29G Lieut. -Colonel Ton on the Religious Establishments ofMewar. 



bounties are not allowed to moulder in liie bindars (repositories) of Kaniya ; 

 the apparel is distributed with a liberal hand as the gift of the deity to those 

 who evince their devotion ; and the edibles enter daily into the various 

 food prepared at the shrine. It lias been remarked by the celebrated Goguet* 

 that the custom of offering food to the object of divine homage had its origin 

 in a principle of gratitude, the repast being deemed hallowed by presenting 

 the first portion to him wlio gave it, since the devotee was unable to con- 

 ceive aught more acceptable than that whereby life is sustained. From the 

 earliest period such offerings have been tendered ; and in the burnt-offering 

 [lioni) of Abel, of the firstling of the flock, and the first portion of the 

 repast presented by the Rajput to ANDEVAt [the nourishcr), the motive is 

 the same. But the pursdd — such is the denomination of the food prepared 

 for Kaniya — is deemed unlucky, if not unholy: — a prejudice arising from 

 the heterogeneous sources whence it is supplied — often from bequests of the 

 dead. The Mukhias of the temple accordingly carry the sacred food to 

 wheresoever the votaries of Kaniya dwell, wliich proves an irresistible 

 stimulus to backward zeal, and produces an am])le return. At tlie same 

 time are transmitted, as from the god, dresses of honour corresponding in 

 material and value with the rank of the receiver : a diadem, or fillet of satin 

 and gold, embroidered ; a diigla or quilted coat of gold or silver brocade 

 for the cold weather; a scarf of blue and gold; or if to one wiio prizes the 

 gift less for its intrinsic worth than as a mark of special favour, a fragment 

 of the garland worn on some festival by the god ; or a simple necklace 

 (canti), the emblem of every follower of Vishnu, and by which he is inau- 

 gurated amongst the elect.t 



It has been mentioned that the lands ofMewar appropriated to the shrine 

 of Kaniya are equal in value to a baronial appanage, and, as before observed, 

 there is not a principality in India which does not assign a portion of its 

 domain or revenue to this object. The Hara princes of Kotah and Biindi 

 are almost exclusive worshippers of Kaniya, and tiie regent Zalim Sing is 

 devoted to the maintenance of the dignity of the establishment. Every 

 thing at Kotah appertains to Kaniya. The prince has but the usufruct of 

 the palace, for which £12,000 is annually transmitted to the shrine. The 



* Origin of Laws and Government. f Literally " the giver of food." 



t < Kaniya ca canti bancThna,' ' to bind on [the neck] the chaplet of Kaniya,' is the initiator 

 step. 



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