Lieut. -Colonel Tod on (he Religious Establishments of Mewar. 311 



appears analagoiis to the Pyrric or Jire-dance of the Egyptians. The move- 

 ments of those who personate the deity and his fair companions are full of 

 grace, and the dialogue is replete with harmony.* The Chobis\ of Mat'hura 

 and Vindravana have considerable reputation as vocalists ; and the effect of 

 the well modulated deep tones of the adult blending with the clear treble 

 of the juvenile performers, while the time is marked by the cymbal or the 

 soothing monotony of the tabor, occasionally mingled with the miirali or 

 flute, is very pleasing. 



We may even find a Parnassus for Kaniya in Girdkana, from which sacred 

 hill he derives one of his principal epithets, Girdhan or Gordhun-nat'h, 

 ' God of the mount of wealth.' Here he first gave proofs of miraculous 

 power, and a cave in this hill was the first shrine on his apotheosis, whence 

 his miracles and oracles were made known to the Yadus. From this cave 

 (jGop'ha) is anotlier of his titles — Gop'h'nafh, ' Lord of the cave,' distinct 

 from his epithet Gopi-nat'h, ' Lord of the Gopis,' or pastoral nymphs. On 

 the annual festival held at Girdhana, the sacred mount is purified with 

 copious oblations of milk, for which all the cows of the district are in 

 requisition. 



The worship of Crishna in ancient days, like that of Apollo amongst the 

 Greeks, was chiefly celebrated in caves, of which tliere were many scattered 

 over India. The most remarkable were those of Girdhana in Vrij ; Gaya in 

 Bahar; Gop'h-nat'h on the shores of Saurashtra ; and Jalindra t on the 

 Indus. In these dark and mysterious retreats superstition had her fiill 

 influence over the votaries who sought the commands of the deity, and 

 desired to appease him ; but as the Mukhia told the author, " the age of 



* The anniversary of the birth of Kaniya is celebrated with splendour at Sindia's court, 

 where the author frequently witnessed it, during a ten years' residence. 



f The priests of Kaniya, probably so called from the chob or club with which, on the 

 annual festival, they assault the castle of Kansa, the tyrant usurper of Crishna's birthright, 

 who, like Herod, ordered the slaughter of all the youth of Vrij, that Crishna might not 

 escape. These Chohii are most likely the Sobii of Alexander, who occupied the chief towns of 

 the Punjab, and who, according to Arrian, worshipped the Hercules (Heri-cu-les, qu. Herak- 

 tes ?) chief of the race of Heri, and were armed with clubs. The mimic assault of Kansas 

 castle by some hundreds of these robust church militants, with their long clubs covered witli 

 iron rings, is well worth seeing. 



J Jalindra on the Indus is described by the Emperor Baber as a very singular spot, having 

 numerous caves. The deity of the caves of Jalindra is the tutelary deity of the Prince of 

 .Marwar 



