GAWILGHUR AND MOOHKTAGHIRM. 109 
of liis birth was in the suburbs of Benares ; whence 
he removed, while yet a child, disgusted at the in- 
consistencies of the Brahminical faith. 
Besides these temples at Moohktagherri, there 
are but few works of the Jhains in central India. 
The most remarkable 'are near the village of Seravana 
Belgala, in the kingdom of Mysore, where, besides 
excavations, and conical temples hewn from the solid 
rock, there is a gigantic figure formed of a single 
stone, seventy feet in height, called Gautama Raia, 
which, some years since, the Duke of Wellington 
narrowly examined, and supposes to have been 
wrought by cutting away the substance of the hill 
on which it stands, until nothing but the image and 
its pedestal remained, — a plan which has apparently 
been frequently adopted by the Hindoos. 
The most striking peculiarity which appertains to 
the religious profession of the Jhains, is the ridiculous 
extent to which they carry their scruples respecting 
the destruction of animal life. Their absurdities in 
this matter are far beyond those of the Hindoos. 
With one exception, — the sacrifice of the ram, — they 
esteem the destruction of any sentient creature, 
however minute, as the most heinous of crimes ; and 
continually carry at their girdles a small broom, 
suspended by a string, with which they tenderly 
sweep aside every insect which they may observe in 
their path, lest they should accidentally tread upon 
it. To so senseless a length do they carry this prin- 
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