Vol. VII, No. 4.] A Visit to Kapdla-Muchan. 89 
[N.S.] 
but Brahma, who then had five heads, told Siva falsely from 
his fifth mouth that he had seen the end of the lingam. 
Siva knew that what he had said was untrue; so he, getting 
enraged, cut off Brahma’s fifth head for having told a lie, 
and then dismissed them both saying that neither of them 
was greater than the other. But the sin of cutting off the 
head remained attached to Siva. In order to get rid of it, he 
performed different pilgrimages, yet it did not leave him. 
Afterwards he went to Kapala-Muchan, and lo! here the sin left 
him. Since then this pilgrimage is called Degrami (now short- 
ened into Digom) or Kap4la-Muchan, the former implying “‘ the 
village where afterwards Siva had to go ’’ and the latter ‘‘ the 
place where the sin of cutting off the head went away.” 
Siva was freed of the sin he was pleased, and he sanctified the 
place by saying that deceased children might attain salvation 
by their Sraddha being performed here. 
. A fair is annually held here in August on the 12th of 
the bright fortnight of Sawan. Thousands of people collect 
here that day, and those who have lost their children during the 
past twelve months perform their Sraddha and give their 
clothes, ornaments, etc., in charity. The priests keep a 
number of young boys ‘and girls here on the occasion, and 
fair several people may be seen giving golden and silver 
images of different creatures in charity. 
