Page:The Indian Antiquary, Vol. 4-1875.djvu/127

 114 THE INDIAN A3TTIQTJAIIT. [Apjol, 1875. of flowers from the sky, After that Durlabha Raja* and Naguriija made svctrgavdsa at Patfcan, Bhima Deva ruled well, and refused pardon to the crime of ineontinency. He apprehended / thieves cleverly, and punished them, so that the oft'encea of depredation diminished in his reign. This Bliima was called Ruja of Rajas, and entertained such exceeding pity for life that even the wolf in the forest was restrained from taking life. Some kings fleeing from fear of their enemies lived under the protection of Bhima, some took service with him. The Raja of Pundra desa sent presents ; the Raja of Andradesa sent him a necklace: BhimOT fame spread into Magadhadesa also, there- fore the poets of that country began to celebrate his exploits in the Magadha language. In oilier languages also were books written relating the story of Bhima. From these books having been spread abroad in distant countries, the fame of Bhima became known familiarly to men in remote lands. Once on a time some one said to Bhima — "0 Raja! on the earth theSindh Raja and the Raja ofCbedtde8a,*in their pride, alone regard not your fame, and cause books to be composed setting forth faults in you. The Sindh R;lja says too that he will strike Bliima, This Raja of Sindh has conqncred the Raja of Sivasana and made him his subject. The strength of this Sindh Raja and the projects "of his heart cannot be estimated. Many lords of fortresses and rajas of islands have become subject to the Raja of Sindh, When his army sets out on mulakgiri, no Raja can restrain him, and Sindhdesa and Chedidesa are under his sole control." Hearing these and other things from the month of this spy, Bhima, sending for his minister, began to ponder over this matter. The king, having collected an army, set forth. Then Bhima went to the Punjab, near to Sindh, where five rivers flow together; like a sea was the stream of these five rivers, — therefore the Raja had to consider how the whole army could be crossed over to the opposite bank. It was because of the strength of these floods, strong as a fortress, that the Sindh Raja slept in peace, having conquered his enemies. Then breaking down hills, with the great stones thereof they began to build a bridge. When they had begun the bridge, then the waters of the stream viding began to take another channel, as milk upon the fire boils over. For the bridge they used green trees and dry, stones and earth. Bhima was pleased when he saw the work of the bridge finished, and to make all happy he distributed sugar and food to all. Then cross- ing the bridge they went to Sindh. The king of Sindh came to oppose them in battle : a fight of missiles ensued ; the Ckandravansi Bhima fought well, he took prisoners many of the warriors of the Sindh Raja. In this way OOOtt- [/"qnering in Sindh, he subjected to himself the Sindh Raja, whose name was Hammuk. (To he continued.) (> 2 3V The most venerated of all the deities worship- ped in Kiichar is a goddess called R A n C h a n - d i. She was the tutelary deity of the old Rajas of K a c h a r, and is held in the highest n not only by the KachArts, but also by the Bengalis and other Hindus who have settled in the dis- trict. One of the queens of the last Raja, Govinda Chandra, who died in 1830, still survives, and she SWORD-WORSHIP IN KACHAR. BY G. H. DAMA,T, B.A., B.C.S., RANGPCE. The Hie same story that is told by Hcmfteharya of Cbftmand KAja u repeated by the author of the Frao&ndha Uhtntfcnant sn reference to Durlabha Kftitt who u stated to lure proceeded on to BanM-as after having resigned the throne to B h i £* Deva, and to haya been obrtracted in hia passage thruuidi MWwfl by MunjaKAja, who then ruled then who compelled him to. lay (wide the ensigns of royalty Durlabha, it is said, proceeded on his pilgrimage in the attire of a monk, and died at Banaras,— having, however keeps up the image and worship of Ran Chandi. The image has never been shown to any one except the reigaing R«j a and the officiating Brahman, as the goddess had ordered that she was not to be exhibited, aud would strike dead any one who saw her ; and her reputation has doubtless been greatly magnified by the mystery which has surrounded her. caused Bhima peva to become acquainted with the insulting 7. T thl tUo R * kof itlVlffl »« «■• «"-• ,r * •;■•,„ 1 .rv-iT*. o£ emnit y betw «« i ««* lord ot It and the Malwa king:" /Jd« U | p. J. Conf Tod, H W (ffl, /,. ■ !,,, ,,,, | 7lM. lJlir]!lli|i g^ MC ^ M the throne uia.1., 1010, nni Bhima Deva i„ um. ■ Chandailm Goadwina, It -was tbo country