Indian Antiquary Vol 02

SR No.: 032494
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 166

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MAY, 1873.
quently, of one of his descendants named Bhagi. in India seldom see. The whole of the tributary ratha, the ascetic withdrew his surse, adding that princes, chiefs and noblemen, within a certain the souls of the princes whom he had destroyed radius of Haidarabad, assembie at the head of their could only reach the abode of the blessed after dependants for the inspection of the Prime Ministhey were cleansed in the waters of the Ganges ter, Sir Salar Jang, pay homage to the Nizam, and which flowed upon the crest of Siva. This deity undergo a species of "muster" previous to the was next invoked on behalf of the unfortunate vic- disbursement of the annual government stipend tims of the Rishi's wrath, and at his command the for the maintenance of the troops they keep up. waters of the Ganges flowed upon the earth, and The "Lungus" of 1873 took place on the 5th the ashes of the dead princes mingled in the sacred March. A writer in the Madras Mail says that all stream. When Siva commanded Gangd to flow
present were conspicuous for their magnificent upon the earth, the gód also decreed that whoever
and costly dresses, whilst their dependants, horse washed in her waters should be cleansed from the and foot, contributed to an amusing spectacle. pollution of sin, and, in order to remove from the Uniforms of all ages, Oriental as well as European, goddess Ganga the stain of pollution she would were exhibited: coats, wristpieces, and morions thus contract, he commanded her to visit the sa- of chain-mail; Saracenic head-pieces with their cred tank at Kumbhakonam once in twelve years, spikes of steel and chain-mail curtains; buff coats when she could cleanse herself from such pollution. of tough ball's-hide; coats with tarnished epaulettes
The festival of the Mahd Mdgam occurs in the and wings of five and twenty years ago; shakos vear Magha during the month named Mágha, and huge-topped and befeathered; the bearskin of during the occurrence of the full moon in or some long-forgotten commander of a "grenadier about the asterism Mágha." During this festival
company;" long swallow-tailed coats of the Christy the pilgrims to Kumbhakonam bathe first in the Minstrel type, worn without continuations of any waters of the Mahd Magam, thon in the tank of kind. Motley and numerous as the dresses were, the Golden Lotus (Pon thamarei thadagam) and, in weapons the diversity was greater still. You lastly, in the river Kaveri. There are twelve saw bell-mouthed petronels of the time of the first temples at Kumbhakonam, each having its presid.
James, an arquebuss or two, crossbows with daning deity, the chief of the twelve being Kumbha- gerous-looking bolts, matchlocks, flint and stoel Swaram. These twelve deities are placed in their muskots of various degrees of efficiency: swords respective cars and dragged each round his own of every age, shape, and nation. Yonder a curved temple. They are all then carried on the shoul
scimitar; here the long straight blade of a knight ders of men in grand procession, with banners, of Malta. Knives more or less richly ornamented incense, and fireworks, to the great tank, on the appeared in the kamarbands of high and low, banks of which are erected twelve shrines, one for
but the arm most fancied seems to be a double the reception of each idol. In the shrine which is muzzle-londing gun or rifle, many of which were built in the centre of the tank certain ceremonies
carried in the hands of the noblemen seated on are then performed, the trident being planted elephants. Long, light, bamboo lances were adoptwithin it and besprinkled with holy water and in- ed by the majority of the mounted retainers, with, censed by the officiating guru. After the comple- in some cases, a carbine slung behind the back. tion of these ceremonies, the people, who stand Throughout the day there was music for the Euroaround the tank in anxious expectation, make a peans present.-Friend of India. sudden plunge into it, as if the healing virtue would affect only the first who entered. A correspondent writing to us regarding this festival
AJANTA CAVES. Bay8,-"I am told that about 33,000 people are About five and twenty years ago the Court of expected to visit Kumbhakonam during this Ma- Directors of the late E. I. Company, with the ha Mdgam, and judging from the number of spe- liberality that so distinguished it, resolved to cial trains that the G.S. I. Railway run, both by Becure faithful transcripts of the wonderful fresday and by night, I believe there is no exaggeration coes in the Ajanta Cave Temples. Accordingly, in the statement."--Madras Times, Feb. 12. Major R. Gill was employed, with the necessary
establishment of assistants, and in the course of
a number of years he sent home nearly thirty A FESTIVAL AT HAIDARABAD.
large and faithful copies of almost all the best Once a year, on "Langar Day," the city of portions. Of these, twenty-two or more were Haidarabad presents a scene characteristic of that | placed in the Sydenham Crystal Palace, where Oriental grandeur, wealth, and fondness of display they were destroyed by fire about six years ago. which historians and travellers chronicle but we No copies, tracings, or photographs were taken