I64

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.

inaccessible to ordinary mortals, but on the

night of the full-moon of Chaitra the Pâtil of Burigăm (a neighbouring village) ascends, and at sunrise next morning is seen to plant a

flag. How he ascends, or how he descends, is a mystery, the attempt to unravel which would be immediately punished by loss of sight. A pair

[JUNE, 1873.

her head a vessel of water to the goddess. An allowance of Rupees 150 a month is also paid by the same benefactor for the goddess's service. The other nagarkhána, called Chandor kar, was built by a former Divān of Sindhia a savákr of Chandor, who also added a memnuk

of binoculars, however, enabled the writer to

of Rupees 95 a month; a memnuk of Rupees 35 a month was added by one Dāji Sāheb

track the footsteps of the flag-bearers, who

Kibe, a savkár of Indor.

were two in number, during their descent, which

Further, the revenues of a village called Chandkapur were alienated for the service of the Devi by the Peshwā in the time of Gaud

in places is certainly most perilous, and practi. cable only to feet devoid of shoes, and capable of grasping monkey-fashion. This perilous office has been filled by the same family from father to son for generations, and though a son is never wanting, other children if born die

young: such is the story told. Opposite Sapta Sring to the east, but divided (as before described) by a deep ravine, lies the hill called Mark und D & va, with a rocky

top not unlike the Matterhorn in shape, as seen from the west.

This is said to have been the

abode of a Rishi in ancient days, whose spirit, after his demise, took up its dwelling in the rock:

Svāmi

above mentioned.

These funds are

administered by different agents, and there is is also a Panchâyat who exercise some sort of superintendence over the “personal property” of the goddess, her ornaments and so forth. The money offerings of pilgrims become the pro

perty of certain families, in certain fixed shares, while one of their number, the Bhopa, receives as his perquisite all eatable offerings. The story is told that a former turbulent jāghirdâr

of the neighbouring town of Abhona, facetiously

suit for each day of the week; she is bathed

called “Tokerāo” or “the Hammerer” (pre cisely as King Edward I. was termed Malleus Scotorum), " used always to be harassing and plundering the pilgrims, until he was bought off by a fixed payment of half the offerings made to the goddess on 72 fixed days of the year. This arrangement is still in force, the allowance being enjoyed by the two widows of “Tokerāo." This is not the only occasion on which the goddess has had to yield to vulgar mortals; could a pen blush, it would do so in relating how the sanctity of Devi has recently been invaded by the myrmidons of so very human an institution as the Civil Court. Sad though it be, it is still a fact that at this very moment

every day, using warm water two days in the

a mere ordinary mortal, “juptee Kārkun,” is

week. In front of her is planted her ensign, viz. a Triśula or trident painted red : there are also the usual accompaniments of bells, lamps, and so forth. A silver nose-ring and necklace

in possession of all the property of the goddess, owing to a demand made by “a claimant” against the present Bhopa. At this very mo ment a handsome set of ornaments, the gift of

are the only ornaments in daily use. The whole figure is painted bright red, save the eyes,

the Gaikwar, and valued at not less than

his present occupation is to recite the Purānas for the edification of Devi, who is said to be an attentive listener; this idea may have origin ated in the echoes, which are very remarkable.

The image of Devi resides in a natural cavern or hollow in the rock. The figure is

about eight feet in height, carved in relievo out of the natural rock, and is that of an ordinary woman, save that she has 18 arms, 9 on each side, each hand grasping a different weapon. She wears a high crown not unlike the Pope's tiara, and is clothed with a “choli” and a “sári" round her waist and limbs.

She has a different

which are of white porcelain. Near the base of the steps leading to the temple are two nagarkhánas; one, called Barodekar, was built by Gopālrão Mairál of Baroda to comme morate the alleged miraculous cure of his wife, who having been a helpless cripple was sud denly enabled to walk up the steps carrying on

Rupees 30,000, are lying in the hands of the “Panchâyat" at “Wani,” who are afraid to trust the goddess with her own, lest it should be swept into the devouring meshes of the law. After this great fall from the sublime to the mundane we make our best bow to “Devi,”

and wish her safe delivery from the hands of her friends and their legal squabbles.