1873.] Major Gill — On Hemaipauti Temples in W. Berar. 69 



originally a Hemadpauti, if no Budhist's structure. Below this temple 



_., , _ . is a tank with flights of steps and terraces 



Vide photograph 24, 1st Series. ,. ™ , a ,, , 



leading down to it. 1 he water flows through 



the sculptured kind* of a hullock, and is fabled to come under ground all 



the way from the Ganges. People of all castes, men, women and children 



bathe promiscuously in it. The water is constantly removed as it passes 



through one aperture at the bottom as fast as it flows in. Below the Hindu 



, „ _ temple is the salt lake leading down to which 



Vide photograph 25, 1st Series. L ° £ 



there has been a magnihcent flight ol steps, 



a large portion of which still remains. 



Regarding this salt lake there is a wonderful legend of a giant named 

 Lonasur who lived in a subterraneous abode, made by himself under a hill 

 about a mile from the place where the village of Lonar now stands. When 

 this monster had destroyed many human beings and animals, and threatened 

 to overthrow even the gods, the latter became alarmed and supplicated 

 Vishnu to relieve them from the danger. Vishnu assumed the form of a 

 beautiful youth to gain over the assistance of the giant's two sisters. By 

 then* assistance he discovered the subterraneous dwelling, and with a touch 

 of his toe he threw off the covering of the den and found the giant asleep. 

 Engaging in single combat with him Vishnu slew him, and buried him in 

 the very pit he had made his home : this was the present salt lake of Lonar. 

 Its water is supposed to be his blood, and the salt is his decomposed flesh. 

 A hill standing, according to the Berar Gazetteer, 36 miles to the south-west 

 of Lonar, but according to my informant only about a koss from it, is said 

 to be the lid of the den thrown off by Vishnu, and is reported to coincide in 

 shape and size with the surface of the lake. 



The lake is about a mile across, or three miles round, and is sup- 

 Fide photograph No. 24, 1st Series, posed to be the crater of an ancient vol- 

 cano. Round the top of the basin is about five miles, and the sides 

 slope abruptly down, and are covered with jungle and trees. Immediate- 

 ly round the lake are dense rings of tamarind, date, and babul trees, 

 in which panthers, bears, and wild hog are frequently found, and in which 

 pea-fowl generally abound. Nearly in the centre of the lake are two deep 

 fissures hitherto unfathomed, through which impregnation takes place 

 durino- the monsoon, when only pure crystals of salt (Dalla) are obtained from 

 their edges by divers. But to enter these openings during the hot season 

 would be certain death. Evaporation takes place to a very considerable 

 extent during the hot season, and leaves a crystallized deposit (Papri) upon the 

 surface that gives the lake the appearance of being frozen over. This deposit 

 is carefully collected, as well as the earth (Bhuski) beneath it, which is also to 

 a certain extent impregnated. These deposits are very valuable, and yield a 



* Head?— Ed. 



