SEPTEMBER, 1873.]

253

MOUNT ABU.

The temples of Dev fin gan, or Court of the

gods, built on the ancient site of Lākhnagar, have never before been described, if indeed they have been visited, by a European. They are located at the foot of the mountain, on the

south-west side, and may be approached either by the old road—a mountain path of the most rugged description and in some places almost dangerous—or from the Dák Bangalâ at Anádrā, from which they are distant about two miles to the south. They are situated in a most lovely spot, and the place itself is worth a visiton ac count of its natural beauty. In the midst of a bamboo forest, in which are also some magnificent trees, on the banks of a mountain torrent bed

over a pool of water clear as crystal, supplied from a never-failing spring and full of fish, are the ruins of the Devāngan temples. They are shaded by lofty forest trees, and it requires no stretch of imagination to fancy oneself on the bank of a Welsh or Scotch stream, particularly in the cold season, when the air is cool and pleasant. According to local tradition (for I have not been able to get at the written history of the

This is without exception the finest piece of carving I have seen at or near Abu.” The pro portion and shape of every limb on all the figures is perfect, and the tablet, with the ex ception of one arm of Vishnu, and one or two of the smaller figures, is uninjured. Several more of these figures are lying about, and no doubt many more would be found if the place were properly searched. The natives say it is full of remains, images, and inscriptions; we had not time, however, to make a search, and the only inscriptions found are those under the Tripurari and the figure of Vishnu. They are exactly alike: viz. –3. TT Tris iſºff ºra T3F Karori Doi ch:—This small but pretty temple, to the west of the hill and S.S.W. from Anádrā, is said to be so called from the city of Karori Doich, which contained a karor or more of houses, though, as in the case of Lākhnagar, not a vestige now remains. The temple is a little white marble structure dedicated to Kāli,

whose black image was dressed up in her garish robes of crimson and tinsel. There are numerous small shrines with the usual images

place, which is extant in a Sanskrit manuscript

of Mahādeva, Śiva, Ganeśa, Hari, Lakshmi,

of some age), in this place, now a forest and completely covered with tangled groves of bam boo, so much so that without a guide a stran ger could not find the place, the city of Lākh nagar once stood, of which these were the chief temples.

&c., and one or two almost effaced inscrip tions on the pavement. There is a wonderful

To judge from the surrounding débris, con sisting of huge blocks of dark grey stone, gra nite, and marble, the temples must at one time have been of some importance. Not a vestige remains, as far as our limited time would allow us to determine, of the old city, which

was probably built of brick. Numerous small

statue of a Chobdār with his mace, about four

feet high, rudely executed, standing on a large

pedestal. The Mahant's house is charmingly situated, with a spacious terrace in front over looking the plains and towards Mount Abu : indeed a finer spot for a residence could hardly

be selected. Adjoining the temple is a deep bávli, and, lying about, several tablets with bearded figures on them. All had the boss

before mentioned, and some a short inscrip

ruined shrines still stand, though more or less fallen into decay, but they seem much more modern than the divinities they shelter. At present only the largest appears to be used. It is dedicated to Vishnu, of whom a large marble statue stands on an altar surrounded on

tion at the base : but the only noticeable difference between the figures was in the length and curl of the beard. This temple merits further and more careful investigation, as I heard that a historical inscription may be seen there. Got a mji or G a ut am a R is hi:—None of the European residents on Abu had ever heard

all sides by smaller images of Ganeśa, the

of, much less seen, this little shrine.

Narasińha incarnation, and the Trimurti.

south side of the hill to the west of

On

It is on the

Gaumukh, and

the opposite side of the stream and about thirty feet up the bank is a small shrine in which we

at least five miles from Abut, it is scarcely worth

found a Tripurari, and near it, under a heap of stones, a beautifully executed Närasińha.

a visit except for the lovely view obtained from the rock on which the temple stands. It is

• Some of the figures lying aboutin the court at Gaumukh

are also very well cut.-E.D.

the S.E. side of the hill, about three miles from Abu.—Ep.

at about the same level.

Difficult of access and

+ When at Abu I heard of ‘Gotamji,’ and believe it to be on