Dahremashto and Kudahremashto

Long ago two beautiful apsaras of heaven came down to earth to behold the lovely sights of the world. Seeing a bright sacred fire burning in the midst of a dense forest, the two sisters went there to warm themselves.

That fire had been kindled by Lord Shiva with his supernatural radiance. And so both apsaras conceived, and remaining in the forest for ten months, eating tubers and roots, they gave birth to their children.

From the elder sister were born twelve children who had teeth, and they were called "Dahremashto". From the younger sister were born twelve children without teeth, and they were called "Kudahremashto".

After the apsaras gave birth and returned to heaven, all twenty-four Mashto brothers went to Lord Shiva. Shiva commanded them to go to the Sinja valley and protect the people.

In Sinja the Mashtos received the worship of the people, but the local ghosts and spirits, getting no offerings, went hungry. The ghosts shut the Mashtos in a pen and spread a terrible epidemic throughout Sinja.

For the deliverance of the people, a siddha tantric Lamaju of Mugu went to Sinja, drove away the ghosts and spirits, and set the Mashtos free. The Mashtos regarded Lamaju as their maternal uncle and honoured him.

Later, while Lamaju was absorbed in ascetic meditation, the eldest of the Mashtos, Dhadarmashto, tried to stealthily steal his uncle's astrological almanac. Lamaju caught him and said: "Stealing and lying are grave sins. But I give you this almanac as a gift. Learn from it the knowledge of the heavens and always walk the path of justice and truth."

Dhadarmashto came to Budu village, took up the leadership of all the Mashtos, and became worshipped as "Bhairraja". His helpers Phutashila and Chharidhuske, punishing the guilty, upheld justice and righteousness in the kingdom of Sinja.