Page:Report of a Tour Through the Bengal Provinces of Patna, Gaya, Mongir and Bhagalpur; The Santal Parganas, Manbhum, Singhbhum and Birbhum; Bankura, Raniganj, Bardwan and Hughli in 1872-73.djvu/167

Rh summit, and I am assured by Hindus that the cavity feels soft to the touch. Tradition says that it is the mark of Râvana's thumb, when in his rage he pressed down the lingam, intending to send it to Pâtâla; the legend will be given presently. Facing it is the temple of Pârvati. At certain times the two spires are connected together by a thin, long cotton sheet, and this is done to shew that Sivá and Pârvati are enjoying each other's society. Comment on the gross indelicacy of the idea is needless.

The legend about the lingam is as follows:—

Râvana used daily to go to Uttara Khanda to worship Sivá. One day he went there, and in the exuberance of physical strength he shook the mountain, disturbing Pârvati. Having done this, he went towards Sivá's abode to worship; when he approached, Nandi forbad his advance, as Sivá and Pârvati were asleep together. Râvana, however, was not to be denied; he told Nandi that he being in the place of a son to Sivá, there was no harm in his going in at any time. Saying this and pitching away Nandi to a distance, he entered. Sivá was much pleased at his courage and firm faith, and desired him to ask a gift. Râvana said, "It is a long distance for me to come daily from Lanka to worship you here; be pleased to go to Lanka and abide there." Sivá consented on the condition that Râvana was to carry him all the way, without for a moment setting him down. Râvana gladly took up the lingam, and proceeded; when he arrived at Lájhuri village, near the place where the temples stand (the village is now known as Harlájhuri), he felt it necessary to go to the fields; he could not carry the lingam with him and pollute it, and he was cogitating what to do. In this emergency Vishnu, who saw that if Râvana succeeded in carrying Sivá to his kingdom he would become invincible, assumed the guise of a poor Brahman, and being accosted by Râvana and requested to hold the lingam for a few minutes, while he went a short way, the pretended Brahman agreed. Râvana now made over the lingam to the Brahman and went aside. While Râvana was engaged, the Brahman quietly walked away with the lingam, arriving finally at the spot where the great temple stands; here he set the lingam down and vanished. Râvana on returning at the expiration of the whole day (for Varuna had entered into him and occupied him all that time in letting out the sea of waters within him) found the Brahman gone. After some search he found the lingam, but on attempting to lift it up,