1838.] 



Description of the Valley of SonduY» 



145 



" In the DwaparYug (the third or brazen age of the Hindus), existed 

 a ferocious giant, named Tarkasura, whose enormities caused the whoie 

 earth to groan. His cruelties at last became so intolerable, that a 

 number of the Deotas and other inferior deities proceeded toKylas,* and 

 entreated Siva to send his son Comara, whose renown as a warrior was 

 noised over the heavens, to rid them of the monster. Their prayer 

 was acceded to, and Comarswami placing liimself at their head march- 

 ed direct to Tarkasura^s cave among the hills of Sondur. Here Co- 

 marswami slew the giant, and burnt his body. The head was con- 

 verted into stone and bears testimony to Comar's prowess to this day." 



The shrine of this warlike deity has long been a favourite place of 

 pilgrimage to the Mahrattas and other classes of Hindus, and particu* 

 lariy to the ex-Peshwa, Baji Row. His last visit in 1815 was, as be- 

 fore mentioned, merely a cloak to his design of seizing the jaghire. 

 During this visit, whilst seated on the lower steps of the holy well, a 

 large stone was precipitated either accidentally or by design from the 

 top of the steps near the Agusta Muni, and fractured the arm of one of 

 Baji Row's attendants vrho was seated close to him. The superstitious 

 Peshwa, taking this as a bad omen, or suspecting more probably some 

 design upon his life, broke up his camp after three eiays halt and re°- 

 turned toft-ards Poona. The stone is still show-n lying on the margin 

 of the well near some Lingums, and from its weight and dimensions 

 appears to have been perfectly capable, considering the height it fell 

 of fracturing his Higlmess's skull, whatever the density. Puja is of- 

 fered to it, but whether the sacrifice is intended to avert its wrath, or 

 out of gratitude for having expelled the invader, lam unable to say. 

 The offerings of the Peshwa on this occasion to the shrine of Comar 

 were 2,000 rupees, a pair of shawls and some other articles of dress. 

 The o/'a/ra or period of pilgrimage occurs trienniall^ — the number of 

 pilgrims has amounted latterly to about 25 or 30,000, and the temple 

 revenue, together with the sums collected on these occasions, is said to 

 average from 15,000 to 20,000 rupees annually. 



There is a straggling village in the neighbourhood of the temple, 

 consisting of about 30 houses, inhabited by a few Mussulmans, Hindus, 

 and the officials of the temple. There are other sacred places in Son- 

 dur resorted to by pilgrims, viz. Jumbunat, Myoor, Cupfaswami, Hurri 

 Senkram, Sivapur, Mootanum, and the temple to Nar-singha in the 

 western pass. The holy vrells are the Byrava, Bima, Bala Buddra 

 aniJi Jy aka Tirtum. Pretended marks of the footsteps of Comarswami 

 are shown among the rocks and jungles. 



* A mouutain supposed to be the favourite abode of Siva and the residence Of Kuocra, 



