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Holy Åbo · Every year à big melā (fair ) takes place at Achaleshvara, on the last day of the dark-half of the month of Fälguna ( according to the months calculated in Gujarāt ) when people of all castes without any distinction gather here for the worship of the Lord Shiva. Fairs are held at various places on the Mount Abu, in eight-days following the Holi festival.
To the south of the Achaleshvara is a well-built residence for the head (mahant) of the shrine, where he used to stay along with other saints and monks, but the State (old Sirohī State) for some reason made them vacate the quarters which are now lying unused and are gradually being ruined. In one of the rooms of this building is kept a trident which people worship as (a symbol of) the goddess Chāmundā.
On the other side of the main road, opposite the main entrance of the Achaleshvara compound is a small dilapidated temple of Mahādeva with a doorway obviously reinstated here from a ruined Jaina shrine. In front of it there is a small step-well in ruins, now wholly dried up. The sanctum contains a linga, and images of Gaạesha and Pārvatī, all made of marble. (7) Mandakini-Kunda.
To the north of the Achaleshvara area, is an extensive old kuņa or tank about 900 ft. long x 240 ft. broad; such kundas are rare and are especially noteworthy for their plan. Mahāmahopādhyāya Gaurishankar Ozā refers to the Prashasti of the Chitor-Kīrti-Stambhal which says that Mahārāṇā Kumbhā built here the temple of Kumbha-svāmi and a kuņda nearby. Since the kunda is located near the Kumbhasvāmī temple, it is reasonable to suppose that Kumbhā repaired the kuņda.
I Sirohi Râjyakā Itihāsa, P. 74.
