1879.] J. H. Rivett-Carnac—The Snake Symbol in India. 21 
a platform had been raised above the grave, on the top of which were 
placed a Mahddeo and yoni. A representation of Siva’s Trident and the 
soles of two feet, not unlike those figured in Fergusson’s Eastern Archi- 
tecture, were also noticed on the grave. 
Our cicerone informed us that the feet were represented here in order 
that pilgrims might fall down and worship at the feet of the Gosain, who, 
dying, had become a saint and deserving of worship. 
A visit in search of the snake symbol to the Nag Kuan, or serpent well, 
was rewarded with better success. The well itself is described by the Rev. 
Mr. Sherring in his “Sacred City of the Hindus,” from which I may be per- 
mitted to quote the following passage : 
“The Nag Kuan or serpent’s well is situated in a ward of the city 
called after the name of the well Nag Kian Mahalla, which adjoins the 
Ausin Gang Mahalla. This well bears marks of considerable antiquity ; 
and from the circumstance of an extensive district of Benares being de- 
signated by its name, there is no doubt that it must be regarded as one of 
the oldest historical places the present city possesses. The construction of 
this well was, probably, nearly, if not quite coeval with the building of the 
Mahalla or ward itself, which, we may imagine, was described as that part 
of the city containing the well—the well being the most important and 
noticeable object there: and, so gradually, the inhabitants associated the 
Mahalla with the well, and called them by the same name. The ward is in 
the north-western part of the city, at some distance from the Ganges, 
The quarter lying to the east of this ward, that is, between it and the 
Ganges, is, as I have already remarked, in all likelihood, the oldest portion of 
the present city ; and, therefore, the Nag-Kvan ward would have been ori- 
ginally in its suburbs. It is even possible that one of the first places built 
in these suburbs, and frequented by the people, was this well, and that its 
existence was one of the reasons, perhaps the chief, for the settling of a 
population in its neighbourhood. No person in Benares can tell when the 
well was made ; but there is a reference to its existence in the Kasi- Khanda. 
“Steep stone stairs, in the form of a square, lead down to the well; and 
a broad wall of good masonry, six or seven feet thick, surrounds them at 
their summit, rising to the height of four or five feet above the ground. 
Hach of the four series of stairs has an entrance of its own. Their junc- 
tion below forms a small square, in the centre of which is the well. De- 
“as so many concentric rings of earth diminishing to the apex crowned with a 
“ cylindrical stone pillar.” 
Now may not the circular tomb have represented the womb or yoni of mother 
earth, the corpse, which is to be born again to a new life, being placed in the posi- 
tion as in the mother’s womb ? 
