1871.] 
Bihar Legends and Ballads. 
139 
the former to expel them from the haunted house, while in the 
latter they are propitiated by presents and their blessings asked in 
case of difficulty or danger. Demon worship is not prevalent in 
all Bihar, and its presence in the few districts in which it exists, 
is probably owing to the close vicinity of the Kols. 
The most powerful of these demons is believed to be Dube 
Bhairan who is extensively worshipped in this district. In various 
places throughout this Sub-Division, may be seen the altar of Dube 
Bhairan, where not only offerings are made to him in case of disease, 
or on the occasion of the birth of a son supposed to be obtained 
through his favour, but all people bitten by snakes are conveyed to 
his altar for the purpose of cure, which is effected by simply pour¬ 
ing water over the patient. He seems to have played an important 
part in the history of this province. Indeed it is Dube Bhairan 
who is supposed to have brought about a change in the dynasty by 
exterminating the race of Khetauris which formerly ruled Bihar, 
and transferring the sovereignty to the solar race of the Kendawar 
family of which the Bajah of Kharakpur was a representative. 
The following legend is every where related regarding this 
demon. 
Dube Bhairan was an astrologer invited to the court of the 
Khetauri Bajah, named Birma, to foretell future events,—an art 
which was greatly patronised by the Indian Bajahs at the time 
of Hindu decadence. After consulting the stars, he had built his 
dwelling on an auspicious spot near Birma’s palace at Dadri in 
Munger (Monghyr), but the superstitious Bajah being anxious to 
appropriate to himself the benefits that were inseparable from the 
lot of the man who owned the place, asked Bhairan to give it up to 
him, but in vain. However, taking advantage of his absence from 
home, the latter pulled down one of his cottages, and built a wall 
at the place so as to enclose the ground within the limits of his 
palace. "When Bhairan returned, his mother wept and pointed 
out the mischief that had been done. At this, he flew into a 
terrible rage, and snatching a knife, plunged it into his own abdo¬ 
men, and threw the flowing blood over the Bajah’s palace, which 
instantly blazed with fire and was reduced to ashes. Bhairan had 
a virgin cow from which he drew some milk for drink a little 
