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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[FEB. 2, 1872.
at the surface it is hardly four times the size of Bioned by the po.son in his throat. At Nárathe oyster.
da's suggestion he went to Brahma, and havA perpendicular ridge of rock rises abruptly ing brought some water from his famous basin from the Shankh akunda and stretches to- in which the Gang á is said to have taken its wards the north and east. On the north-west birth, deposited it on Mandar a for his own corner of this ridge, about five feet from the base, use. is a small cave hewn out in the solid rock. It On the left side of the A káshgang á, is the is about four feet square and high enough to colossal figure of Madhu kaitab a traced on allow a person to sit at his ease in it. It is just the rock. This, according to the Mandara Malike one of the rock-cut caves to be met with in hátmya, was done by Rám a during his residence different parts of India, where Buddhist as- on the hill. About 15 feet below, is a vaulted cetics used to retire for the purpose of contem- cave, cut into the body of a smaller ridge of plation and prayer. But from an inscription on rock which rises like an inclined plane from near a large cave in the neighbourhood, to be pre- the base of the perpendicular ridge before mensently noticed, it appears doubtful whether it tioned. The chamber is about 15 feet by 10, does not rather owe its origin to Hindu devotees. and, like the veranda of a bangala, gets higher as
Further north, about half way to the summit it recedes from the entrance, owing to the incliof the ridge above mentioned, is situated a spring nation of the vaulted roof with which it is covernamed Akásh gangá, meaning the Gangá eu. On this roof there is an inscription in large of the sky. The only approach to this is by a letters which has not yet been deciphered. The wooden ladder about 15 feet high. The water, only approach to the cave is by a small door which is contained in a cavity in the shape of a which just enables a person to enter in a cone, cut in the body of the rock, is only about sitting posture, but does not admit sufficient three feet deep, and is so transparent that the light to perceive what it contains. The ascetic smallest objects at the bottom appear distinctly. residing on the hill, who has his cottage conThis cavity, to which no rain-water can find ac- tiguous to the cave, however, assists pilgrims cess, fills itself as often as it is emptied, being with lamps to observe the representation of one of supplied from a source which no eye has ever the incarnations of Vishnu-carved in stone seen.
on the middle of the floor. The image in the ounThe following legend accounts for the exist- tre, is that of Vishnu in the shape of the manence of the sacred Gang á at Mandara. lion, its eyes almost glaring with unearthly lus
The Mandara having been blessed by the tre and its claws tearing into pieces the body of presence of all the principal deities, was anxious a Titan thrown over his thigh, while a child to have Shiva also. With this object, it offered stands underneath with half-shut eyes tremprayer to the sage Nárad a, who thereupon un- bling at the fearful scene. There are other fidertook a journey to Kailás a for the purpose. gures such as those of Lakshmi, Sarasvati, On his way he met an ascetic who, having propi- Ráma, &c.; but the cave goes under the name tiated Shiv a by his prayers, had just been pro- of the central image—to which it is principally mised the sovereignty of Banáres. Nárada dedicated. told him he was a fool to desire the sovereignty! The following is the legend to which the cenof B anár es as long as Shiva himself was there, tral image alludes. There were two brothers since the latter would be considered the real Asuras or Titans by birth who by the favour Rájá and the ascetic only so in name. So under of Shiva, became very powerful and, expelling the guise of friendship, Nárada advised him to the gods, usurped the throne of heaven. In the go back and ask Shiva to leave Banáres as long pride of victory the elder brother, named Hiraas he reigned. The ascetic did so; and Shiva, nyak ha, thought himself even equal to Vishnu being unable to refuse the prayer of a devoted in power, and so sought him in the nether world votary,consented to leave Banáres; and as Ná to give him battle, but was killed in the enrada happened just then to prefer his own prayer, counter. The younger Hiranyak as hip & towards the accomplishment of which he had therefore hated Vishnu so intensely that he played so deep a game, the deity agreed to spend could not even bear to hear his name prothe time on Mandara. He would not go however nounced in his presence. But in course of time a unless he had the water of the Gangá to drink, son was born to him, who became a devoted folin order to quench the irritating sensation occa- lower of his antagonist, and who, forsaking the
