70 
THE ANTIQUITIES OF MUKHALINGAM. 
kimedi taluk, Ganjam district. It stands on the left bank 
of the Vamsadhara at a distance of about 20 miles from the 
town of Parlakimedi. If the modern temple of Hanuman is 
left out of account, there are only three temples of impor- 
tance to be seen there, of which one is kept in good 
repair and richly endowed by the Zamindar of Parlakimedi. 
These are all dedicated to Siva. As will be explained 
below, one of these temples was built in the beginning 
of the ninth century. There is a, Kshetramdhdtmya, a 
book lately printed, describing the sanctity and impor- 
tance of the place, according to which, and in popular 
estimation, that tract of country is as holy as Benares. 
Thousands of pilgrims from far and near visit it annually on 
the Sivaratri, the 29th day of the month of Magha, when 
sanitary arrangements are made* by the Deputy Tahsildar of 
the taluk under the orders of the Government. The Kshetra- 
mdhdtmya, though for the most part an untrustworthy 
mythological account, may still serve as a guide to the 
various places of interest to be seen there, and it contains 
some facts which throw light on tbe liistory of the place. 
I regret that I had not read it before visiting the place 
or when I was thei'e ; else I would have noted some more 
things of importance. 
2. The temples and the inscriptions on them aud the 
several ruins scattered around are all of a very high anti- 
quity, making the place interesting- and well worthy of a 
visit by all students of arch;i;ology. Till I went and read 
some of the inscriptions, the inhabitants believed that they 
were the writings of the gods which men could not under- 
stand, and thus deluded themselves aud the pilgrims that 
visited the temples. 
3. The points of interest that i have noted will be brietly 
noticed in the following order : — 
I, The temple of Mnkhaliugesvara. 
