A History of the Mahrattas v1.c7.103

v1.c7.103

² Byhroo, Joteba, Kundoba, and Parbuttee, under her name of Dewee-Bhowanee, are generally the Kool Swamy and Aradh of the Mahratta soldiery. In villages, temples to Byhroo, Luximee, and Gunputtee, are the most common. [Bhāirav (Byhroo) is an aboriginal village-deity, adopted into the Brahmanic pantheon as one of the terrific aspects of Siva. He is frequently represented by a rough stone smeared with oil and red lead. Jotibā is also a village godling, who is guardian of the health and welfare of the villagers. Like Bhāirav he is supposed to ride a horse and is usually represented by a stone. Khandoba, now regarded as an incarnation of Siva, is a local non-Aryan god, his name being derived from Khanda (a sword), which he always carries. He is represented on horseback with two women, one, his wife or Sakti, in front of him, and the other, a female of the Dhangar (shepherd) caste, his kept mistress, behind. His great temple at Jejuri, near Poona, is associated with the system of religious prostitution, the girls dedicated to him being known as Murlis. He is the tutelary deity of the Deccan. (See Introduction, pp. li–lvii, ante.) Pārvatī (Parbuttee), i.e. ‘daughter of the mountain,’ is one of the manifestations of Mahādēvī, the consort or Sakti of Siva.]