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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
DECEMBER, 1924
exterior of the temple appears to have been ornamented with kirtimukhas, four-handed figures and animals. A line of geese was still visible. I also noticed a figure of a tiger overpowering an elephant, which has been regarded by some writers as the distinguishing crest of the Gonds. The most that can be claimed for the Gonds is that the Chånd& princes adopted the device as such, copying it from the figures in the old temples which they found there. It was no invention of theirs. The figure probably appealed to their imagination, the tiger of their jungles representing the ideal of prowess. Another important ruin known as Satkhanda Mahal or seven-storied palace, is situated just on the bank of the Jat Abankari to the west of the village. Here a number of cut stones were spread over an area, which may well have been the site of a royal residence. The structure appeared to have been a plain one, 48 very few carved stones were to be seen. This place is protected by hills on two'sides and the only approach from outside is by the river Jatašaukari.
Tradition avers that there were chhai dgar chhai kori talao or 126 tanks, but now only one kori or twenty can be traced. There are two tanks in the vicinity of the great group of, temples, named Rajd talao, and Rani talao, and there is one named Diwan dabri or minister's pond. The Dulha, Jhinga, Kajra and Terhå tanks have heaps of cut stone on their banks. These belonged to temples which have now fallen down.
The earliest mention of Tummâna is the Ratanpur inscription of 1114 A.D.3 In this record it is stated that " in the moon's primeval race was born the illustrious Kartavîrya, from whom were born the Haihayas” “In the race of the Haihaya princes was born that ruler of Chedi, the illustrious Kokalla, an image of the god of love, whence all derived delight, by whom being on earth in order to measure his own fame how much it might be ...... this of (?) Tritasaurya was sent up high into the universe." (Verse 4.) "He had 18 sons, who destroyed the enemies as lions do elephants. The first-born son among them was ruler of Tripuri, and he made the remaining brothers lords of mandalas." (V.5.) "The race of one among these younger brothers in the course of time obtained an unequalled son, Kalingaraja, a tree of prowess grown large by the water of the eyes of the wives of the enemies, who in order not to impoverish the treasury of Tritasaurya abandoned the ancestral land and acquired by his two arms this country Dakshina Kosala." (V. 6.) "Since Tummâna had been made a royal residence of his ancestors, therefore residing there, he increased his fortune, causing the destruction of his enemies." (V. 7.) His son Kamalarâja begot Ratnardja or Ratnesa. "Tummans with its temples of the holy Vankeśa and other gods and also Ratnesvara and the rest, with a garden containing innumerable flowers and beautiful fruits, a charming high mango grove, and crowded with palatial buildings, decorated with charming beauty, was made by Ratnesa pleasant to the eyes, when viewed by the people." (V. 10.) It was this Ratnesa, who finally removed the capital about 45 miles southwards to a place where he founded a town, which he named after himself. The ing. cription describes it as a glorious town, which had its fame listened to in every quarter and was like the city of Kuvera. From Ratnarâja was born Prith videva who "for the glory of religion established the shrines of Prith vidêvesvara and others at Tummana and a tank resembling the ocean was built by him at Ratnapura." (V. 17.) His son was Jâjalladeva. who caused the record to be inscribed, from which the above account has been taken.
They are named Sukhart, Terha, Majhld, Dulahra, Dulahi taldi, Ghar tardi, Sdras dabri, Jhinga, Rautdin, Chamar dabrt, Dewdn dabri, Raja talao, Rant talao, Bamhnin talao, Gadhia talao, Purainha, Rownd, Ban tardi, Khajnd, and Kukurbuļa dabri.
Epi. Ind., vol. 1, pp. 32 ft.
