332 Lieut.-Colonel Tod on Sculptures in the Temples ofEllora. 



self in that form to Hercules. Hence the Egyptians represent the statue of 

 Jupiter with the head of a ram ; and in the annual festival they kill a ram, 

 and placing its skin on the image of the god, they introduce before it a 

 figure of Hercules : the assembly afterwards beat the ram." — Euterpe. 42. 



Chand the bard introduces the birth of Vira-Bhadra from the lock of 

 Siva's hair, quite incidentally, but with great poetic skill ; and as it affords, 

 at the same time, an historic record of some moment, I may be excused 

 introducing it to enliven a dull mythological speculation. 



To the last great struggle which the Hindu emperor of Dehli maintained 

 against the arms of Islam, we owe this legend. The Chohan king Prithi- 

 Uaja preparing to repel the invasion of Shahbudin, assembles all his forces 

 at the Chogdn or champ de Mars, on a plain beyond the walls of the capital, 

 where he takes a muster of his vassals. The ceremony is converted into a 

 day of rejoicing, on the emperor having released from confinement, at 

 the desire of his brother-in-law Samarsi of Chitore, a celebrated leader called 

 Chaond-rae, who is distinguished both by the Hindu and Mahomedan 

 writers for his conspicuous gallantry in the grand and final battle fought for 

 Rajput independence on the banks of the Caggar. 



Chaond-rae Dahima was lord of Biana, which house produced three of 

 the one hundred and eight great vassal chiefs or Samants of Pritht-raja. 

 Besides the honours his gallantry had obtained him for the reduction of 

 Tutta and Bamanwasi in the valley of the Indus, his consequence was 

 increased by the heir-apparent of Dehli, prince Rainasi, being his sister's 

 child. But all his services were forgotten on his putting to death Har-sen- 

 GAR,* the favourite elephant of his sovereign, and though the act was in 

 self-defence, his limbs were dishonoured with fetters : a proceeding which, 

 with other follies consequent to the enlevement of the princess of Canouj, 

 had very nearly produced thedeposal of Prithi-Raja, which proposition was 

 formally discussed in a convention of the chief citizens of Dehli, in which 

 even the speeches of the leading men are preserved by the Bard. The 

 conciliation and liberation of Chaond-rae prevented this, and the elevation 

 of Rainasi. 



The Bard describes the chivalry of the Chohan performing their evolu- 

 tions, while the instruments of music, the mdiViiaX Ndkdrds and trumpets 

 made the welkin ring: but in the midst of this clangor and mutual greeting, 



• ' The ornament of Hart.' 



