102 The District of Ludidna. [No. 2, 



was on his neck, on which 'Abdul Qadir told him that the foot of 

 a pig should be placed there. This was brought about by the 

 charms of a swineherd's daughter who captivated the frail " wall," 

 and made him carry a litter of newborn swine. She would more- 

 over have compelled him to eat pork had not Shaikh 'Abdul Qadir 

 compassionately saved him from infidelity, and restored him to his 

 right mind just as his hands were stretched out, to raise the forbidden 

 food. 



The shrine at Ludiana was founded according to the tradition 

 by a disciple of 'Abdul Qadir, named Shaikh Mahmud Makki who 

 had established himself at Ludiana, whence he made frequent pil- 

 grimages to his teacher's tomb at Baghdad. 



Next in importance to the Roshani fair is that held at the village 

 of Chapar about sixteen miles from Ludiana in the direction of 

 Maler Kotlah. This fair is connected with a most remarkable super- 

 stition, which I cannot yet unriddle, but which I suspect is derived 

 from some aboriginal religion. The divinity, or saint, in whose 

 honour the fair is held, goes by the name of " G-uga," and the shrine 

 itself is called " mari" or " marhi." The original " marhi'' is supposed to 

 be situated at some indefinite locality to the south ; but there are 

 numerous small "maris" in this district besides the large one at 

 Chapar. They are always outside the village ; in size and shape 

 they are not unlike an ordinary Hindu samahd. The worship seems 

 to consist in burning a " chiragh," and in salaaming with the forehead 

 lowered and with hands, palm to palm, " matha tekna" as it is called. 

 The worship is in some Avay connected with the snake. At Chapar, 

 though not in the smaller maris, there is a figure of a snake on the 

 dais inside the shrine. Persons who have been snake-bitten, are 

 taken to the mari for cure, and there is a special " mantra," called 

 " jhara," recited for their recovery. There is also a custom called 

 " til chasli" of throwing down rice and til seeds in places frequented by 

 snakes. This Gruga worship, though specially favoured by the lower 

 classes,is not confined to any sect. At Chapar, the guardians of the shrine 

 are brahmins, and only Hindus of good caste actually cross the threshold, 

 but while the front of the marhi is allotted to them, the Muhammadans, 

 Chumars, and Churas have each of the three remaining sides. Many of 

 the smaller maris are under the guardianship of Muhammadan mirasis. 



