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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[Dec. 6, 1872.
all over the country worshipped purely and simply With regard to Buddhist remains, I would menas a fetish among the lowest classes, as well astion that I have come across another colassal image under the more refined personification of Någes'. of Buddha at Tenali. It is in the enclosure of a Varasvâmî. For instance, there is a well at Dache- S'ivalayam, dedicated to the name of Ramalinges'. palli, it contains the best water in the place, but a varasv&mi. This image is placed in the open air cobra, it was discovered, frequented the spot ; & under some trees entirely neglected. The figure is temple was built over the well, and it was totally in the usual sitting position, naked, protuberant abandoned to the serpent divinity. In Saivism, I lips, wooly hair, and pendant ears. This makes the have suggested that the serpent found a place as a third similar image I have met with in this district, fitting symbol and adornment of the power of evil. the others being at Bejwada and Gudivada. The But when the Aryans brought with them concep- latter image has the Någa overshading the head. tions of the Supreme Being an invested with what I may mention here that a very interesting sculpwe may call the powers of nature, the serpent a ture of a female figure has just been disinterred at enmed a new character. Conquered and subdued, Bejwada in digging a channel. It is the only init became the protective guardian of Vishnu. Over stance I have met with in this district of a female his head is represented the seven-headed snake, figure with wooly hair, thick lips, and long pendant And so again, in the Aryan scheme of vormogony ears. It is loosely dressed from the loins downthere is a remarkable soene represented the Devatas wards, and was found at a considerable depth below and Rakshasas (the powers of good and evil) churn. the surface. In the Amravati sculptures there are ing the ocean of milk with the great serpent many representations of the Någa type, as well as Vasuki employed as a churn-string. This is a other ethnological varieties. A careful study of scene continually represented in the most ancient these might throw some light on the communicasculptures of the district. For instance, it is one of tions between India and other countries in early the scenes depicted on one of the stones dug up at times, Nizampatam, and used to form what is a mere recent I have already addressed Government with refermantapam. It is found on Buddhist remains at ence to the desirability of issuing instructions for Amravati, and it is still sculptured on idol cars of the protection of the interesting Buddhist remains quite recent construction. The mode of treatment in the Krishna district, as the Department Public is always the same; the Devatas and Rakshasas are Works have been inaking excavations at Bhattialways pulling different ways, the contending pralu and Gudivada I am informed, and using the powers of good and evil, and a serpent is a subject old bricks for road materials and other purposes. power-a mere instrument to give effect to the pure In the one at Bhattipralu I am told that Captain poses of the divine mind through the very opposing Vibart found a stone casket, inside of which was a forces. He employs "rain and sunshine, heat and crystal vial with some seed-pearls, &c. The nacold, fire and hail, snow and vapours, stormy wind i tives say that another bottle was broken in digging, fulfilling his word." It is thus I apprehend that which contained the secret of alchemy, the subBuddhism borrowed the Aryan symbolization of the stance capable of turning all other metals to gold. serpent as a protective power. The conquered They also firmly believe these structures cover some enemy is made a captive slave, and employed to hidden treasure, and from the fact of a five-headed watch and guard ; the serpent, as the emblem of Någa being discovered, this has been taken to fix evil to man, is subdued by Almighty power, and the actual amount at five crores. It is very desirinstead of receiving divine honours, serves simply able that whatever excavations are to be made, they to represent the fear and dread naturally associated should be conducted under competent supervision. in the human mind, with any idea of a divine These remarkable structures have been entirely being. It is possible also that the aver-shadowing covered up and buried with a mass of earth, which serpent above the representations of Vishnu and has preserved them through long centuries, during Buddha may be employed in another sense to con which their history and purposes have almost vey the idea of wisdom--this being a characteristio perished, and have certainly become forgotten in the attribute of the serpent.
neighbourhood where they were originally raised. Now with regard to the Nagas: we find them to With all the interest that attaches to the Buddhist have been in existence in various parts of India, era of Indian History, it becomes us to deal reve immediately prior to the Buddhist era. The dah- rently with these relics that time has spared. They gop at Amravati was erected by a Näga popula- are the evidences of a past age of civilization, tion. Everywhere we find the Nagas represented When we have carefully disinterred them and as worshipping and doing homage to Buddhism, brought once more to light the symmetry and proand Buddha is represented as supported by the portions of their architectural designs, we shall proNåga's folds or shaded by his protecting hood, while bably find that they are worthy of a better fate than the two systems seem to have coalesced so far that to make district roads. alternate rererence is paid to the relic casket, the There is only one other point to which I wish to wheel, the sacred big-tree, and the five-headed allude. In writing in my former report of the snake.
Frangula Dibbalu near the coast at China Ganjam, • Conf. Ind. Antiq., pp. 347-48.-ED.
