534 Journal of a trip to Sikim. [May, 



a Lunar crescent surmounted by the sun. At his feet is a plume of 

 Lotus flowers and buds. Large ear-rings hang from the pierced lobes 

 and a robe of blue and gold closing over the right breast, with an under 

 garment of red and gold, complete the costume and the symbols of this 

 compound deity.* 



On the right is a female image, " Kando Ishe Sage," holding a cup 

 of water in the left hand, while she sprinkles the great image from it 

 with the right. Further on the right is the image of a Lama named 

 Lapchen Chimboo. He is in the sitting posture — his legs crossed. In 

 his right hand he holds a human thigh-bone used for calling to prayers, 

 in the left a cup for food. The left arm supports a trident with hu- 

 man hands, skulls, and dorge on the shaft, and the head-dress is orna- 

 mented with a wreath of human skulls. This image is painted pale 

 blue and has necklaces of beads. .< 



On the left of the great image are two Lamas, one of them is offer- 

 ing him the " Nurbo," the other a human skull. The Nurbo is an 

 arrow-shaped piece of gold with 3 jewels set in it ; at least it appeared 

 so to me. It is said to be the offering of highest price, and to emit a 

 spontaneous light at night. 



This was all I could make of what the Lamas knew of the 

 " Nurbo." 



In the vestibule are two large devilish figures painted on the walls 

 on either side of the doorway. One is black with white teeth, and 

 claws and horrid goggle eyes. The other is yellow, and of similar 

 stamp. They represent deities, who destroy ghosts and other demons. 

 This Goomba, No. 2, contains the Library, which at present has only 

 82 volumes. 



These were very neatly ranged in two cabinets, which occupied re- 

 cesses in the centre of each side of the body of the temple. For each 

 volume there was a separate compartment, and in the centre of each 



* The trident and skulls being Shivaite symbols, the dorge and cup Lamaical. 

 The whole of the symbols belong to Nathism, as recognised by the northern Bud- 

 dhists. The dorge is the Viswavagra, or double thunderbolt, and the deity de- 

 scribed is Goroksha-nath, from whom the Gorkha nation and the district of Gorakh- 

 pur derive their names. He is the great Yogeshwar or Natheshwar of these regions. 

 His followers are called Yogis or Jogis on this side the snows ; Ningmapa on the 

 other side. — B. H. Hodgson. 



