V 



220 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S.. XIIT, 



many years afterwards, i.e. after he had redeemed Marwar from 



the usurpation of Cltora, and even founded Jodhpur in Sam vat 

 1515. 



My own explanation of the name Kodamadesara, however, 

 is still more simple. The chronicles say that rava Jodho, after 

 his escape from Cltora, being unable to recover Mandora for 

 the time, retired to KahunI and resided there for many 

 months if not for years. Now, KahunI is only seven miles 

 from Kodamadesara. It is not improbable that, while at 

 KahunI, Jodho thought of having the talava of Kodamadesara 

 excavated or rather enlarged — for the depression is apparentl 

 a natural one — and having it named after his mother to per- 

 petuate her memory. Whether the excavation was actually 

 begun during Jodho's stay at KahunI, or only afterwards, we 

 cannot say, but certain it is that the talava was inaugurated 

 only in Sam vat 1516, as proved by the inscription. Thus the 

 connection of Kodama De with Kodamadesara would be only 

 an idealistic one. The fact that Kodama De was not amongst 

 the satin of Rina Mala, probably indicates that she had died a 

 natural death some time before her husband's assassination. 



Much more romantic, if not accurate, is the tradition 

 concerning Kodama De, which is current in Bikaner. Thi> 

 has I think, originated from a confusion of the mother of 

 Jodho with a daughter of Manika Rava. the Mohila ruler of 

 Uiapara According to the Khyatas, Manika Rava had be- 

 trothed his daughter to Sado, or Sadufa, the only son of 

 Kananga De, the Bhati rava of Pugaia.' Ranahga De had 

 dissuaded his son from accepting the hand of tlie girl, because 

 to go to marry at Chapara, he would have had to pass through 



f 6 C< l Ur |j ry ° f his enemies > the Rathoras, who from their 

 stronghold of Xagora were watching for the first opportunity to 

 revenge an old feud they had with the Bhatis of Pugaja. But 

 .>ado did not listen to his father's advice, and went to Chapara. 

 and married the girl. On his way back to Pugaia, however, he 

 was waylaid by Araka Mai., the son of Cddo. and in the 

 struggle lost his life. The Mohila maid, whom he had just 

 married and whom he was taking home with him, cut one of her 

 arms and threw it in the middle of her husband's pyre. Then 

 she proceeded to Pugaia, where she showed her face to her 

 miner- and mother-in-law as the custom requires, and after- 

 wards immolated herself in the flames to follow her spouse 

 mto the other world. This is the storv. which evidently has 

 S ng K ! ° With our Kodama De. ' Besides, the name of 



riZil v ^ 1S n , 0t §iven in anv of the chronicles and she is 

 Bimpij spoken of as -the Mohila maid." It is probably thi 



ITt? nC !, tkt has made Possible for the Bikaneri tradition 

 iS!?!? f MohUa ** with Kodama De. and blend the 

 hZ th i ^\ with the stor - v of the former, thereby creat- 

 ing the legend that Kodama D« «■:,* * .Whter of Mohila 



