Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/243

 BENARES AND OTHER PILGRIM SHRINES 199 After he had entered Benares the head dropped from his hand and disappeared." A similar place is Pukara, the story of which is this: Brahma was once occupied there in offering to the fire, when a pig came out of the fire. Therefore they represent his image there as that of a pig. Outside the town, in three places, they have constructed ponds which stand in high veneration, and are places of worship. Another place of the kind is Thanesar, which is also called Kurukshetra, or " the land of Kuru," who was a pious, holy peasant, and worked miracles by divine power. Therefore the country was called after him, and venerated for his sake. Besides, Thanesar is the theatre of the ex- ploits of Vasudeva in the wars of the Mahabharata and of the destruction of the evil-doers. It is for this reason that people visit the place. Mathura, too, is a holy place, crowded with Brahmans. It is venerated because Vasudeva was born and brought up there, in a place in the neighbourhood called Nandagola. Nowadays the Hindus also visit Kashmir, and lastly they used to visit Multan before its idol-temple was destroyed.' SCULPTURED LIONS AT 8AR- NATH NEAR BENARES.