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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1904.
MISCELLANEA. A NOTE ON THE KURUKSHETRA. 13th and 14th of Sawan and Phagun in the dark The famous battle-field of Kurukshetra, where
half of the month. The worshipper here is
believed to obtain Naga-loka. the Kauravas and Pandavas fought for eighteen daye, is situated on the south side of Thånesar,
(ii) The Bhawan Devlji or Temple of the 30 miles south of Ambala in the Panjab, and
Goddess. This temple contains an idol of am account of its antiquities will be found in
Någa-damant Dévi. Feirs are held on the 7th Cunningham's Archeological Survey Reports,
and 9th of Asanj and Chet sudi. The temple was Vol. XIV.p.86. The following note by L. Raghu
rebuilt by Raja Rnghbir Singh of Jind in Sauvat nath Das, Superintendent of Ethnography to the
1943, Jind State, relates to that part of the Kurukshetra which lies in that State and forms the southern
(iii) The Nagakshetra Tirtha. - The tank border of the sacred territory, lying west of
here was rebuilt by Raja Raghbir Singh in the Panipat and including Safidon and Jind, the two
same year. The tirtha of Nagakshetra is the place ancient towns, which are the most important places
where the snakes were slaughtered and hence is in the south, as Thânêsar and Peho are in the
called Sarpa-daman. Bathing in i is believed to north, of the Kurukshetra. The details of the
set one free from the fear of Någas (snakes). various temples, shrines, and places of pilgrimage in this trect do not lend countenance to Cunning
(iv) Sri Krishna. This temple was also erectbam's suspicion that both Kaithal and Jind have
ed by RAJA Reghbir Singh in the same year. Its been included in the holy circuit in recent times
feir is held on the 8th of Bhâdun badi. to gratify the Sikh Rajas of those places. The archæological remains of the southern Kuruk
The administration of the above temples is in khôtra do not appear to bave ever been examined
the hands of the State authorities, three Gaur by an expert, though the whole territory would
Brahmans of the Kaubika gótra being nominated probably repay systematic exploration.
Es pujdrs and paid by the State.
H. A. ROSE July 20th, 1903.
(3) Mahadeva. - There is also a temple of
Mahadeva at Paja Kalan in the Safidon 'ildqa, (1) At Baraud in the Safidon 'ilága, and 383 miles north-west of Safiden. It is on the miles to the north-east of the town of Safidon, is Pårågara tank, so called because Parisara Rishi 1 temple of Mahadeva, wbich 16 861d to date from performed penances here. It also dates from the the Satya-Yuga. It is visited by the people on Satya-Yuga, and its fairs are held on the 13th and the fiva-ratris, and as there are no pujárfe, the 14th of Sawan and Pbagun badt. People also villagers here perform worship themselves. bathe here on every Sunday in Sawan. It is in
charge of a Shami Bairagi of the Râminandi (2) At Ssfidon itself there are three ancient Order, who must remain celibate. tirthas and temples, supposed to huve been built towards the close of the Dvâpara Yugu, namely, (4) The Singht-Rikh Tank at Sanghåns, Någivara Mahadeva, Naga-damani Devi (or 4 miles west of Safidón, owes its name to SingbiBbuwan Dêvi) and Nagakshetra. The legend goes Rikh, the Risli who worshipped there. Bathing that at the end of the Dv¶ Yuga Raja Parik- in it on a parab or fête-day is meritorious. shit was bitten by a serpent, Taksbaka. To avenge him, his son Raja Janamêjaya established the (5) There is also a temple of Mahadeva at images of Nigêsvara Mahadeva and Naga-damani Hát, 6 miles south-west of Safidon in the same Devi (the goddess who slaughters serpents) in the 'ildqa on the Pancha Nada.. It has been in temples and invoked them. He then made a existence since the Satya-Yuga, and to bathe in haran védi, or place of sacred fire, and held a its tank is equivalent in spiritual efficacy to holocaust of the snakes with their dakstis (powers). performing 5 yajnas. There are fairs here on the
same dates es at Paja Kalan, but no regular (i) Nagèsvara Mahadeva. -- This temple, pujúris are appointed, though occasionally a which lies on a tank, contains an idol of Nages. Shâmt (Bai Agl), a Brahmachårf, a Gosain or a vara Mebadeva, and fairs are held here on the I Sadhu may halt here in his wanderings. Two
1 Panoba Nada, the place where 5 Arthas were connected with 5 channela by Het Kaish Mahadeva (Bawan Purin).
