THE SAORIAS OF THE RAJMAHAL HILLS. 69 



A bachelor or a widower can offer no pujah. On the fifth day after a man's death , 

 all the godlings acquired by him, and to whom pujah has been offered, are carried 

 out by the Banddri and male relatives, along the same path over which the corpse 

 was taken, and are, finally, formed into a heap and abandoned. The formula on aban- 

 doning these godlings is as follows : " He who used to obey you, and make offerings 

 to you, has gone, and there is now no one to look after you ; go, therefore, with him 

 and return no more to the house." A man marrying again gradually acquires godlings 

 according to circumstances ; he cannot immediately acquire all his godlings or guar- 

 dian spirits. Bachelors can perform no pujahs with the exception of the bhauj pujah 

 to the deceased. 



Offerings made at pujahs are never taken by anyone : they are always left at the 

 place where they have been offered, with the exception of certain things as already 

 described. 



GURYA GOSAIN OR GURKA GoSAIN. 



Gurya means without teachers or self taught, but a Gurya Demno will affirm that 

 he gets his knowledge from a snake, on whose back he sits at night, eating mud and 

 weeds found in stagnant water. This snake lives in the jungle in a bath of mud and 

 slush. Gurya pujah takes place in Phalgun or Magh. The origin of this pujah is 

 somewhat curious. In Magh or Phalgun a girl or woman in the village suddenly 

 becomes possessed ; this is signified by tremblings and screams and extreme agitation. 

 She is questioned and answers that Gurya or Gurka Gosain has come into the village. 

 The villagers then take some uncooked rice and some water and proceed to the girl's 

 house, and throw the rice at her and sprinkle the water over her person and say, 

 " Dance outside, we will obey you as the chosen one and do his pujah." She then 

 comes outside and dances ; and this is the signal to the other girls, who also gradually 

 become possessed and join the dance. This goes on for a month or more. During 

 this time the " chosen woman " or girl, while under Guiya's influence, makes known 

 the various intrigues in the village ! She accuses men and women by name ! " You 

 did this, you did so and so, bring fowls." In such a case there is never a denial. The 

 offenders bring a fowl each. If there be any hesitation, the Gurya Gosain possessing 

 the girl threatens to get on the top of the offender's house or inside ! The terror 

 this threat inspires always produces compliance. The fowls are killed by the Banddri 

 and the houses of the delinquents are sprinkled with the blood and with water. The 

 chosen girl then, or a few days later (the dancing going on every night) selects a boy 

 or young man as the Gurya Ldllu Sarddre. The person selected takes a cane stick 

 and, putting sindur thereon, says that he has been selected and that he should dance 

 and do well. He also becomes possessed and dances with the woman holding his 

 cane. The Lallu Sarddre is under a vow of chastity for the time being. Drums are 

 beaten while this dance goes on. After a month or so, the " chosen woman " while 

 possessed, gives out the day when Gurya is to leave the village. Arrangements ' are 



1 Elaborate arrangements are not made. 



