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/205

Rh One day a party of hunters, who were looking for game in the forest, saw the child, and carried him off, notwithstanding the resistance of Kapilá Gai, to Páwápur; when he grew up, the people made him Májhi (chief of a clan or village), and finally, when in want of a king, determined to elect him, and he was accordingly elected king of Pargana Chaurasi (Sikhar bhum); they built him the Pachet fort, and named him Jatá Rájá: on the death of the miraculous cow, her tail was found and carried to the Rájá, who used it as an ensign, tying it to his horse; hence he was also called Chánwar bándhá, and the Rájás of Pachet are said to this day to use the cow's tail, or chánwar, as one of their emblems.

Anot Lal had two other sons by another wife; they were named Nayán and Asmán; they invaded Jatá Rájá's domains, and he was forced to fly, but his conquerors, in seeking for him in the jangal, lost their way and perished, and Jatá Rájá returned and reigned peaceably.

Another version says, the child was not deliberately abandoned, but falling accidentally from the elephant on which he was being carried, the Rájá and Ráni left him for dead; then Kapilá Gai came and fed him; she used to live in Kapilá Páhár (the range of hills south of Puralya), and would come daily to feed the child; when the child grew up, he used to wander in the jangal with the cow, and, eventually, he became king, and built Pancha Kot; as he was made king through election by five Rájás, his fort was named Pancha Kot; he was known as the Gaumukhi Rájá. The Rájá had a cowherd, who one day saw a large snake issue from a hole in the hillside, and the snake vomited forth a brilliant gem that illuminated the whole forest by its light; it fed and then swallowed the gem; then bands of celestial nymphs and musicians came and performed for some time, and finally all vanished. The cowherd related the particulars to the Rájá, who went to see the wonder, and so great an effect had the sight on him, that he returned bereft of speech, and died in two or three years. During his son's reign, the Rájá of Murshidabad invaded the country, and exterminated the entire race of the Rájás of Pachet, except one child, who was saved by the headman of the village of Suri Lachhiá, hiding him in a drum; the child grew up and regained his kingdom, and he is the ancestor of the present Rájás. The cow, turned into stone, still exists at Jhaldia on the Ayodhya hill. As there are remains of Saivic temples in Jhaldia, the petrified cow is most probably a statue of Nandi. Strange enough, the people