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CULTURAL DATA IN TILAKAMANJARI
oblong tanks having easy descents from the vast steps.' It was encompassed round by a vast circle of a moat (ditch) as if it had Himalaya entered into it to search out Maināka apprehending it to be the ocean under the pretext of the vallum or under the guise of the rampart reflected in its water. It had four lofty gates all around (gopuras).' It had its squares shining with groups of temples of gods encircled round by ramparts whitened with stucco paint with golden ewers gleaming forth on the tops of their high peaks. It had beautiful gardens on its out precincts. Vast expansive lanes and arcades enhanced its grandeur. It shone with gorgeous mansions, pleasure lakes" etc. Gay drinking revelries marked the rejoicing in the midst of the vintage creeper bowers.' It had Sarayū as an associate on all sides, the river come there to inquire from Bhagirath! (Ganga) as if, about the account of descent from the heavens, of the sons of Sagara consumed by the fire of wrath of Kapila; It had its sides undeserted perennially by the royal swans as if they were old chamberlains come down from the Eastern ocean carrying wands of straight Lotus stalks, with its ripples spreading splashed by the posteriors of the comely maids of Kosala bathing therein." The housewives therein were the true epitomes of conjugal felicity." It had succour rendered to Cupid by coquettes skilled in all types of fine arts and lores and were given to righteous intentions.
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According to Dr. Puri, Ayodhya, as it stands now on the same Sarayü river, still harps on its association with Rāma, an incarnation of Visņu and draws to its bosom pilgrims and devotees from different parts of India. This small city forms only a part of Faizabad, but it has its natural beauty and religious sanctity to offer to those who come here not as tourists but as devotees of Rama."
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1. विपुलसोपानसुगमवतारवापी शतसमाकुला । TM Vol. I p. 44.
2. जलप्रतिबम्बितप्रकारच्छलेन जलराशिशंकया मैनाकमन्वेष्टुमन्तः प्रविष्टहिमवतेव महता खातवलयेन वेष्टिता । TM Vol. I p. 44.
3. चतुर्भिरत्युच्चैर्गोपुरैरुपेता Ibid.
4. प्राशुं शिखरप्रज्वलत्कनककलशैः सुधापंकधवलप्राकारवलभिते रमरमन्दिरमण्डले.... उद्भासित चत्वरा.....
5. Ibid. Vol. I p. 45.
6. Ibid. Vol. I p. 46.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid. p. 47.
9. Ibid. pp. 47-48.
10. Ibid. pp. 51-53 also pp. 53-58.
11. CAIp. 15.
