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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[VOL. XXIV.
Vv. 18-19 contain the description of a rivulet called Kutila in inscriptions which rises in the Trikūta hill nearby and flows only in the rainy season. Its description as given here is simply hyperbolic.
In vy. 20-22 we have the description of the goddess Vindhyaväsinl whose shrine is situated on the slope of the hill to the north outside the rampart round Ekalingaji's temple.
In vv. 23-24 the poet describes the god Ekalinga. The temple of Ekalingaji is, in popular belief, regarded to have originally been built by Båpå Räval, which, having been damaged in course of a few centuries by the Muslim invaders, was repaired by Mahārānā Mākala who also furnished it with a rampart to ensure its protection. Mahārāṇā Kumbhakarna, the son of Mökala, is also stated in vv. 239-401 in the fourth slab of this very epigraph, to have done something towards reparation to this ancient shrine. The modern structure of the temple, however, is stated to be the work of Mahārāņā Rai Mal who laid fresh foundation and erected the new structure.
Vy. 26-28 give the description of a beautiful tank situated to the east, near Ekalingaji's temple. It is popularly known 88 Indra-sägara, but it is here called Indratirtha-Bhojasara. The tank is said to have been in existence since the time of Indra who is stated in v. 8 to bave meditated on the feet of Bkalinga in Krita-yuga; but it was given its present shape by forming the dam, etc., by Bhõjabhūpa, one of the early predecessors of the Guhila family, and hence called after his own name.
Then come the descriptions of Kamadhenu (vv. 29-30) and Taksbaka (vv. 31-33) who are stated in v. 8 to have attended upon Bkalinga in Trētā and Dvāpara ages respectively. The city of Näga, i.e., Nägdā, the ancient capital of Mewăr, is here stated to have originally been founded by this lord of the serpents.
Vv. 34-35 describe Dhårēbvara whose temple is situated a few paces off the Ekalingaji temple on the base of the western range of the neighbouring hill in front. This small temple with a reservoir attached to it seems from v. 107 of the third slab of this inscription to have been built by Råval Samarasimha as a deed of chartiy.
Next comes the description of Vaidyanatha in vv. 36-37, whose temple must have existed at Eklingaji at the time. No such monument is now popularly known to exist there.
In vv. 38-40 is described another beautiful tank situated to the south of the town of Eklingaji, touching the site of the ancient town of Nagdā, popularly known as Bāghēlā Talāv but here simply called V (Ba)ghalāva. This tank was excavated by prince Mokala in memory of his brother Bāghasimha.
From here the poet takes us to the fort of Chitor and describes in vv. 41-50 the temple of Samadhibvara which is situated a little way to the south-west of Kumbhā's great Tower of Victory. This temple was originally built by Bhojarāja, the Paramāra prince of Mālwā, in the eleventh century when Chitor had already become a Paramāra possession in the reign of his uncle Muñja (Väkpatirāja). It was also called Tribhuvananārāyana temple after his title Tribhuvananārdyana, and Bhojasvāmidēva-jagati'. The temple having been ruined in course of time was repaired by prince Mokala in V. 8. 1485 (=A.D. 1428) on account of which it is now generally called Mokalaji's temple. The present inscription, however, assigns the renovation of the temple to prince Kumbhā (v. 49), but this fact is not corroborated by any other record. The poet here evidently appears to have confused this monument with the temple of Kumbhasvämin on the fort which really was built by Kumbhā. Rai Bahadur Ojhă regards this temple as the second
1 Above, Vol. XXI, p. 286. *An. Rep., Rajputana wawa, Ajmer, 1920-21, p. ..
