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June, 1873.]
THE HILL OF SAPTA ÁRING.
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in good style and has some neat carving, but is Devî cut off his head, and out of the trunk prosadly in need of repair. A sádhu by name ceeded the Demon himself, and a long struggle Gaud Svami is said to have lived here a ensued, during which the Rakshasa once flew century ago as a devotee of the goddess. The right through the rock, and an opening is said Dharampur Râjâ was his chela or disciple, and on to exist at the present day, marking the spot. one of his visits to his guru died, and the samadhi Eventually he too was slain, and hence the above described was raised to his memory goddess received the title of "Mahismardani,"
There is a fine old "Baoli" adjoining, said or the buffalo-slayer. After this the earth was at to have been built by Gaud Svami. The above peace, and Devi henceforth took up her abode in are the chief points of interest on the hill, but her cave, and became a general object of worship. there are numerous minor objects of adoration A sort of portico was added to the cavern in various places, chiefly figures of Maruti or at the beginning of last century by the Ganpati, the favourite deities of the Marathas in Senapati of Satara, and the present plain these parts.
structure was recently built by the present The origin of the hill of Sapta Śring was on Chief of Vinchur. The solid flight of steps this wise :-Lakshmana, after being wounded by leading up to it is said to have been built an arrow from the bow of Megnâth or Indrajit, by & savkár of Nâsik, about a century ago. son of Ravana, despatched Hanuman to procure At certain intervals one meets with images
certain healing herbs from the hill of Girjá Ma- of Ramchandra and Hanumân, Krishna and • hâtma, situated in Paradise. Hanuman duly Radha, and in one or two places the tortoise is
reached the hill, but, being devoid of all medical carved out of a flagstone: these were, no doubt. knowledge, was quite ignorant of what parti- designed as halting-places to serve as a pious cular herbs he should select, and accordingly excuse for the weary pilgrim to stop and take solved the difficulty by taking up the hill bodily breath in the course of his ascent. The sight is on his shoulders and transporting it to earth; on curious during fair-time, for besides able-bodied the way, however, portions of the mountain kept pilgrims the siek and halt are dragged up in falling away, and one of these alighting in these hopes of a miraculous cure, and barren women regions became the hill of Sapta Sring. “Now in numbers go to pour their vows before the there were giants," or at least Rakshasas," in the shrine of the goddess. All bring offerings of earth in those days," and the earth may well be some sort-grain, flowers, cocoanuts,' or money, said to have been filled with violence." The according as they are disposed. The daily serHindu Triad resolved upon a remedy, and out vice of the goddess consists in bringing her of their own combined essence produced the bathing-water from the Surya Kund previously goddess" Devi" or "Mahalakshmi." Devi having mentioned, and laying before her offerings of been called into existence was located in a cave khir (cakes of rice, milk, and sugar), turi of the rock, and it lay with her to rid the earth (cakes of flour and ghee), preserves, and so of the Rakshasas. Devi was supposed to have forth. After having been presented they bebeen created in 31 portions-one called "Mahâ- come the perquisites of the "Bhopa," a heredilakshmi" and seated at Kolhapur, another called tary guardian of the shrine. “Mahâsarsati" or "Tokai" at Tuljapur, a third | Doubtless much of the merit of the pilgrimcalled "Mahakali" seated at Matapur, and lastly ages lies in the bodily labour endured in asthe remaining half at Sapta Sring, known as cending the hill and steps : in addition to the Sapta Sring Nivágni.
above, there are three different paths round the At the three first-mentioned places different mountain, which are footed by the more devoutceremonies are observed in the worship of the one a sort of goatpath round the base of the goddess, bat at Sapta Sring the forms are all scarp, a second of greater circumference on the combined.
lower plateau, and a third round the base of But to return to Devi and her work. Two the mountain below, which latter is said to be of the Rakshasas, Shumbh and Nishumbh his nearly 20 miles in circuit, passing through the brother, she killed without much difficulty. A narrow valleys which isolate Sapta Sping from third, named Mahisagur, so called from having the rest of the range on the east and west. the form of a buffalo, gave her greater trouble. The summit of Sapta Sring is said to be
