Page:The Indian Antiquary Vol 2.djvu/283

 Septembeb, 1873.] MOUNT ABU. 253 The temples of D e v & n g a n, or Court of the gods, built on the ancient site of Lakhnagar, have never before been described, if indeed they have been visited, by a European. They are located at the foot of the mountain, on the south-west side, and may be approached either by the old road—a mountain path of the most rugged description and in some places almost dangerous—or from the Dak Bangala at Anadra, from which they are -distant about two miles to the south. They are situated in a most lovely spot, and the place itself is worth a visiton ac¬ count of its natural beauty. In the midst of a bamboo forest, in which are also some magnificent trees, on the banks of a mountain torrent bed over a pool of water clear as crystal, supplied from a never-failing spring and full of fish, are the ruins of the Devangan temples. They are shaded by lofty forest trees, and it requires no stretch of imagination to fancy oneself on the bank of a Welsh or Scotch stream, particularly in the cold season, when the air is cool and pleasant. According to local tradition (for I have not been able to get at the written history of the place, which is extant in a Sanskrit manuscript of some age), in this place, now a forest and completely covered with tangled groves of bam¬ boo, so much bo that without a guide a stran¬ ger could not find the place, the city of Lakh¬ nagar once stood, of which these were the chief temples. To judge from the surrounding debris, con¬ sisting of huge blocks of dark gtfey stone, gra¬ nite, and marble, the temples must at one time have been of some importance. Not a vestige remains, as far as our limited time would allow us to determine, of the old city, which was probably built of brick. Numerous small ruined shrines still stand, though more or less fallen into decay, but they seem much more modern than the divinities they shelter. At present only the largest appears to be used. It is dedicated to Vishnu, of whom a large marble statue stands on an altar surrounded on all sides by smaller images of Ganesa, the Nnrasinha incarnation, and the Trimurti. On the opposite side of the stream and about thirty feet up the bank is a small shrine in which we found a Tripurari, and near it, under a heap of stones, a beautifully executed N&rasinha. ** Some of the figures lying about in the court at Gaumukh are also very well cut.—Ed. This is without exception the finest piece of carving I have seen at or near Abu.# The pro¬ portion and shape of every limb on all the figures is perfect, and the tablet, with the ex¬ ception of one arm of Vishnu, and one or two of the smaller figures, is uninjured. Several more of these figures are lying about, and no doubt many more would be found if the place were properly searched. The natives say it is full of remains, images, and inscriptions; we had not time, however, to make a search, and the only inscriptions found are those under the Tripurari and the figure of Vishnu. They are exactly alike: viz.—afar KaroriDoich :—This small but pretty temple, to the west of the hill and S.S.W. from Anadra, is said to be so called from the city of Karori Doich, which contained a karor or more of houses, though, as in the case of Lakhnagar, not a vestige now remains. The temple is a little white marble structure dedicated to Kali, whose black image was dressed up in her garish robes of crimson and tinsel. There are numerous small shrines with the usual images of Mahadeva, Siva, Ganesa, Hari, Lakshmi, Ac., and one or two almost effaced inscrip¬ tions on the pavement. There is a wonderful statue of a Chobdar with his mace, about four feet high, rudely executed, standing on a large pedestal. The Mahant’s house is charmingly situated, with a spacious terrace in front over¬ looking the plains and towards Mount Abu: indeed a finer spot for a residence could hardly be selected. Adjoining the temple is a deep bdvli, and, lying about, several tablets with bearded figures on them. All had the boss before mentioned, and some a short inscrip¬ tion at the base: but the only noticeable difference between the figures was in the length and curl of the beard. This temple merits further and more careful investigation, as I heard that a historical inscription may be seen there. GotamjiorGautamaRishi:—None of the European residents on Abu had ever heard of, much less seen, this little shrine. It is on the south side of the hill to the west of Gaumukh, and at about the same level. Difficult of access and at least five miles from Abut, it is scarcely worth a visit except for tho lovely view obtained from the rock on which the temple stands. It is f When at Abu I beard of1 Gotanyi,’ and believe.it to bo on the S. E. side of the hill, about three miles from Abu.—Ed.