glO STATISTICAL SKETCH 



one account, it is said to have been, in remote ages, an object of peculiar ve- 

 neration and worship in the adjoining province of Thibet, from whence it 

 fled, about seventeen centuries- past, to the spot on which the temple now 

 stands : the second, and more probable legend, represents the idol to have been 

 originally found in the river near the temple, which was then erected and de» 

 dicated to it by Sajilcardchdri, 2l missionary from the peninsula of India : the 

 appearance of the idol, which bears scarcely any resemblance to the human 

 form, and exhibits evident traces of having been once worn, and polished by 

 the action of water, gives strength to this tradition. 



Keddrndtk, an incarnation of Sadasheo, is not a form of Vishnu,* but the 

 word " Keddr," is divided from " Ke" Sanscrit, water, and " Ddr,** abound- 

 ing vv^ith : the worship of this idol, at its present site, is carried back to the 

 remote of fabulous ages, being ascribed originally to the Pdndavas. These 

 brothers, after their battles with the giants, are said to have proceeded to 

 Haridwdr, with a view to expiations and to worship Sadaseo. That god, 

 alarmed at their approach, fled under the form of a buffalo, and was pursued 

 by them to Keddr, at which spot he dived into the earth, leaving only his 

 posteriors visible above ground. This part, of which the Pdndavas established 

 the worship, continues to receive the adoration of the pilgrims at Kedir, 

 The remaining portions of the body of the god receive worship at the tem- 

 ples of " Kalpesivar," *' Madhyames'war,'^ *' Rudrandth,* and ** Tungandth," 

 all situated along the Himalaya chain, and which, together with Keddrnithy 

 form the Panch Keddr, a peculiar object of pilgrimage to pious votaries, but 

 which, from the difficulties of the roads, few are able to accomplish. 



In the rear of Keddr is the Himalaya peak of *' Mahd Panth," cele- 

 brated in Hindu Mythology, as the point at which the Pdndavas devoted 



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* This correction of the original passage, by the author himself, had not been received when 

 page 161 was printed—H, H. W. 



