2870.] Antiquities of the Cuttack Sills. 171 



a rich, gorget on the breast of emerald earth. The high level canal 

 with its numerous curves appeared like a silver girdle nicely set 

 round the waist of the chain. The course of the Birupa, a distance 

 of 24 or 26 miles, through all its windings from Mandaka, perhaps 

 Chowdwar near Cuttack, could he traced like a thread of melted 

 silver. It appeared to be a spot pre-eminently fitted for "medita- 

 tion and sacred song." On the northern slope of the hill, about 

 400 feet above the level of the country, there is an Asthala or 

 monastery now occupied by Vaishnavas, who have evidently super- 

 seded the Sivites of old. The base, formed of a piece of cut 

 stone, is all that remains of the original sanctuary of the place. The 

 walls and the steeples appear to have been repaired or rebuilt 

 after they were destroyed by the Muhammadans. The principal 

 curiosity of this place is, the god Maha Vinayaka, which is a 

 massive piece of rock over which the modern temple has been 

 built. The rock must be more than 12 feet in circumference, it is 

 oval at the top, and has three faces in front. The middle one has 

 a good resemblance to the head of an elephant with its trunk, and 

 is accordingly worshipped as Ganes'ka or Vinayaka. The right 

 face of the rock is considered to be Siva, and what it wants in actual 

 resemblance, has been made up by paint of sandal and Vermillion. 

 The left face of the rock has a knot over it, which is fancied to be 

 the tresses of the goddess Gauri bound up. The rock is accor- 

 dingly worshipped as the union of the gods Siva and Ganesa 

 and the goddess Gauri. The place is by no means very ancient, but 

 the veneration for it is increasing with the increase of age. There is 

 a waterfall about 30 feet higher up, which supplies water to the 

 temple and pilgrims. A few steps above this fall, there are a few 

 images of Siva, called the " Ashta Lingam" from their number. 

 Besides the foliage of the trees and the canopy of heaven, there is 

 no other shade over these gods. The ground on all sides is cover- 

 ed with dense jungle, high and ancient mangoe trees predomina- 

 ting. Considering the insecurity of the place, it displays a steadfast 

 devotion, and bold indifference for life on the part of those who, 

 centuries ago, first inhabited these hills for the purpose of religious 

 worship. 



