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Ishwar is one of the names of Mahadeo, and the river. of this particular representation of that idol was Narbadeshwar, which became gradually corrupted into N'arbadesur* The image has, however, long since disappeared,

from the Narbada

name

—

The Paras-Patti house. This estate was formerly considered a taluqa, it has now been ruled not to be one, as it has been subject to sub-

but

division.

The family, as has already been recorded, is descended from TJmr^o Singh, a turbulent brother of Zalim Singh, and it therefore belongs to the Meopur faction. But Paras-Patti is situated close to Dera, and probably for this reason, ever since the two brothers just named quarrelled and separated, Umrao Singh and his successors, like the Thakurs of Nanamau, always joined Dera in their faction quarrels. It remains to mention that besides many isolated villages held by individuals or petty communities, there are in this pargana twenty estates or mahals, made up of from five to thirty-two villages or fractions of such, and held by influential parties of this clan. These estates generally lie in a high belt of land, running along the left bank of the Gumti, the entire length of the pargana, and extending north from it to a depth of four or five miles.

From its position with regard to the river, this locality is known as the Tirwaha. These Tirwaha Rajkumars formed the third great faction of the clan, and they were at once so numerous, so cohesive, and so weU led, that they had little difficulty in holding their own, when it came to blows, either against Meopur or Dera. They were usually led by the chiefs of Barwaripur, Pdkarpur, and Tawakkulpur.

—

Fairs and Shrines. At Hamidpur. There is an asthdn (spot or abode) in this village dedicated to the goddess of destruction, Debi. Fairs are half-yearly held, on the 24th and 25th of each Kuar and Chait, which are visited by four or five thousand persons, who never stay over the night nor is produce of any importance brought for sale.

—

Begethua. There is an astMn here dedicated to Mahablr, or Hanomdn, the monkey-god. The country round about was formerly a dense jungle, and all trace of the shrine, which is deemed to be of immense antiquity, had confessedly been lost but about a century ago, Ramparshad Das, an Ajodhya Bairagi of renown, whilst traversing the woods, came upon this spot, which inspiration is believed to have pointed out to him as the weekly fair has ever since been held on Tuesdays, long lost shrine. and in the estimation of Hindus the spot is thought to be second only There is also a large annual fair on the first to Ajodhya in sanctity. Tuesday after the twentieth day of the month of Sdwan, which is attended by about 20,000 persons, who come from considerable distances for the purpose.

A

as Parmeshwar, tne Eternal Being.
 * It has been suggested that MaMdeo

name



is

a vague, general name, and Ishwara distinctiTe