________________
96
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH 1, 1872
anxious to burst its bounds, caring not, apparently, to spontaneously. Upon observation as to why thi retain the splendid distinction of being the largest Waste, it was ascertained that it occurred only over one artificial sheet of water in the world.
spot. There the spade and pick-axe were manfully At the south-west end rises the steeper of the plied, and there they discovered a statue of the god. two hills which the embankment unites ; on the Afterwards it was revealed to the priest that it was summit of this hill stands the splendid palace built the wish of the deity to found a home at Rishabanáth. by Jesiöha for his favourite wife, Umalá Deví, A small temple was first erected ; and, as worshippers a princess of the Pramara race, strangely also called increased in number, other and more magnificent the Ruta Rani, or "testy queen." She and the buildings followed, until the pile is now large, beautiful, older queen, mother of the heir appareat, naturally and exceedingly wealthy. The Bhill swears by the quarrelled; and, to make peace, or rather to prevent god, and hence one is led to believe that this is only domestie scenes" Jesinha himself retired with his a temple where Krishna is worshipped under one of his favourite to Dabar, and lived in seclusion some years many forms. A large and ancient naubatkhana (room of inglorious ease, until the misconduct of his regent for musicians) overhangs the great gate. The temple and heir-apparent at Udapur compelled him to re
itself is made up of a series of templets, all connected; sume the reins of government. The principal building
in each are images of the Jains lords. Of course the of the palace rises abruptly from the rook, domas sur- great image is there. The inner shrine is shut off from inount the building, and from these magnificent views
the rest of the building by gates plated with silver. can be obtained. Numerous rooms and courts, small Each full moon from the bhandar, the high priest and inconvenient, are crowded together. Upon the brings forth a dress valued at a lakh and a half of rupees, walls of the apartments devoted to the Rani are
wherewith to deck the god, whilst gold and silver Vespaintings still in fair preservation-scenes froin the
sels are used in puja. All day long devotees lie prosRamayana, the Great War, &o. A wall of stone sur
trato before the shrine, whilst others offer saffron upon rounds all the attached buildings, as well as the palace pillars, upon which are supposed impressions of the feet itself. On a higher eminence arising from the eastern of the god. All the rulers in Rajputana send gifts to margin of the principal arm of the lake stands another Rishabnáth-saffron, jewels, money; and, in return, palace, from the walls of which the grandest view.ofreceive the high priest's blessing.--Abridged from the the lake can be obtained. The greatest length of Times of India. Debar is from east to west, whilst the principal, and deepest arm, runs towards the bund, from the north. A NEW JAINA TEMPLE AT PALITANA.- About This arm is comparatively narrow, 80 that from the
three years ago when Mr. Kesavji Nayak, a Bhattia embankment the great mass of water cannot be seen,
merchant of Bombay, was at Pálitapa, he contriespecially as the view is limited by the presence of a
buted #1,50,000 for the erection of a temple there. largo island stretched across its opening. Away to the
The temple has now been completed, and the cerenorth, he waters extend, during the rains, almost to the foot of the hills, leaving, as they subside, immense
mony of opening performed last month. tracts of the finest rive land in Rajputana. In the summer small streams can be seen meandering
NOTES AND QUERIES: through the plains, to lose themselves in the lake itself
Note on Query 2, p. 64. Twelve villages are dotted along the banks, the inha
WITH regard to Mr. Beames's enquiry as to bitants of which support themselves by cultivation of the soil and fishing, which last is a lively occupation.
whether the custom of denoting the months by the Casting the eye far away to the south, one can
signs of the Zodiac prevails in other parts of India, see Salumbra, the home of the most powerful
| I find that in this part of the country (Hasan Dischief present at darbar to do honour to His High- trict, Mysore) it is the custom among astrologers ness of Mewar on his installation, and the 'hereditary always to use in documents drawn up by them in councillor of Mewar, whose symbol, the lance, must addition to the usual month and date, that of the be borne before every state document that bears his corresponding month according to the "Sankrams" signature.
style. For instance the 15th February would be
given as the 7th day of the bright half of Mágha, FAMED RIKHABNATH.
and the 5th day of the month " Kambha," the Although Debar Lake is so seldom visited, this is
i "panchanga" or native almanack gives both styles. not the case with the famous shrine of Rishabanátha,
J. 8. F. MACKENZIE. ten miles south of Prasad, on the Udepur and Ahmadabad road. Thither flock thousands upon thou- Hassan, 15th Feb. 1872. sands of Lindus from Gujarat, Mewar, Marwar, and all Rajwada, to pay their devotions to the shrine of the
Query 4. protecting lord. Rikhabnath is a walled village in the
MANY figures of Buddha holding the bhikshu's midst of the hills; it contains numerous houses, and a
bowl, have on the base a monkey making an offer large dharmashala for the accommodation of strangers. The temple, the centre of attraction, is surrounded by
ing, while another is disappearing, head foremost a large stone rampart, and is shut off from the town by
down a well or bucket! (See plate Jour. Beng. As. enormous gatos. Tradition states that, nearly
Soc. vol. XVI p. 78) What does this mean or allude
50C. YOL AYIP, 10) w at uvos thousand years ago, a husbandman one day found in to ? his field one of his cows giving forth milk lavishly and Bihár, Feb. 9th.
A. M. B.
