Indian Antiquary Vol 31

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 77

FEBRUARY, 1902.)
A PANDITS VISIT TO GAYA, 1820.
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North-east of the same temple, at some distance, is , holy tank, called Surya Kunde, enclosed with a wall. Pilgrims bathe and offer pindas at this pool.
Eastward of Gays is the river Phalgu. It is said that when the five Pandavas were travelling to the woods, they arrived at this holy place to visit the feet of Vishnu, when the third person of them, tuned Phalgana (Arjuna) gave his name to the river.
There are two public gates to this city, one on the south, and another on the north : on the west is a ditch. The length of the city is about three miles, and the breadth is one mile ; it is built on an irregular and rocky base, so that all the houses of the city are not on a level. Fromerly there were about 700 houses of the Gayawala Brahmans, bat at present there are not above 800 houses. Gaya is a celebrated and holy place for all the tribes of Hindus; in consequence of which, many lakhs of travellers come hither from several dominions. The Gayáwálas employ agents to conduct the pilgrims, sending persons off about ten or twelve kos distance to meet and bring them in.
West of Gayâ two kos, is a hill called Rama Sila upon which is a mantapam, in which are the feet of Brahma, and close to it two images. East of the mantapam are placed five images at the foot of a Ravai tree, where the pilgrims offer cakes.
South-east of the said mantapam is square stone, upon which are sculptured feet with the marks of the Kurma (or tortoise), Padma (or lotus), Matsya (or fish), Sankha (or shell): close to these are broken images. The people say all these marks belong to the god Rama. In the lower part of the hill is a pond of water, called Brahma Kunda: all the pilgrims bathe in this pond before ascending the hill.
North-east of Rama Bila is a hill called Preta sila, on which is placed a Lingam : in front of the Lingam are some broken images, where the travellers perform their funeral ceremonies, and give the Pinda. At the bottom of the hill is a pool of water, the banks of which are built with stone and chumam, and surrounded by a wall; it is skirted by a flowergarden. Some time ago, a person named Lala, who was the Diwan of the Nawab of Lakhnau, arrived at this place, and constructed this tank, where travellers nsually bathe. South of this hill is another square tank called Uttaramanasa Kunda, or Pafcha Tirtha; the breadth of the square is fifty feet; stairs lead down to it; and on its bank is built a temple of Mahadeva. In front is a pavilion, in which are placed the following images of stone: -(1st) Sita-devi, (2nd) Suryottarini, (3rd) Asadevi, (4th) Chitrak Mayi, (5th) Gauri-Sankar, (6th) Durga, (7th) Vighneswara, (8th) Pârvati, (9th) Kuvera.
Besides these, there are five images called Chandrama and one Lingam. All pilgrims perform the funeral ceremonies, and give the cakes, in front of these images, at the foot of an Aśvattha tree.
East of Gaya, at some distance, is a hill called 81t4 Kunda: on the descent of the hills is a magtapam, with images of Ramachandra, 81t4, and the Lingam. All the pilgrims perform their funeral ceremonies, and offer the Pindas before this Lingam. On the wall of that mantapam are carved nine images, one of Yama, and eight of the goddess Gauri or Parvati. Fronting the image of Ramachandra is the place of Brahmastan, where are the feet of Brahma. About two kos from the hill sita Kunda, on the river Phalgu, is situated a temple, in which is placed the idol of the goddess Saraswati, where the pilgrims offer Pindas.. South-west of the temple of Saraswatt is & ruined city of the Bauddhas, with the remains of an ancient fort. It is said, that in former times, when the Bauddhas had possession of the country, they destroyed the old city of Gaya, and established another city called Bauddha Gaya, of which these are the vestiges; they erected here a large Bauddhalayam or temple of Buddha, with nine storeys, making the height of the temple 108 feet. The gate of the lower storey was five yards high, and eight yards broad, so that a man could pass, riding on an elepbant. Much of this temple is still standing. Inside is # seat of two yards broad, upon which rises a smaller one, and upon that sits a Bauddha image of the natural stature. The people say, that there was another stone image of Buddha, which has been carried away by the Bairagis of this place, who keep it in their content. On the second storey of the temple are three round platforms, upon one of which grows a large Asvattha tree : at its foot are four images of