CHAPTER II

Objects of Worship and Festivals

" Even those we love that are misled."- SHAKESPEARE.

Sun- worship.

HE close observer, going in and out amongst the

THE

people, will soon notice many survivals of Sun-worship. To give a case in point, there is that verycommon phrase Surya Nārāyan, which, being freelytranslated, means" the Divine Sun" or" His Majestythe Sun." Passing a certain Satnami village early onemorning, I noticed an old woman seated at the door-way of her hut facing east. As the sun appeared abovethe horizon I observed her bowing her head to theground three times, and repeating the words of salu-tation enjoined by Ghassi Dās-" Satnam, Satnam,Satnam";" True name" she said three times, andthis alone was her morning worship.

Then, again, there are one or two sacrifices, whichare invariably offered on the eastern side of the village.When I once visited a certain village settled by Gonds Iwas about to sit down on a stone which was fixed uprightin the ground. It looked for all the world like one of themany boundary stones which separate the villages, andthinking it would make a convenient seat, I was about to

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