1S75.] Ram Narayan — Translation of the Ayodhya-Mdhdtmya. Ill 



(Mahadeva says) I, too, am known by the name of Durgesvara. Near this 

 lives SutBul ; a little farther, Gandha-madana,Kikshuba,Surubha, and Punus. 

 At the northern gate of the Fort lives Bibhishana, and east of him Surma, 

 whose wife is respected by all ; she protects the virtuous and punishes bhe 

 vicious. To the east of her is the residence of Vighnesvar, whose sight removes 

 all obstacles that are in the ways of men. East of it lives Pindaruk-vira, who 

 defends Ayodhya and chastises the wicked. East of him is the abode of Vira 

 Matta-gajendra, the bestower of happiness ; and, at a short distance from it, 

 is a pond, bathing in which leads a man to perfection. The protector of 

 Ayodhya, Vira Sunkay, is the fulfiller of our desires. His pilgrimage is per- 

 formed on the 5th of the Nine-nights,* and on every Tuesday. He who 

 worships him with perfumes, flowers, and betel-leaves, and offers him food, 

 obtains his wishes. In the eastern part of it lives Dovid ; in the north- 

 east, the wise and intelligent Mayind ; in the southern portion, Jambuvana ; 

 and in the south, Kesari. These protect the Fort in all directions. At the 

 gate resides Mahavira [Hanuman], who is the object of worship of the 

 whole world. He is a sage who keeps his passions in subjection, and is 

 adored by all men and women. 



East of it lies Hanumat-kund, the sight and touch of, 

 and bathing in, which confers all sorts of blessings. O Goddess, the 

 pilgrimage to Hanumana, the son of Anjana [the air] and the be- 

 stower of our desires, takes place every Tuesday. All kinds of joys are at 

 the disposal of him who, having bathed in his pond, visits and worships 

 Hanumana in due form. The worshipper should say, ' O son of Anjana, 

 destroyer of Janaki'sf grief, king of the monkeys, murderer of the son of 

 Uchh, I bow to you and offer perfumes and flowers." Having done this, he 

 should enter the Fort and pay his respects to the Ratna-Mandap a."^ 



Chapter VII. 



Then Mahadeva said, u In the most beautiful city of Ayodhya, stands the 

 Ratna-Mandap a, impregnated with camphor, rosewater, and other per- 

 fumes. In the middle of it is Kalpa vriksha,§ and in the centre of that is 

 the Ratna Sinhasan, very excellent, adorned, and embroidered with sap- 

 phires, the lustre of which removes darkness. In the middle of the above is 

 an eight-leaved lotus of gold, decked with many jewels and shining like the 

 morning sun. In its centre is a heart-ravishing image, having eyes like 

 the leaves of the lotus, wearing clothes, embellished with various gems. It 

 is the image of Raghunatha, whose body is very soft and smooth, gloi'ious 

 like the sun, and of the color of clouds. There is also the daughter of Janaka, 



* These occur in the last halves of Chait and Kuar, and are sacred to Devi. 



t Kamchandra's wife. 



X A jewelled shed. 



§ The tree which gives whatever a man asks. 



