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MAY 3, 1872.]
SKETCHES OF MATHURA.
135
Chhahiri, is Bhân dir-ban, a dense thicket denotes, is the one primary source whence the of ber and hins and other low prickly shrubs. In goddess derives her modern reputation. We its centre is an open space with a small modern propose to pass them all briefly in review, excepttemple bearing the title of Bihari Ji, and a well ing for the present the four first-Gokul, Gobarand rest house; and at the distance of a few dhan, Barsana and Nand-gânw, which will each hundred yards outside is a venerable Ficus Indica, in turn form the subject of a separate sketch. called the Bhândir-bat, with a small shrine 5, Sanket, the place of assignation,' is halfunder it, dedicated to Srid&ma. This was the way between Radhâ's home Barsâ na and favourite tree for the herdsmen's children to Nand-g a ń w the residence of Krishna's fostermeet and take their midday repast under, and father Nanda ; 6, Para madra is an obscure derives its name from the cups and plates point in the Bharatpur hills. 7, Asing is a (bhánda) used on such occasions. One day, small town on the high road from Mathurâ to according to the Puranas, the boys had made it Dig. Till 1868 it was the head-quarters of a their goal in a race, when the demon Pralamba, tahsili, though only 9 miles distant from the disguised as one of themselves, came to join them, capital of the district. At the present time and getting Sankarshana to mount on his back, there is no vestige of any grove, and the ran off with him in hopes to destroy him. But only spot accounted sacred is a pond called the sturdy lad so crushed him with his knees Kilolkund. R, Sessâ i, for Sesha-saya, is a
and belaboured him with his fists that he soon village in the Kosi Pargana, where Kộishna • brought the monster lifeless to the ground, and and Balaramą, are said to have revealed them
in commemoration of his prowess he was ever selves to the Gopis under their heavenly form afterwards known by the title of Bala-Rama, of Narayana and Sesha. This is a good illusor Rama the strong..
tration of the disregard for ancient authorities Bel-ban is on the left bank of the Jamuna in which characterizes the modern cycle of local the village of Jahangir-pur, part of the endow- legends; since the transfiguration in question ment of the Bengali temple of Sringar-bat in is described in the Purâņas, not as worked for Brinda-ban,--that town being just on the other the benefit of the Gopis, but as a vision vouchside of the water. Loha-ban, in the Maha- safed to Akrûr, on the bank of the Jamunâ, the ban Pargana, some 3 miles from Mathurâ, across day he fetched the two boys from Brindaban the river, probably derives its name from the to attend the tourney of arms at Mathura. lodha or lodhra tree. On the spot it is said to com- Sessa i ought then to lie between these two memorate Krishna's defeat of an otherwise un- towns, whereas it is in fact far away to the known demon called Lohâsur. In consequence
north of them both. 9, Mat.-In the town of the similarity of sound, offerings of iron (loha) itself there is nothing whatever of interest are always made by the pilgrims. Of the two re- or antiquity, though the two sacred woods, maining bans-Brind &-ban and Mahá-ban Bhandar-ban and Bhadra-ban, are both more detailed notices will be given hereafter. on its borders. 10, Unch â-gânw is the old
All the twelve bans are mentioned by name in village site not far from the foot of the the Mathurd Máhátmya, and most of them, it hill, the crest and slopes of which are now will be observed, are connected with the Pauranik crowned by the temple of Larlijî and the comlegends of Krishna and Balarama. On the paratively modern town of Barsana. other hand, the twenty-four upabans refer main- Uncha-g â n w, corresponding to the Engly to Râdhi's adventares, and have no ancient lish Higham, must originally have included authority whatever. Of the entire number only in its limits the hill whence it derives its three were, till quite recent times, places of any name. 11, Khel-ban is not far from the note, viz., Gokul, Gobardhan, and Radha-kund. town of Shergash. 12, Radh a-kund, or Of these, Gokul in all classical Sanskrit lite- as it is occasionally called Sri-kund, i. e. rature is the same as Maha-bar, which is Holy Well, is a small town adjoining Goincluded among the bans; Gobardhan is as bardhan, 15 miles to the west of Mathura. much a centre of sanctity as Mathurâ itself, and it has grown up on the margin of the sacred is only for the sake of uniformity inserted in lakes, prepared according to the legend for either list; while Râdha-kund, as the name Krishna's expiatory ablution after he had
Balarama, under the title of Belus, is described by the be one of the tutelary divinites of Mathura, a proof that the Greek and Latin historians as the Indian Hercules, and said to local cultus has a higher antiquity than is sometimesallowed it.
