is
Shiva a temple at a number of villages in the district. The more important ones are at
village Mangarh that is an ancient one. The legend is that the temple existed when the
Pandavas visited this area. It is said that Lord Shiva had practiced penance there. The
Shiva temples at Rampur Ghat, Nahan and Deothi have also different legends. |
