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OF THE HINDUS.
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Lingas, the temple of which is situated in a country quite as difficult of access as Vaidyanath. An account of the Mela held here is given by the late Colonel Mackenzie, in the fifth volume of the Asiatic Researches. He calls the place Śrí-parvatham-properly Śrí Parvata, or Śrí Saila, the holy mountain-he specifies the name of the Linga, however, as Mallikarja, that is to say Mallikarjuna.
According to the Bombay Calendar, there is a numerous assemblage of Hindus at the Sivarátri on the Island of Elephanta, the great cave temple of which place contains the well known three-headed image of Śiva.
GOVINDA DWADASI.- Twenty-seventh solar Phálguna; twelfth day, light half (13th March). This is a festival, which, as observed in Bengal, is held in honour of Krishna, who is worshipped in his juvenile form as a cowherd. In Hindustan it is termed the Nrisinha dwádaśí, and is dedicated to Vishnu in his Avatára of the Nrisinha, or man-lion. In neither is it an observance held in much repute*.
GHANTA-KARNA PÚJÁ.-Twenty-ninth solar Phálguna; fourteenth day, light half (14th March). This is also a minor festival, and apparently confined to Bengal. Ghantá-karna, one of Siva's gañas, or attendants, is to be worshipped under the type of a water
[Bhavishyottarapurána, c. 67.]
