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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[SEPTEMBER, 1873.
probable date at which this dynasty arose. The Vithoba, "the lord of heaven and earth," accorddocument in Sir Walter Elliot's volume was is- ing to the Hindu canons, is dead. Had such an sued by the tenth king, named Arivarman (not Ha- accident befallen any common god, the image riyaman, as stated in the Tamil work), and bears might have been replaced. But the Vithob of the date Saka 169 (A.D. 247). It also contains an Pandarpur cannot be replaced. Only Banaras, account of the two preceding kings, Madhava and Dwarka, Nasik, and one or two other places can Kongani Varman, which tallies exactly with that boast gods of equal or approaching sanctity. Thou. given in the Tamil treatise, and thus tends to show sands from every quarter of Maharashtra perform that the latter is entirely based on copper-plate toilsome pilgrimages to the fair at Pandarpar, ungrants. To judge from the shape and general deterred by the cholera which appears at every character of the letters, this inscription would see gathering, sweeping off numbers of the pilgrims. to be very ancient, and to show no traces of forgery. The people present at the last Ashadhi fair, which The Kongadesa Rdjdkal also mentions & grant lasted from the 6th to the 10th July, were estimade by the same king in Saka 210, or forty-one mated at one hundred and fifty thousand. Every years later than the present grant. If any moro man brings his offering, so that the revenue of grants of the same dynasty should be forthcoming, the temple is enormous. Besides supporting a we might probably have to admit the correctness host of priests in luxury, it affords a balance which of the chronology as given in the Tamil book, not. is laid out in the most costly jewels for the god, and withstanding the high average. There were also in in decorating the shrine with gold in a manner the volume two grants relating to the Western or which dazzles the eye the first time it is beheld. Kalyant line of the Châlukyas, both issued by Vows the most extravagant are made to Vithob4 for Venayaditya, the son of Vikramaditya, during his prayers answered or blessings expected; no sacrifice father's lifetime, and at his command, and dated of wealth, of comfort, or of life, being considered too respectively in Saka 611 and 613 (A.D. 689 and 691), great to buy the god's favour. Besides the crowds being the tenth and eleventh years of the king's who throng at the regular fairs in July and reign. He would, accordingly, have succeeded on his October, there is a large daily attendance of those father's resignation in Saka 601-2, as his prede- who live in the vicinity. Vithobů receives his cessors are mentioned, Vikramaditya, Satyasraya, worshippers one at a time, and is dressed up by Kirttivarman, and Pulakesi. Since it is most pro- the attendant priests with a splendour propor. bable that Satyasraya began to reign in Saka 531, tionate to the amount of the offering expected from we should thus obtain seventy years for the dura- each devotee. One man who visited Pandarpur tion of his and his son's reigns. Of Pulake i there last November with an offering of twenty-five was a grant at the British Museum, dated Saks rupees, told us he was received in a dress and 411 ; but there was some doubt as to its genuine
jewels worth Rs. 50,000. It is said that the god ness, on palæological grounds, the character of the possesses ornaments valued at twenty lakhs of letters being very nearly the same as that of some
rupees, and would appear with them all on at once inscriptions of the Eastern line in the tenth cen- were a worshipper to come bringing a fitting offer. tury of our era. Sir W. Elliot's collection also ing. Some of his diamonds and pearls are deincluded several grants of the Pallava line, con scribed as of extraordinary size and purity. The taining the names Skandavarman, Viravarman, rivalry is great among the worshippers to be Vishnugopavarman, and Siñhavarman; besides honoured by a sight of the finest jewels, and induces Rajendravarman and Devendravarman, and Chan
many a gift beyond what the donor can afford. But davarman and Nandivarman. All these grants,
no privation is complained of which has to be however, record merely the years of the reigns of
endured to propitiate Vithoba of Pandarpur. the kings by whom they were issued.-Atheneum,
The origin of this celebrated idol is thus told: June 21.
the god Vithoba had formerly his seat at Dwarka.
There lived at Pandarpur a youth named PundaVITHOBÀ OF PANDARPUR.
lika, who, though only twelve or fifteen years of On the 20th July a Gosavi, who, it seems, was age, was a great saint and an unceasing worshipper highly displeased with his god, went into the temple of the gods. His piety attracted the love of at Pandarpur and hurled a stone at the image Vithoba, who paid him & visit in person from with such force that it knocked a piece out of his Dwarka. The boy was in attendance on his father breast and broke his legs. The attendants seized when the god appeared in human form, unseen to the offender and beat him, but he was rescued by the any but Pundaliks. He at once recognised the police and placed in custody. Thus the great god favour done him, and entreated Vithoba to remain • To this dynasty also belong the Merkaars platos dated 388, and the N amangala platea dated Saka 690. Vide ante, vol. I
p. 361 ; vol. II. p. 155.-ED.