Page:The Indian Antiquary, Vol. 4-1875.djvu/252

 >r. 137"/.] THE GffiNlK JIAHATMYA. 230 the mouth of some god, Siva being generally ehosen for this purpose,— evidently with a view to bestow on Hint that respect which it would otherwise want ; ami the author of the Pr<" mlt In*, m tl ibma/a, conformed to the rule of his brethren. Through, out the whole of it one cannot but notice tin' attempt made to exalt Siva above all other gods, even above Vishnu. Though the stories are related by Siva, their subjects are often incidents in his own past life Had Sat of PArvati Ida wife, who is his hearer; and we find Siva sometimes quoting dialogues held previously between gods or sages. According to the QintiiT Mffi&hm/a, Pra- bhiisa Kshetra is the holiest of all places of Hindu sanctity, and it is curious enough to note that Girnar, or V a s t r A p a t h a, as it is called, is said to be holier than Pra b h a sa by as much as a barleycorn. Many of the chief Hindu gods and heroes have their names con- neeted with the numerous places of sanctity in Vastrapatha. The gods have consented to reside here permanently, and the heroes have per- formed pilgrimages to Giranr. The priests who are to officiate in the cere- monies of pilgrimages are the Girnar BrAhniamj. Their ministry is strictly enjoined on the pil- grim. The number of this class of Brahmaos in KathiAwad is considerable, and a peculiar eanotity attaches to thorn. It appears from the Prabhdsa Khuuhi that they did not originally dwell in KathiawAd. Their first abode, as stated in the Oirndr M&hdtmya, was at the foot of the Himalayas. The general namo for the holy places about Girnar is Vastrapatha. It ta no! now in general use, but the following story relates how it came to have this name :— 1 One day Siva and Purvatt were a it tin:,' bav in Kailusa, when the latter inquired of Siva, 'My lord t will jou kindly tell me by what kind of devotion, by what kind of charity, by what charms, what adventures anil what works you aro propitiated by men V Siva said, 1 1 am pleased with those who are kind to all crea- tures, who always tell the truth, never commit adultery, and always stand in the front in a field of battle/ The discourse had arrived d ttuge when Brahma and other gods enma to KailAsa ; Vishnu was also among them. Vishnu said to Sira, ' You always give boons to Daityas, which greatly interferes with the proper perform- ance of my duty of protecting. By the boons granted by you the Daityas aro enabled to hax&ss mankind. Moreover you are propitiated with a trifling service. Such being the case, who will undertake to perform my duties?" Siva said in reply, * It is my natural habit to be pleased at once, and it shall never be abandoned. How- ever, if you do not like it, I walk away.' So say- ing, Siva left KailAsa and instantly disappeared. PArvatl said she could not live without Siva : thereupon all the gods, together with PArvAti, set out in search of him- Siva having arrived at the Vastrapatha Kshetra cast off hid garments, and divesting himself of his bodily form became invisible and dwelt there. The gods and PArvati also arrived soon after at the Vast i i - patha, pursuing their search after Siva. Vishnu sent away his vehicle (Garuda) and took a seat on the mountain of R a i v a t . PArvati took a seat on the top of the Ujiyaiita (Girnar). The king of serpents also came thither by a subterranean path. The GangA and other rivers also eamo by the same way. The gods, choosing different seated themselves there. PArvati then from the top of Girnar began to sing the praises of Siva, who was therewith greatly delighted, and graciously showed his form to PArvati and the gods. Pleased at seeing him, all the gods requested Mahadeva to return to KailAsa, and Mahadeva consented to do so on condition that PArvati, the gods, and the Gaftgfi and other rivers agreed to remain in Vastrapatha. They all did so, whereupon Mahadeva, loaving a .part of 30Q0S there, went to KaQasa. PArvati also did the same. Vishnu from that time has con- tinued to reside on the Raivatak mountain, and PArvati or AmbA has dwelt on the top of the Ujiyaiita.' This extract shows how the Kshetra received the name ofVastrApatha from the circum- stance of Siva's casting off his nostra, or gar- ments when he repaired thither, incensed at tho offence given by Vishtra. "We also see the su- preme importance attached to Siva. We make tho following extract, which also tends to exalt the position of that deity : — ' Once upon a time in ages gone by, Brahma's night came on, and the three gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva were re-united in one being or person, and the whole world came to an end. Afterwards, Brahma's day again began, and tho