62 HISTORY OF CASHMIR. 



here three statues of the same deity, under the names of Tripureswaea, 

 Bhutesa and Vijayesa, with bathing vessels and stools of silver. 



Surapur, a city founded by the minister ; also a temple of the associated 

 Slvas, and a college for Ascetics at Sureswari csMtra. His son also establish- 

 ed a Mat 1 ha, and his wife built the temple of Sada Siva at Surapur, a city 

 which has since changed its name to Dfiacca.* 



The minister who was thus the founder of cities, was also a munificent 

 patron of the learned, and the names of Muctacana, Siva Swami, Ananda- 

 Verdhana, Retnacara and Ramaja are enumerated as illustrious objects 

 of his patronage. "I" 



The reign of Avantiverma was rendered remarkable by a severe fa- 

 mine, occasioned it is said by the rivers deserting their customary beds, and 

 deluging the surrounding country, destroying the crops and submerging 

 from time to time whole villages : the dearth was so excessive that many 

 perished, amongst whom were Callatta Bkatta, and other eminent men. A 

 khari| of grain sold for a thousand and fifty dinars. 



This impoverished state of the country continued for ten years, till SuJ- 

 jya remedied the evil : the birth of this person was regarded as mysterious; 

 he was found exposed in an earthen vessel by a Chanddli, by whom he 

 was suckled and brought up : hearing the causes of the irregular swelling 

 of the river discussed, he expressed his conviction that he could apply a 

 remedy, and his words having been reported to the king, he was brought be- 

 fore Avantiverma. The mode, he proposed to adopt, he declined explaining, 



* Not the modern Dhacca of course. There is a place so called in Cashmir upon the Jelum, south- 

 west of Bijore. At present indeed it is scarcely within the limits of the province, and must be compris- 

 ed in the states, said in Elphinstone's map, to be subject to independant Rajas, immediately south of 

 Cashmir. 



| They are names however not now known. J The Khari is equal to two bushels, two pecks, 



one gallon and two-thirds (A. R= v. 98,) or about the third of a quarter. The Dinars, it may be sus- 

 pected were of copper. 



