1838.] Notes of a journey to Gimdr. 881 



of these, with copies of inscriptions upon them, as well as the traditions 

 respecting Gimdr, and the other noted Jain sanctuaries at Sitrunjih 

 or Pallitana, have been promised me by ajattee, whom I had the good 

 fortune to meet at Junagarh*, and will, when procured, form the subject 

 of a separate paper. The temples at Gimdr are under the care of 

 Charuns, who spare no trouble to shew strangers all the curiosities of 

 the place. The month Phahgun (February and March) is the period 

 of the great annual jatlrah at Gimdr, when crowds of mahajuns from 

 all parts of western and central India assemble to visit these shrinesf . 

 From the temples, to the summit of the mount, the ascent is gradual 

 and easy, the steps being continued the whole way. A thin layer of 

 soil upon the surface of the rock, affords sufficient nourishment to the 

 korumder bush and wild fig ; the former grows with great luxuriance^. 

 Several small and detached temples occupy sites to the right and left 

 of the pathway ; but the only spot of any note, before reaching the sum- 

 mit, is the Ghai Mukh, a spring of beautifully clear water, which issues, 

 as the name implies, from the mouth of the sacred animal : some small 

 shrines are built near it, and it is believed to possess the property of 



* There is a small establishment of these men at Junagarh belonging to the 

 Gimdr temples, and from the chapras much curious and interesting matter is often 

 to be gained ; they are the only annalists in this part of India, and it is evident from 

 the perfect coincidence in names and dates, that those Muhammadan historians who 

 have written on Guzerat, were indebted to the Jain priests and their books (gene- 

 rally in the Basha), for all the information they possess respecting Anhilwarra 

 Pattern and similar places. Their annals extend as far back as Pattiliputta, and 

 Chandagutto, Bindusaro, and Asoko are familiar names ; but here, their chronology 

 fails them, and beyond the mere names and order of succession they can give no 

 information. In connection with Asoka's name, I was happy to have it in my 

 power to make my friend the jattee (Hasti Wijjah) some return for the assistance 

 he afforded me whilst at Gimdr, by enlightening him on the subject of the charac- 

 ter on the noted rock, which he confessed had long excited his curiosity. I also gave 

 him one of Mr. Prinsep's Sanskrit alphabets ; with the assistance of this, and his 

 knowledge of the language, he will be enabled to decipher the edicts of a king, whose 

 name figures in his chapras. 



f Although this is the periodical jattrah, Gimtr is always well attended, parti- 

 cularly by jogies, who take it on their return from Dwarka. The liberal Sudawurts 

 which are established here, act as no little incentive to these people, and every na- 

 tural cave or shelter afforded by the rocks in various parts of the summit, is occu- 

 pied by one or more of the Sunyasi tribe. They come well provided with Sanks 

 from Sankudar (island of Bate near Dwarka) and at sun-set the whole hill is made 

 to resound to their shrill sounds. 



X The soil and climate of the Gimdr and neighbouring hills, appear particularly 

 congenial to the growth of the mango. On the eastern side of the former, two 

 extensive ledges in the side of the mount, are entirely occupied by thickets of this 

 tree, and are known as the Sasha Wun, 1000, and Lacka Wun, 100,000— referring 

 to the number of trees in each. The former is said to have been the scene of a 

 tupusya by Neemna'th, who was also attended by 1000 devotees. 

 5 s 2 



