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/168

144 Sivá reminded him of the agreement between them and refused to stir. Râvana enraged, pressed the lingam down, saying, “Since you wont go to Lanka, go to Pâtâla instead.” This is the mark which exists on the summit of the lingam to this day. Finding at last threats and entreaties vain, Râvana set about to worship the lingam in its new location, and brought water from the adjacent tank, which he had constructed and filled with water from the Patalapuri Ganga for libations; but Mahadeo refused to receive that water, as it had been contaminated by Râvana’s urine, when Varuna, having entered into him, had issued out as a sea of waters. Râvana then dug a well to obtain water for libations, and to this day water from the tank just outside of the sacred enclosure is not used for libations. To console Râvana, however, for his trouble in digging the tank, Sivâ ordained that all his votaries must bathe in the tank before approaching him. At present thousands of pilgrims of both sexes are continually bathing in that tank, a constant stream of bathers always going to or from the tank to the temple; the scene is gay—I cannot say much for its decency, nor for the wholesomeness of the water, which is a thick liquid more resembling pea-soup than water.

The lingam thus established became known as Mahadeo Râvaneswara. In course of time the site of the lingam was overgrown with jangal, and no one but a poor gwâla knew of its existence. This man, Baiju by name, used to dwell in the vicinity, living on roots and fruit; he was ordered by Mahadeo in a vision to worship him; the poor man accordingly used to bring Bel leaves for the worship daily, but having no vessel to bring water, used to bring water for the libations in his mouth. This strange libation, however, did not please Sivá, who, after much patient endurance, complained to Râvana of the gwala’s treatment. Râvana came, washed the lingam with water from Haridwâr, and ordained that thenceforth none but Ganges water from the Trithas of Haridwâr, Gangotri and Dasâsumedh (Ajodhya) was to be poured on the lingam, and to ensure its being done, he brought the waters from the Pancha Trithas, the five holy trithas on the Ganges, viz., Haridwâr, Gangotri, Dasâsumedh, Prayâg, Kâsi, Trivini (here are six named however) and put it into the well he had dug.

Subsequently Râma, pursuing Râvana, passed that way and worshipped the lingam.