The
earth obtained from the ant-hill is said to have wonderful powers of healing any skin
disease or abscess. This sacred earth is sold in the precincts of the temple in the form
of globules.
Another feature of the temple is that the pilgrims make offerings of silver or copper
cobras in a box kept in front of the shrine
(lingam), with the hope of getting rid of cobras and scorpions in their houses.
Similarly, in front of Goddess Gomati is to be
seen a circular hole, 8 inches in diameter, with a design of Chakram, inside. The popular
belief is that if any woman, suffering from hysteria or the influence of ghosts, performs
penance for 48 days, i.e. one Mandalam, prayerfully sitting over the hole, she gets relief
from her ailments. |
