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JULY, 1875.]
SNAKE-WORSHIP IN KATHIẢWÅD.
193
SKETCH OF SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL PLACES OF SNAKE-WORSHIP IN KATHIÂWÂD, WITH A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THÂN AND THE
DHANDHAL TRIBE OF KATHIS.
BY MAJOR J. W. WATSON, BHAUNAGAR. M HÂN is one of the most ancient places in the celebrated kund, by bathing in which all one's
1 India, and the whole of the neighbourhood sins were washed away. This kund was called, is holy ground. Thân itself derives its name therefore, the PÅpnå snu or sin-expelling, as from the Sanskrit sthán, a place,' as though the forest in which it was situated was called it were the place hallowed above all others by the På papnod-nu-vana or the Forest of the Sin the residence of devout sages, by the excellence Destroyer. Close to Thân are the Mândhav of its city, and by its propinquity to famous hills, distinguished by this name from the rest shrines, such as that of Trinetreśvara, now of the Tång å range, of which they form a part; called Tarnetar, the famous temple of the Sun and the remains of Mândhavgadh, such as they at Kandola, and those of the Snake-brethren are, may be seen close to the shrine of Bandia Wasuki and Banduka, now known as Wâsangji Beli, the modern name of Banduka, one of the and Båndia Beli respectively. Thân is situated famed snake-brethren. But Thân is sadly fallen in that part of the province of Saurashtrâ called from its former state, when it could be said the Deva Panchål-80 called, it is said, from चोटीलो ट्रे सुंदरी त्रतीए माता होल॥ having been the native country of Draupadi,
बीसो नताल वखोणीयेद्वार चत्वारी पीळ ॥१॥ the wife of the five Pandava brethren, from which
(One gate is at) Chotila, a second at Sundari, circumstance she was called Panchali, and from
the third at Mâtå Hol: her this division of the province is called the
Let us praise the fourth gate at Viso Natal. Panchal, and because it is peculiarly sacred
The shrine of Hol Mata is in the lands of it is called the Deva Panchal. Nor is Thân
Mahika, under Wankaner; Sundari is a Dhranfamous in local tradition only; one of the chap
gadhri village; while Viso Natal is the shrine of ters of the Skanda Purana is devoted to Tri.
a Mâtâ not far from Muli. netres vara and the neighbourhood, and this
Modern tradition only carries us back as far chapter is vulgarly called the Than Purana or
as the Bábriâs, who ruled here until driven Tarnetar Mahatmya. Here we learn that the
out by the Parmars, who were expelled by the first temple to the Sun was built by Raja
Kâthis, who in their turn were dispersed by Mândhât å in the Satya Yuga. The city is
Shujaat Khân, Subahdâr of Gujarat, and said then to have covered many miles, and to
were succeeded by the Jhâlâs. The memory have contained a population of 36,000 Brahmans,
of their rule still survives in the following well52,000 Vâņiâs, 72,000 Kshatriyas, and 90,000
known couplet :Sadrâs-in all, 250,000 souls. Thân was visited also by Krishna and his consort Lakshmi, who
दुहो॥ थान कंडोला मांडवा नवसे बाब कुवा bathed in the two tanks near the town, whence
राणा पेला राजीया थान बाबरीया हुवा ॥५॥ one has been called Pritam, a contraction (At) Thân, Kandola, and Mã n dựa there from Priyatam, 'the beloved,' after Krishna, -50 are 900 wd us and wells : called as being the beloved of the Gopis; and the Before the rule of the Ranks the BAbriâs reigned other Kamala, after Lakshmi, who from her at Thân. beauty was supposed to resemble the kamala or The Rånås alluded to in the couplet are the lotus-blossom. The central fortress was called Jhá lâs, whose title is Raņa. The Babriâs Kandola, and here was the celebrated temple were expelled by the Parma r 8, who were of the Sun. Immediately opposite to Kandola driven out by Waloji Kathi when himself is another hill, with a fort called in more recent fleeing from PÅwargadh pursued by Jam Abra. times Songadh, and another large suburb was Jåm Abra, it is said, followed Waloji to Thân and named Mândva. Within a few miles was the laid siege to the place, and W&loji contemplated shrine of the three-eyed god Trinetres vara, flight, when the Sun appeared to him in a dream one of the appellations of Siva, and close to this and assured him of his aid. Waloji risked a
