still celebrated in the Deccan, is particularly described in the extract from Captain Colin Mc‘Kenzie’s journal inserted in the 5th volume of the Asiatic Researches, of which a part is subjoined in a note below.[1] It is romantically situated in an unfrequented spot, surrounded by an almost impenetrable forest, among the wild mountains through which the impetuous current of the Kistna forces its passage from the high table land to the plains, and forms the termination of that chain of hills, which, from the vicinity of the great temple at Tripetty, winds to the north in irregular and separate ranges. In Arrowsmith’s Map of 1804, it is placed near the Nalmul hills in Canoul (Kurnool) under the name of Parrawottum, upon the Kistna, just before that river takes a sudden but short direction to the north. It is the second of the twelve Jyotee lingums mentioned as peculiarly holy, in the 38th Adhyaye of the Sheev Pooran; and, in the Brahmanda Pooran, it is also mentioned as the eighth of the second class of mountains. In the year 1677, we find Sevajee, the celebrated founder of the Mahratta Empire, performing penance at this shrine;[2] and, on the annual recurrence of the Shivaratree, or the night sacred to Shiva, immense crowds of people still flock thither from all parts of Hindoostan.[3]
- ↑ “On entering the south gate,” says Captain Mc‘Kenzie, “we descended by steps through a small door to the inner court, where the temple are. In the center was the Pagoda of Mallecarjee, the principal deity worshipped here. It is square, and the roof is terminated by a pyramid of steps, the whole walls and roof on the outside are covered with brass plates, which have been guilt, but the gilding is worn off. From hence I was conducted to the smaller and more ancient temple of Mallecarjee, where he is adored in the figure of a rude stone, which I could just distinguish, thro’ the dark vista of the front buildings, on pillars. Behind this building, an immense fig tree covers with its shade the devotees and attendants, who repose on seats placed round its trunk and carpeted; among these was one Byragy who had devoted himself to a perpetual residence here, his sole subsistence was the milk of a cow which I saw him driving before him an orange colored rag was tied round his loins, and his naked body was besmeared with ashes.” “It appears that the God Mallecarjee is no other than the Lingum to which such reverence is paid by certain casts of Gentoos.” Captain Mc‘Kenzie adds a curious account of the manner in which the lingum was shewn to him, by means of a mirror reflecting the rays of the sun upon it, and describes it as “a small oblong roundish white stone,” “with dark rings, fixed in a silver case.”
- ↑ See Wilkes’ South of India.
- ↑ The present Nabob of Kurnool, a tributary of the East India Company, in whose territory this Pagoda is situated, collects on this occasion a considerable revenue from the pilgrims; to secure which, he deputes an officer with a certain number of Sepoys: but, with that intolerant bigotry, which more or less influences all who profess the faith of Mahomed, he has resisted every application from the Hindoos to be permitted to repair this very ancient temple, which is now fast falling to decay.
