| Just as the
erstwhile rulers of the Himachal States, big or small, felt and gave out they were
trustees for the presiding deity of the ruling family, the villagers also feel and give
out they are the raiyats (subjects) of particular devatas of the village. Almost every
village has got one or two or even more proprietary devatas. In any widespread distress, personal illness or cattle epidemic the devatas are
fervently worshipped. Water is necessary for agriculture in the mountains, droughts have
to be avoided, snakes have to be guarded against. The Naga Cult enjoining snake-worship is
widely prevalent. Narayan and Pashakot are devatas and Phungni devi of Chohar Valley in
Mandi district are worshipped for preventing drought.
Men and women have passed on some of their reflexes to
their Gods and Goddesses. No one should smoke near Narayan and Pashakot but the Baba Kot
deity in the old palace of Mandi is taken to be very fond of tobacco and a hukka or his
side always keeps smoking hubble- bubble. |
