1879.] J. H. Eivett-Carnac — The Snake Symlol in India. 21 



a platform had been raised above tbe grave, on the top of which were 

 placed a Mahadeo and yoni. A representation of Siva's Trident and the 

 soles of two feet, not unlike those figured in Fergusson's Eastern Archi- 

 tecture, were also noticed on the grave. 



Our cicerone informed us that the feet were represented here in order 

 that pilgrims might fall down and worship at the feet of the Gosain, who, 

 dying, had become a saint and deserving of worship. 



A visit in search of the snake symbol to the Nag Kuan, or serpent well, 

 was rewarded with better success. The well itself is described by the Kev. 

 Mr. Sherring in his " Sacred City of the Hindus," from which I may be per- 

 mitted to qtiote the following passage : 



" The Nag Kuan or serpent's well is situated in a ward of the city 

 called after the name of the well Nag Kuan Mahalla, which adjoins the 

 Ausan Gang Mahalla. This well bears marks of considerable antiquity ; 

 and from the circumstance of an extensive district of Benares being de- 

 signated by its name, there is no doubt that it must be regarded as one of 

 the oldest historical places the present city possesses. The construction of 

 this well was, probably, nearly, if not quite coeval with the building of the 

 Mahalla or ward itself, which, we may imagine, was described as that part 

 of the city containing the well — the well being the most important and 

 noticeable object there : and, so gradually, the inhabitants associated the 

 Mahalla with the well, and called them by the same name. The ward is in 

 the north-western part of the city, at some distance from the Ganges. 

 The quarter lying to the east of this ward, that is, between it and the 

 Ganges, is, as I have already remarked, in all likelihood, the oldest portion of 

 the present city ; and, therefore, the Nag- Kuan ward would have been ori- 

 ginally in its suburbs. It is even possible that one of the first places built 

 in these suburbs, and frequented by the people, was this well, and that its 

 existence was one of the reasons, perhaps the chief, for the settling of a 

 population in its neighbourhood. No person in Benares can tell when the 

 well was made ; but there is a reference to its existence in the Kasi-Khanda. 



" Steep stone stairs, in the form of a square, lead down to the well ; and 

 a broad wall of good masonry, six or seven feet thick, surrounds them at 

 their summit, rising to the height of four or five feet above the ground. 

 Each of the four series of stairs has an entrance of its own. Their junc- 

 tion below forms a small square, in the centre of which is the well. De- 



" as so many concentric rings of earth diminishing to the apex crowned with a 

 " cylindrical stone pillar." 



Now may not the circular tomb have represented the womb or yoni of mother 

 earth, the corpse, which is to be born again to a new life, being placed in the posi- 

 tion as in the mother's womb ? 



