OH CUTTACK. 269 



daughter, to expiate which offence he dug a superb tank by the advice of 

 the brahmins, called the Kousala Ganj, which is still pointed out between 

 Khurda and Pipley. 



After two short and unimportant reigns, Raja Anang Bhim Deo, one 

 of the most illustrious of the Princes of the Ganga Vansa line, ascended 

 the Gajapati Sinhasan or throne of the Gajapatis, A. D. 1174. He resid- 

 ed during the early part of his reign in the Nour or palace called Chou- 

 dwar at Jajepur, but was induced by some omen to build a magnificent 

 palace on the site of Fort Barabatti, adjoining the town of Cuttack, where he 

 afterwards held his Court chiefly. The construction of the present castle 

 of that name should in all probability be referred to this period, though a 

 later date is generally assigned to it. Raja Anang Bhim Deo may be 

 €alled the Firoz Shah of the age and country, from the number and varie- 

 ty of public works executed by his orders for the benefit or ornament of 

 his dominions. Having unfortunately incurred the guilt of killing a brah- 

 min, motives of superstition prompted him to construct numerous temples 

 as an expiation for his offence, whilst the suggestions of a noble and 

 princely spirit urged him to a large expenditure on works of more direct 

 public utility, as tanks, wells, and bridges. He is said to have built sixty 

 stone dewals or pagodas, ten bridges, forty wells, one hundred and fifty- 

 two ghats, and to have founded four hundred and fifty sasans or villages, con- 

 taining colonies of brahmins, besides excavating a crore of tanks. He more 

 especially filled the whole khetr of Jagannath with sacred edifices, and the 

 great temple was erectedby his orders under the superintendence of Parama- 

 hans Bajpoi, at an expence of about thirty or forty lacs. The date of its 

 completion was A.D. 1196. He at the same time enlarged considerably the 

 establishment, added fifteen brahmin and fifteen sudraShewaks or officiating: 

 priests, and gave fresh splendour to the worship of the deity of the place, 

 by the institution of numerous bhogs and jatras (feasts and festivals.) 



The most remarkable feature of Raja Anang Bhim Deo's reign, however, 



