Abstract
The Jammu region in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Territory of India, is the hub of temples. The religious landscape of the region exhibits many temples of different Gods and Goddesses. The deity worship, both in its classical and folk forms, is a provincial phenomenon among Hindus in the Jammu region. Prevalent virtually among all castes of the region, the worship of clan deity suggests a ‘vertical spread’, and its worship by the Jamwal-Pandits, a clan of the Brahmin caste in Jammu, a ‘horizontal spread’ carrying them close to the Brahmins across the region. This is particularly reflected in the manner in which Sanskritic rituals are ascribed to folk deity—Datti Ji or Satyavati Ji—at the central temple situated at Purmandal (Purmandal—a small village located on the River Devika in Samba District, Jammu and Kashmir, UT, is also known by the name of ‘Chotta Kashi’.) and other small local worship spots of the deity situated mostly on the outskirts of the villages in Jammu city. The paper analyses the process by which the clan deity of the Jamwal-Pandits, popularly known as Datti Ji, has come to acquire prominence as the folk deity, despite the prevalence of many Sanskritic rituals. She is visualized as the protector, punisher, provider, and forgiver by the clan members as well as the others who visit her temple. The focus of the study is the worship of the clan deity of Jamwal-Pandits in its folk form and the tradition of the maile congregation among them.
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Notes
- 1.
The local village deity/Gods. They are found throughout India in almost all villages.
- 2.
Article on Folk Hinduism in West Bengal. New York: State University of New York Press: 2 (http://www.sunypress.edu/pdf/60664.pdf).
- 3.
Robert Redfield.1956. The Little Community. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- 4.
M. N. Srinivas. 2003 (1952). Religion and Society among the Coorgs of South India. Delhi: Oxford University Press.
- 5.
The information was shared by the President of Jamwal-Pandits Committee in personal communication.
- 6.
- 7.
Koundinya was a great Rishi (sage) and was known beyond Bharat. He was a master of Vedic knowledge and was a worshipper of God Ganesha. He was also linked with Noble Buddha. His name is well-known in Thailand and Cambodia. Nothing is known about his children or more about his wife, except that her name was Ashraya.
- 8.
This information was given by some prominent Jamwal-Pandits during interaction with them at the time of ‘Maile’ congregations.
- 9.
This information is based on the interview with the priest of the Datta Ji temple at Purmandal and the President of Jamwal-Pandits biraderi.
- 10.
The said information was given by the President of Jamwal-Pandits during an interview with him at Purmandal.
- 11.
The data is based on the fieldwork conducted as part of Ph.D. research work submitted to the University of Jammu in 2016. In all, a sample of 200 respondents was taken.
- 12.
The data is based on the fieldwork conducted as part of the Ph.D. research work submitted to the University of Jammu in 2016. In all, a sample of 200 respondents was taken.
- 13.
The Malungad tree is a Dogri name and in English, it is called Camel’s Foot.
- 14.
A sweet dish made with milk, flour, sugar, ghee, and dry fruits.
- 15.
Also noted by T. N. Madan for the Kashmiri Pandits. See Madan (1989: 64–72).
- 16.
The sutra (thread) ceremony indicates the purification of the family which is believed to have become impure on the birth of the child. The sutra (thread) ceremony is generally performed after the 12th and before or on the 21st day of the birth of the male child.
- 17.
A thread of pink colour is tied in case of the girl child and white colour in case of the male child.
- 18.
Locally, the deity is also known by different names: Dibbi Wala Baba, Pehar Devta, Bhed/Bhaid/Bhair Devta.
- 19.
The meaning of Neer is water in Sanskrit.
- 20.
It must be kept in mind that unlike Pehad Baba, the Kul deity of Jamwal-Pandit Datti Ji is purely vegetarian.
- 21.
The combination of six white coloured sacred threads investiture, around the neck and the arm. Yagyopavita is also called janeu.
- 22.
In the past, yagyopavita ceremony was conducted when the boy attained the age of 10 years but now this ceremony is clubbed with the marriage to save time and expenses.
- 23.
According to the Hindu religion, every person goes through four stages or ashrams in a life of hundred years, each divided equally. These are Brahmacharya [bachelorhood], Grahastha [Householder], Vanprastha [leaving for forest away from worldly affairs], and moksha [salvation].
- 24.
It consists of gifts, sweets, fruits, dry fruits, a pink scarf, at least one silver rupee, and a marriage invitation card.
- 25.
A temple-shaped wooden frame installed at the front of the house.
- 26.
A mixture of multani sand, oil, gram flour, and turmeric powder is considered auspicious.
- 27.
It is the holy thread worn by married Hindu women. The word mangal means auspicious and sutra means thread and together mangalsutra means an auspicious thread uniting the souls.
- 28.
Dry red colour powder adorned by married Hindu women.
- 29.
In sociological studies, it is noted that dowry transaction is usually associated with higher castes and bride price with the lower caste or tribal groups.
- 30.
The first visit of newly married couples to the deity site, i.e. Main Temple at Purmandal to pay homage in order to seek the blessings before starting their marital life.
- 31.
A special mark or sign by using the mixture of sindoor (vermilion) and rice flour.
- 32.
The ceremony of offering new crops to the deity.
- 33.
The area produces one of the best Basmati rice in the world.
- 34.
The conditional promise made in front of the local Deity.
- 35.
Among Hindus, it is a custom in an arranged marriage to match the horoscope of the bride and the groom. For marriage, a minimum of 18 ‘Guna’ matches out of a total of 36 ‘Guna’ is required between the bride’s and the groom’s horoscopes. The match is not approved if the matching ‘Gunas’ is less than 18. After matching ‘Guna’ when the Pandit (priest) confirms the match, the parents proceed with the marriage. In Hindi, it is called ‘Janampatri’ and in Dogri ‘Tewrah’.
- 36.
A. R. Radcliffe-Brown. 1952. Structure and Function in Primitive Society. London: Cohen & West Ltd.
- 37.
Record/account statement of Datti Satyavati Ji’s temple situated at Purmandal, Samba.
- 38.
Basant Panchami is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the bright half of the Hindu luni-solar calendar in the month of Magha (February–March). Basant in Hindi means ‘spring’ and Panchami means fifth, hence Basant Panchami. It is the spring season, the period succeeding winter and preceding summer.
- 39.
Kanjak pujan is a holy ritual, carried out by the Jamwal-Pandits and among Hindus in general on various occasions. The kanjak pujan ceremony involves the worship of minor girls, here representing Datti Ji. During this Pujan (worship), the minor girls are offered sweets, food, and money.
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Sharma, A. (2021). Datti Ji: Folk Deity Worship Among the Jamwal-Pandit Clan of Jammu. In: Chauhan, A. (eds) Understanding Culture and Society in India. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1598-6_13
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