444 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [July, 1911. 
It appears from another copperplate belonging to the 
Raja of Baudh, which also I have received from the same 
source, that the Goddess StambheSvari was also worshipped 
by the Bhafija kings: 
16. —Samadhigata-pancamahisabda mahisamanta-vandi- 
ta Stambhesvari— 
17. —labdha-vara-prasida Ranaka Sri Ranabhanjadeva 
oeeereveeoe 
On a site in the centre of the town of Sonpur stands a 
pillar which is known to be the pillar of Stambhesvari Devi. 
The word stambha means a pillar. When was it that this 
pillar was raised is not known to the people. The Maharaja of 
Sonpur has informed me that it is believed by the people that 
his ancestor Raj Singh Deo, father of Achala Singh Deo 
great-great-grandson of Raji Madangopal, the first Chief, 
brought this pillar to light, while removing a very big heap of 
old ruins. A slab of stone bearing an inscription of no great 
importance was also unearthed at that time. This inscription 
gives no clue whatever to the pillar or to any king who got the 
inscription engraved. Another account is, that the wife of Raj 
Singh Deo brought a little toy pillar of Khambesvari from the 
house of her father, a Raja of Kimidi. Raja Raj Sing then — 
built a temple for Khambeévari to honour the goddess of his 
wife’s forebears. 
The tradition that it is a Stambheévari pillar is of im- 
portance ; for the Goddess Stambhe$vari or Khambesvari, 38 
popularly called, is not worshipped by the Brahmans and 
Kshatriyas at Sonpur. The homage that is now paid to this 
pillar is for the fact that an old pillar once consecrated to some 
god or goddess has been found out in the debris of old buildings. 
Khambeévari (Stambheévari) is now found in the Samba 
pur tract, as well as in the western part of the Orissa Garjat 
Mahals, to be the tutelary goddess of the Dumal people. The 
Kandhs who live on the south-eastern border of Sonpur and in 
the State of Boad adjoining this border, do also regard Kham- 
beSvari to be their tribal goddess. The Dumals are Hindus, 
and the Brahmans drink water fetched by them. Both the 
Dumals and the Kandhs set up wooden posts in their villages 
to represent the Goddess Khambeévari. i 
__ The Dumils say that they originally came from Odsing@, 
which is in the Feudatory State of Athmallik which borders on 
ot Na of Boad to the south, and which almost touches the — 
north-eastern border of the State of Sonpur, where this Stat 
adjoins the State of Rehrakhol. The geographical name 
Odsinga is of importance. For we find this name mentioned 
