Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/167

 PAT 159 kharia, came from headquarters with Ásájít, ancestor of the Patti qanúngos, arnied with instructions to exterminate the Bhars, and provided with a title deed bestowing on him the zamindari of the entire pargana. Having successfully performed the former part of his mission, Ghaibar Sáh took possession of the broad lands of the pargada, and, establishing himself in mauza Bilkhar, built therein the famous fort known as Kot Bilkhar,' the ruins of wbich remain to this day. This fort may be said to have been the historical rallying point of the Bilkharias. A Mahadeo or reprosentation of the deity, which is still to be seen within the ruins, is, and has been from time immemorial, known as Bilkharnuth. A fair is annually held here on this account, which takes place on the 13th of the month of Phá- gun (February-March), andattracts about 2,500 poople from the more imme- diate neighbourhood. If procurable, Ganges water is poured on the idol, otherwise wator from the Sai; whils offerings of flowers, fruit, and pico complete the ceremony. The fort of Bilkhar was successively occupied by the descendants of Ghaibar Sah down to Raja Rámndeo Singh, with whose rule the supremacy of the Bilklarias terminated. It is further asserted that some 600 years or, more ago, Bariár Singh, ancestor of the Bachgotis, slow Rája Rimdeo, and took possession of the fort, and his des- cendants to the time of Harbans Río occupied it. When the paternal aores were divided between Dingur and Nábar Singh, the two sons of Harbans Ráe, kot Bilkhar fell to the lot of the former, who is ancestor in a direct line of the present Taluqdar of Dalippur, Báo Mádio Parshad Singl. Díngur Singh and his heirs continued to occupy the fort down to the year 1180 fasli (A. D., 1773), when the last owner, Ráe Meherb.in Singh, came into collision with tho názim, who razed the fort and left it in ruins. The spot is on the left bank of the Sai, some scvcn miles from the headquar- ters of the district The ruins of the old fort may be seen on an elevated plateau surrounded on three sides by ravines and broken ground covered with scrub jungle, and on the fourth side by the river. The fosse is clearly distinguishable all round." The temple of Chauharja.—Concerning the terople of Chauhárja, my predecessor has placed the following on record:- “In the village of Parasrámpur, in the Dariápur ilaqa, is situated a Doted fane of the goddess Debi, who is worshipped under the name of Chauhárja. It is said to be of superlative antiquity, and, in proof of it, the priests assert that the hero Alha, whose praises and deeds form the subject of minstrels' songs to this day, and whose tomb is shown at Chunár, wor- shipped Dobi here, and made a well at this place, which is still visible. Indeed, Alha is said to have continued his visits to the shrine long after he disappeared from mortal life; and stories of his apparitions are told, but I need not relate them." Two fairs take place here annually: one on the 8th Kuár (September- October), and the other on the 9th Chait (March-April). On each occa- sion some 6,000 people, within a radius of about 20 miles or so, collect at the spot. In addition to the observances recorded above with reference to Bilkharnáth, extensive sacrificial offerings of goats and sucking pigs are made at this shrine of Chaubárja.