22 J. H. Rivett-Carnac — TJie Snake Symbol in India. [No. 1, 



scending twelve stone steps you reach the water which is stagnant and 

 foul. Beneath the water is a sheet of iron, which constitutes the door 

 leading to a still lower well, which perhaps may be the old well in its ori- 

 ginal state. ' The stairs, I suspect, are not of great date. On the inside of 

 those to the east is an inscription, to the effect that, in 1825 Samvat, or 

 nearly one hundred years ago, a Raja extensively repaired the well. It is 

 possible he may have built the stairs then. Many of the slabs of stone of 

 which they are composed display carvings on their external surface, some 

 of which bear unmistakeable marks of considerable antiquity. These 

 slabs were doubtless taken from dilapidated buildings in the neighbour- 

 hood. A thorough examination of them, especially of the more ancient 

 among them, would, I am satisfied, be not unproductive of interesting 

 results. The wall was also repaired by Mr. Prinsep about thirty years 

 ago. 



" At this well the Nag or serpent is worshipped. In a niche in the wall 

 of one of the stairs is a figure representing three serpents ; and, on the 

 floor, is an emblem of Mahadeo in stone, with a snake crawling up it. 

 The well is visited, for religious purposes, only once in the year, namely, on 

 the 24th and 25th days of the month Sawan, when immense numbers of 

 persons come to it, on pilgrimage, from all parts of the city. The women 

 come on the first day, and the men on the second. They offer sacrifices 

 both to the well and to Nageshwar, or the serpent-god". (Sherring's 

 Sacred City of the Hindus.) 



The well does not seem to attract much attention during most months 

 of the year. I have often passed it and seen but few people there. In the 

 dry season, there is little or no water in it. But the " Nag Punchami" — 

 is a gala day at the well, and I believe at most Siva temples. The 

 Mahadeo from the neighbouring temple of " Nageshwar" is brought 

 to the third step of the stairs on the west side of the tank surmount- 

 ing the well, and Hindus of all classes come in thousands to adore 

 the Mahadeo and bathe in the well, which, as the " Nag Punchami" 

 Fair is held in July, or during the rains, is filled with water at this 

 season. On the fourth step of the stairs above mentioned, are six circular 

 holes, each 4l\ inches in diameter and about 4 inches deep arranged in a row. 

 Being always on the look out for " cup marks," I immediately noticed 

 these holes, but the Brahman in attendance explained that they were intended 

 to collect the libations poured over the Mahadeo, and which trickled down 

 from the gutter above. The same idea, Dr. Keller informed me at Zurich, 

 exists in Switzerland, regarding these cup marks. And from a paper, 

 recently received from the Society of Antiquaries of France, I learn 

 that cup marks are frequently found on stones and slabs in the founda- 



