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

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252
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
station is that of the tutelary goddess of Abu,Arbuda Mâtâ. It is a small rock-temple formed out of a natural cleft on the side of the hill and overlooking the station. The rock is surmounted by a small white shrine, built more for ornament than use, or, as one of the Jogis told me, it is meant to catch the eye from a distance, and this it certainly does from all sides. The approach to this temple is by a rough stair of some 450 steps, through a shady grove of mango and a few champá trees. As soon as a stranger is seen, there is a frantic rush to close all the doors, so that I could see nothing of the interior of the place, which must however be very small. One of the attendants told me that there was nothing but one large idol inside, no inscriptions or ancient relics. The place is evidently one of some sanctity: many pilgrims were present when I was there, waiting to pay their devoirs to the goddess. The view of the station from the terrace is very fine-in fact the most extensive I have seen. As usual, the temple stands on the edge of a dry mountain torrent, but there is a spring of good water close by.
Delwâdâ:-Distant half a mile from the foot of the hill on which Arbuda Mâtâ stands, and about a mile north from the station, are the celebrated temples of Delwâdâ or Deválwádá (the 'place of temples')-undoubtedly among the most beautiful Jaina temples in India. Tod, in his Western India, has so fully described them, and his opportunities for investigation, knowledge of the people, their language, and religion, were such as to render it useless to attempt adding to his account.+
Gaumukh, or, as it is also called, 'Bastonji,' the shrine of Vasishtha, is situated fully 500 feet down the south-western slope of Abu, and about three miles from the station. The path is a tedious one, and the temple is reached by a long flight of steps from the summit. The descent is shaded by luxuriant foliage on all sides, and the spot is a favourite one for the sportsman, as sambur are frequently met with in the neighbourhood, and one or two tigers frequently prey upon the cattle of the Brahmans living at the temple. The first object on reaching the temple is the fountain supplied by
Delwada is in latitude 24° 36' N., longitude 73° 46' E., and 3,940 feet above the sea-level-ED.
+ Travels in Western India, pp. 101-118. See also Fergusson, Picturesque Illustrations of Architecture in
[SEPTEMBER, 1873.
water from a spout in the form of a cow's head, whence the name of the place. There are two small shrines on the edge of the tank, one containing an image of Mahadeva, the other of Ganesa; there are also two inscriptions on the sides, but they are too much worn to be legible. Close by is the temple, a plain brick edifice, surrounded by a high wall. The shrine of Vasishtha stands alone in the middle of the quadrangle. I could not gain access to the interior, though I much wanted to, as I heard an inscription was to be found inside which gave the date of the brass figure standing outside facing the door, under an ovate-formed cupola, as described by Tod. Tod affirms that he is one of the Dhar Pramâras, the last of his race, and that he is supplicating the Muni for an act of violence and sacrilege committed by him. He has, however, none of the usual marks of royalty about him, such as are seen on the figure with the bow at Achaleévara, and his position is the common one of all the memorial tablets in marble or stone. There are several small marble figures (bearded), both alone and with females beside them, in different parts of the temple. It is worthy of note that in nearly all the bearded figures I have come across, particularly those with swords, there is a boss, either oval or round, at one side of the head. It may be noticed close to the head of the brass figure, as well as in several of the other sketches. It is in no way connected with the head, and is not a shell, as I at first supposed. On the dress of the Dhar Pramâra, as we must call him upon Tod's authority, are several pieces of silver let in, of the shape of our masonic emblem the square. I also noticed the same sign in the hands of some of the figures in the painted room at Achalgarh. Whether the design is accidental or emblematic I must leave others to determine.
The figure of Syâm Nâth mentioned by Tod§ is certainly a work of art, only surpassed by the Man-Lion incarnation, to be spoken of further on. There are two smaller temples in the enclosure, one dedicated to Pataleśvara, the other to Mahadeva, but they contain nothing worthy of note. I noticed an emblem of the shape of a square' trough or dish with five balls in it: it is the only one to be seen on Abu.
Hindostan, pp. 39, 40; and History of Architecture (ed. 1867), vol. II. pp. 622-635, 633.-ED.
Western India, p. 118.
§ Ib. p. 119.
A yoni.-ED.