The popular religion and folk-lore of northern India . view that he has come to be regarded as the greatdeity of the Burman Buddhists. It is still further remark-able that at Benares, the headquarters of Brahmanism, hehas been replaced by a special rain god, Dalbhyeswara, whoperhaps takes his name from Dalbhya, an ancient Rishi,who must be worshipped and kept properly dressed if theseasons are not to become unfavourable.^ BhImsen, a Weather Godling. Bhimsen, of whom more will be said later on, is regardedby the Gonds as a god of rain, and has a festival of four orfive days duration held in his
The popular religion and folk-lore of northern India . view that he has come to be regarded as the greatdeity of the Burman Buddhists. It is still further remark-able that at Benares, the headquarters of Brahmanism, hehas been replaced by a special rain god, Dalbhyeswara, whoperhaps takes his name from Dalbhya, an ancient Rishi,who must be worshipped and kept properly dressed if theseasons are not to become unfavourable.^ BhImsen, a Weather Godling. Bhimsen, of whom more will be said later on, is regardedby the Gonds as a god of rain, and has a festival of four orfive days duration held in his honour at the end of therainy season, when two poles about twenty feet high andfive feet apart are set up with a rope attached to the top, bywhich the boys of the village climb up and then slide downthe poles. This is apparently an instance of rude sympa-thetic magic, representing the descent of the rain.^ Primitive Culture, ii. 261. Growse, Ramiyana, 318. 3 History of India, chapter iii. 21, 330. 4 Sherring, Sacred City, 129. Hislop, ?Papers, The Godlings of Nature. 67 Demoniacal Control of the Weather. It is an idea common to the beliefs of many races, thatthe spirits of the wind may be tied up in sacks and let outto injure an enemy and assist a friend. To this day theLapps give their sailors magic sacks containing certainwinds to secure them a safe journey. Another side of the matter may be illustrated from MarcoPolo. During the three months of every year that theLord (Kublai Khan) resides at that place, if it should happento be bad weather, there are certain crafty enchanters andastrologers in his train, who are such adepts in necromancyand the diabolical arts, that they are able to prevent anycloud or storm passing over the spot on which the Emperorspalace stands. Whatever they do in this way is by the helpof the Devil; but they make those people believe that itis compassed by their own sanctity and the help of always go in a state of dirt and uncleanness, d
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