SEPTEMBER, 1873.]
255
ABU INSCRIPTIONS.
worthy of note. On the edge of the Agni Kund,
From this we ascend to the highest point of
now in utter ruin, stands the marble statue of the
Achalgarh, whence there is a magnificent view.
Pramāra with his bow, which Tod speaks of in such raptures. Between it and the kund are three large stone buffaloes—life-size, and fairly executed. I could not find the inscription on the plinth of the Pramāra figure spoken of by Tod,
Mrs. Blair's sketch in Tod's work is entirely wrong; indeed it is difficult to conceive how
but there are some almost effaced letters under
nary, and a curious rock-cave decorated with
the bow." Tod has described the shrine at
frescoes of every imaginable design. I have now given a rapid sketch of those temples I have myself seen on and around Abu ; but I believe I have by no means seen all that
Achaleśvara so fully that I need not attempt doing so again. There are many bearded figures with inscriptions on them in different places about the buildings. Here is one from a marble slab 18 inches by 10, on which is carved a bearded figure with sword and shield :—
- * *** {f sI(Tſa.
she could have so distorted it.
On the summit
may be seen the tank where the gods are said to bathe at night, the remains of an old gra
exist, and I know there are two or three of
great size and age, containing both inscriptions and images. NOTE BY THE EDITOR.
- 1 o # UTSHH
q=HARTSATHuſſ
THR-0 iRFTIſra Under the porch of the principal shrine may be observed seven large marble statues, not varying much in generalappearance except perhaps in the length of the beard. In one corner of the court is
The remains on Abu well deserve careful de lineation such as a hurried visit allows no time to
attempt. The inscriptions would probably reward a careful collection and translation,--but they are
a three-headed Brahma with a beard. There are
so scattered, and in many cases so time-worn that it would take some weeks to prepare careful copies. Prof. H. H. Wilson, in the Asiatic Re searches (vol. XVI. pp. 284–330), has translated a portion of them and analysed many others, the
some curious pillars outside the chief entrance,
texts of the more important of which ought also
of a peculiar design and with long inscriptions.
to be included in any future collection.
The bull and trident are just as Tod describes, them. There is no inscription in the temple but on the right-hand side of the door to the chief shrine is a long, though rather mutilated one; and another in the passage leading down to the well is in good preservation. A chal garh is approached through two embattled gates, and must at one time have been a very large and important fortress. The second of these, called the Champá Gate, leads to the little village on the ascent of the hill, as well as to the temples and summit of the peak.t The position is charming. There is a small lake at the foot of the steps leading up to the
gate; the Jaina temple of Paršvanātha stands to the left of the path, and contains two large idols composed of ‘the five metals.” There is little to attract attention in the temple itself, except per haps the tesselated pavement—the best in any of the Abu temples. I could find no inscription.:
- These read “Jagana Râula jogi Jota Râula jogi,”—
names to be found on many figures on and around the hill. On one at Gotamji, on the edge of a water-trough, there is a date given after the names, which appears to be “Sain vat 1707.” There are many other inscriptions about the Managni Kund.—ED.
It is
remarkable that while so many English officers have frequented the hill, there is no paper on any of the many interesting subjects it suggests. The art of its temples, its history, its legends and superstitions, its birds, reptiles, and insects, and its botany:—each of these would supply material for
pleasant study and for an interesting volume. Mr. Eaglesome of the Abu Lawrence School,
and his assistant, Mr. Armstrong, have kindly copied for me a large number of the inscriptions.
Some of these I have engrossed in the preceding article, and others have been referred to in the
notes. I add the following, from Gaumukh, printed line for line, from the rubbings, with the
contents chiefly from Prof. H. H. Wilson's paper:On a pillar to the left of the large brass bearded figure in front of the temple is en graved:–
TI. His 18kº aft || siRIZ # frºg ārāllūſà. + The peak is about 300 feet above the Jaina temple at Achalešvara, and 4,688 feet above the sea-level.—ED.
† It was built by Sasa and Surtan, two brothers, from Mā dhavgadh in Málvå, in the service of the Rână of Udaypur, Sam. 1560, but it has been restored, or rebuilt, since.
On a
corner is a rudely cut inscription dated Sam. 1772.-E.D.