tHE ANTIQUITIES OF MUKriALINGAM. 
73 
god. There is in the Garhhahovila, a big earthenware basin, 
to store water in for washing the idol ; the basin being 
wider than the entrance of the hovila, a myth was manu- 
factured by the priests. A devout potter brought the basin 
to the temple as a present to the god, but it was too wide 
to be taken in. The grief of the votaiy moved the god, 
and the basin was miraculously transported into the hovila 
behind the idol. With this and similar accounts relating 
to the idol the clever priests work on the credulity of the 
pilgrims. The fact is, the depth of the basin is not more 
than the width of the gateway. 
7, What attracts the attention of a careful observer, is 
the number of the inscriptions on the pillars and gateways 
of the temple It is a pity that many inscriptions are hid- 
den under a thick and strong coating of plaster, which 
cannot be removed without the permission of the Zamin- 
dar of Parlakimedi to whom the village and the temples 
there belong. Only some eleven inscriptions are visible 
where the plaster has come off. All of them record private 
gifts of lands or money to the god Madhukesvara (the 
former name of Muhhalingesvara); while five of them refer 
to Anantavarmadeva as the king during whose reign the 
gifts were made. The characters are Eastern Ghaluhya, 
transitional, of the eleventh century. The following are 
the eleven I have noted. 
One on the southern gateway of the prdkdra in Bengali 
Ndgari characters, which I could not read. 
Two on the southern gateway of the mandapa, one of 
which is dated in the Saka year 1100. 
One at the gateway of the Asthdna-mandapa, dated in 
the Saka year 1004 in the reign of Anantavarmadeva. 
One at the gateway of the mandapa, Saka year 1095. 
One on the 1st pillar of the southern row near the idol, 
Saka year 1042 in the time of Anantavarman. 
