626 History of the Gurha Mundala Rdjas. [Aua.. 



he persuaded him that he could by certain rites and ceremonies so, 

 propitiate the deity, to whom he had dedicated the temple, as to 

 secure his aid in extending his conquests over all the neighbouring 

 states. These rites and ceremonies were to be performed at night 

 when no living soul but himself and the prince might be present ; 

 and after he had in several private conferences possessed himself of 

 the entire confidence of the prince, he appointed the night and the 

 hour when the awful ceremonies were to take place. 



Just as Sungra'm Sa' was at midnight preparing to descend from 

 his palace to the temple, one of his domestics entered his apartment, 

 and told him that he had watched this Sunneeasee priest very closely 

 for some time, and from the preparations he was now making he was- 

 satisfied that he intended to assassinate him. He prayed to be 

 allowed to be present at the ceremony, but this the prince refused,, 

 and descended to the temple alone but armed with a sword under his 

 cloak, and prepared against treachery. After some trifling prepara* 

 tions the priest requested him to begin the awful ceremony by walk- 

 ing thrice round a fire over which was placed a boiling cauldron of 

 oil, and then falling prostrate before the god ; but while he was giving 

 these instructions the prince perceived under his garment a naked 

 sword which confirmed the suspicions of his faithful servant. " la 

 solemn and awful rites like these," said the prince, " it is no doubt 

 highly important that every ceremony should be performed correctly,, 

 and I pray you to go through them first." The priest did so, but 

 after going thrice round the fire, he begged the prince to go through 

 the simple ceremony of prostrating himself thrice before the idol, 

 repeating each time certain mystical phrases. He was desired to go 

 through this part of the ceremony also. He did so, but endeavouring 

 to conceal the sword while he prostrated himself, the prince was 

 satisfied of his atrocious design, and with one cut of his scimitar 

 severed his head from his body. The blood spouted from the headless 

 trunk upon the image of the god of truth, which starting into life cried 

 out "many, many, ask, ask !" The prince prostrating himself said, 

 V give me I pray thee victory over all my enemies as thou hast given 

 it me over this miscreant." He was directed to adopt a brown flag, 

 to turn loose a jet black horse from his stable, and to follow him 

 whithersoever he might lead. He did so, and secure dominion over 

 the fifty- two districts, was the fruit of his victories. Of these vic- 

 tories nothing is recorded, and little mentioned by the people. 



He built the fortress of Chouragurh, which from the brow of the 

 range of hills that form its southern boundary, still overlooks 

 the valley of the Nerbudda, near the town of Gururwara, and the 



