Volume 1

Ras Mala, or, Hindoo Annals of the province of Goozerat, in Western India / [Alexander Kinloch Forbes].

  • Alexander Kinloch Forbes
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Ras Mala, or, Hindoo Annals of the province of Goozerat, in Western India / [Alexander Kinloch Forbes]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the hierarchs, he at length arrives in sight of the island-like upper hill, formed of rocks of very beautiful color, upon which stand the shrines of his religion. It consists of two peaks, divided by a valley which has been partially filled in, and covered with temples, terraces, and gardens. The whole is surrounded by a fortified wall, supplied in places with embra- sures for cannon, and this enclosure is divided into smaller castles, many of the temples themselves forming independent fortifications. On the southern summit are the mediaeval temples, founded by Ivoomar Pal and Veemul Sha, with a pool sacred to a local goddess named Khodeeai’, near which is a gigantic image of the Jain Pontiff, Rishub Dev, with the sacred bull at his feet, hewn out of the living lock. On the northern elevation the largest and most ancient temple is that, the erection of which is attributed to a fabulous prince named Sumpriti Raja. The old erections upon Shutroonjye are, however, few ; and frequent restoration has caused them to be with difficulty discernible from the modern fanes around them, but of those of later date the name is legion. There is hardly a city in India, through its length and breadth, from the river of Sindh to the sacred Ganges, from Heemala’s diadem of ice peaks, to the throne of his virgin daughter, Roodra’s destined bride, that has not supplied, at one time or other, contributions of wealth to the edifices which crown the hill of Paleetana ; street after street, and square after square, extend these shrines of the Jain faith, with their stately enclosimes, half palace, half fortress, raised, in marble magnificence, upon the lonely and majestic mountain, and lilve the mansions of another world, far removed in iipper air from the ordinary tread of mortals. In the dark recesses of each temple one image or more of Adeenath of Ujeet, or of some other of the Teerthunkers is seated, whose alabaster features, wearing an expression of listless repose, are rendered dimly visible by the faint light shed from silver lamps; incense perfumes the aii’, and barefooted, with noiseless tread, upon the polished floors, the female votaries, glittering in scarlet and gold, move round
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