830 Observation upon the past and present [Oc?. 



about a yard high*, which it fits like a cap, and entirely conceals. 

 They now clothe the idol in silken robes, and throw wreathes of flowers 

 and rich necklaces over it, while layers of costly carpets are now 

 spread one over the other on the floor before the shrine. Again they 

 repeat the pious mockery of offering food in silver vessels, the usual 

 puja is performed, and a shastri chaunts aloud during the greater 

 part of the night, selected portions of the holy writings. On the 

 other days of the week the muhfait is locked up. No other temples, 

 but the three lords, can boast of this head-piece to their lings. The 

 Maliks of Mahdkdl, those who have the management of the funds, 

 are Telinga brahmans. Bahorees, a Mewarri class, receive a monthly 

 stipend to perform the puja, and menial offices. The name of the 

 divinity of the temple, that by which he is more correctly styled is 

 Ananta Kalpeswar, lord of ages, without beginning or end. The 

 origin of this name and of the temple may be told in verse. 



For proud pre-eminence of power, 



Brahma and Vishnu wild with rage contended ; 

 And Siva in his might 



Their diead contention ended : 

 Before their sight, 



In form a fiery column did he tower, 



Whose height above the highest height extended, 



Whose depth below the deepest depth descended : 

 Downwards its depth to sound, 



Vishnu a thousand years explored, 



The fathomless profound ; 



And yet no base he found : 



Upwards to reach its head, 



Ten myriads of years the aspiring Brahma soared ; 



Above him still the immeasurable spread. 



The rivals owned their lord. 



And trembled and adored. 



The temple which formerly covered this self-same, so marvellously- 

 extended, stone, (now shrunk into more convenient proportions) was 

 enclosed by a wall a hundred cubits high ; 300 years had been 

 expended in its erection, and if as Feristeh writes, it was the counter- 

 part of Somndth, the wonderful fabric was supported by numerous 

 pillars overlaid with plates of gold, and encrusted with rubies and 

 emeralds. Instead of the greasy chiraghs, which now diffuse more 

 smoke than light through the sanctum, one resplendent lamp alone 

 illumined the glorious face, whose light, reflected back from innumerable 



* I did not see the covering of the ling but verified my pandit's description by 

 that of another brahman : the size of the stone is by no means remarkable. The 

 phallus of the brother temple at Hierapolis was 180 feet high. 



