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AUGUST 2, 1872.]
SKETCHES OF MATHURA.
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north-east and south-west. This is the hill, cession has been vehemently disputed by the which Krishna is fabled to have held aloft on the priests of the two rival temples, Sri-náth and tip of his finger for seven days and nights to Gokul-náth; and it is generally found desirable, cover the people of Braj from the storms poured a little before the anniversary, to bind both down upon them by Indra when deprived of his parties over in heavy sums to keep the peace. wonted sacrifices. In pictorial representations Immediately opposite Jatipura, and only parted it always appears as an isolated conical peak, from it by the intervening range, is the village which is as unlike the reality as possible. It is of Anzor-literally the other side' --with the ordinarily styled by Hindus or the present day, temple of Sri-náth on the summit between them. the Giri-ráj, or Royal Hill, but in earlier litera- A little distance beyond both is the village of ture is more frequently designated the Anna-kut. Puchhri, which, as the name denotes, is consiThere is a firm belief in the neighbourhood that, dered the extreme iimit' of the Giri-ráj. as the waters of the Jumns are yearly decreasing Kártik, the month in which most of Kșishna's in body, so too the sacred hill is steadily dimi- exploits are believed to have been performed, nishing in height; for in past times it was visi- is the favourite time for the pari-krama or perble from Asing, a town 4 or 5 milos distant, ambulation of the sacred hill. The dusty whereas now a few hundred yards are sufficient circular road which winds round its base has & to remove it from sight. It may be hoped that length of 7 kos, that is about 12 miles, and is the marvellous fact reconciles the credulous pil- frequently measured by devotees who at every grim to the insignificant appearance presented step prostrate themselves at full length. When by the object of his adoration. It is accounted so flet on the ground, they mark a line in the sand holy that not a particle of the stone is allowed to as far as their hands can reach, then rising be taken for any building purpose, and even the they prostrate themselves again froin the line road which crosses it at its lowest point, where so marked, and continue in the same style till only a few fragments of the rock crop up above the whole weary circuit has been accomplished. the ground, had to be carried over them by a This ceremony, called Dandavati pari-franc, paved causeway.
occupies from a week to a fortnight, and is geneThe ridge attains its greatest elevation towards rally performed for wealthy sinners vicariously the south between the villages of Jatipura and by the Brahmans of the place, who receive from Anzor. Here on the summit was an ancient Rs. 50 to Rs. 100 for their trouble, and transfer temple dedicated to Srí-náth. In anticipation of all the merit of the act to their employers. The one of Aurangzeb's raids, the image of the god ceremony has been performed with 108 prostrawas removed to Náthdwára in Udaypur territory, tions at each step; but in that case it occupied and has remained there ever since. The temple on some two years, and was remunerated by a the Giri-rj was thus allowed to fall into ruin, donation of 1,000 rupees. and the wide walled enclosure now exhibits only About the centre of the range stands the long lines of foundations and steep flights of steps, town of Gobardhan, on the margin of a very with a small, tintenanted, and quite modern shrine. large irregularly shaped masonry tank, called The platean, however, commands a very extensive the Mánasi Gangá, supposed to have been called view of the neighbouring country both on the into existence by the mere action of the divine Mathura and the Bharatpur side, with the dis- will (mánasa). At one end, the boundary is formed tant hills of Nand-gán, Barsána and Dig. At by the jutting crags of the holy hill, on all the foot of the hill on one side is the little village other sides the water is approached by long of Jațipura with several temples, of which one, flights of stone steps. It has frequently been dedicated to Gokul-náth, though a very mean repaired at great cost by the Rujus of Bharatbuilding in appearance, has considerable local pur; but is said to have been originally concelebrity. Its head is the Gosáin of the temple structed in its present form by Rájá Mán with the same title at Gokul, and it is the annual Sifh of Jaypur, whose father built the adjoinscene of two religious solemnities both celebrating temple of Haridera. There is also at ed on the day after the Dip-dán at Gobhar- Banáras a tank constructed by Mán Binh, called dan. The first is the aderation of the sacred Mán Sarovar, and by it a temple dedicated to Mihill, called the Giri-ráj Pujá, and the second the nevar. Unfortunately there is neither a natural Anna-kút or commemoration of Kfishna's ga- spring, nor any constant artificial supply of crifice. The right to take the lead in the pro- water, and for half the year the tank is always
