1866.] Notes on Pilgrimages in the Country of Cashmere. 223 



(20.) Tandshur. il The fixed abode," because here Mahadeo became 

 stationary. This place is a camping ground near the Seshnag lake, 

 a fine sheet of water which is passed by the pilgrims on their way to 

 the next and last step of the pilgrimage, but which does not become 

 invested with an eminently sacred character until their return from 

 the cave of Anerreth. 



(21.) Panch Taringini. The five rivers proceeding from the 

 head of Siva. At this beautiful spot the pilgrims encamp and pass 

 the last night of the pilgrimage previous to their ascent to the holy 

 caves. 



(22.) Commencing the ascent in the early morning, the pilgrims 

 pass by the holy rocks of Amreeshur (giver of immortality,) whence 

 issues the philtre of immortality proceeding from the crested head of 

 Mahadeo, the drink or ichor of the immortals. 



Here the devotees may be seen rolling on the ground amid the 

 snow and ice, ecstacy depicted on the face at the idea of divine affla- 

 tus. Retiring from the caverns, they return to Panch Taringini, and 

 then again pass the night, preparatory to their return journey down 

 the valley to the Seshnag Lake, where they finally bathe. The pil- 

 grimage is then complete, and the pilgrims disperse to their respective 

 homes. It is fabled that amidst the rugged peaks surrounding this 

 Lake lived Watasnar, a spirit of the air, who, having chased away the 

 host of heaven, thus established a tyranny until slain by Mahadeo, 

 who after this adventure is fabled to have " rested on the bosom of 

 Seshnag ;" Seshnag being represented as a huge serpent with 100 

 heads. A picture of this touching spectacle is in my possession, and 

 a curious production it is, and suggestive of the " ophistic" nature 

 of the worship of the Hindoos of Cashmere. 



* # # * # 



I have the details of 11 other pilgrimages to various parts of Cash- 

 mere, varying in length ; that to the sacred lake of Grungabul under 

 the Hur-mookh peak is the next longest, although several of the 

 minor pilgrimages involve a graver issue to the devotee. Space will 

 not permit me, in this paper, to do more than note the salient points 

 of a few of these. 



(1.) The pilgrimage of Hur mohtur Gunga (or Grungabul) above 

 alluded to, in the Lar pergunnah, is to be found in the Gunga Maha- 



