HINDU PLACES OF PILGRIMAGE 191 climbing up the tree and throwing themselves into the Ganges.' There is space for a single other citation from al- Biruni in connection with the religion of the Hindus; it is taken from his sixty-sixth chapter, in which he treats of Hindu pilgrimages and of the visits which they pay to certain sacred places as a part of their religious duty.
- Pilgrimages are not obligatory upon the Hindus,
although they are facultative and meritorious. A man sets off to wander to some holy region, to some much venerated idol, or to some of the holy rivers. He wor- ships in them, adores the idol, makes presents to it, recites many hymns and prayers, fasts, and gives amis to the Brahmans, the priests, and others. He shaves the hair of his head and beard, and returns home. The much venerated holy ponds are in the cold mountains round Meru. The following information regarding them is found in both the Vayu and the Matsya Pu- ranas: " At the foot of Meru is Arhata, a very great pond, described as shining like the moon. In it orig- inates the river Zanba (Jambu ?), which is very pure, flowing over the purest gold. Near the mountain Sveta is the pond Uttaramanasa, and around it twelve other ponds, each of them like a lake. Thence come two rivers which flow to Kimpurusha. Near the mountain Nila is a pond adorned with lotuses. Near the moun- tain Nishada is the pond Vishnupada, whence comes the river Sarasvati (Sarsuti). Besides, the river Gan- dharvi comes from there. In the mountain Kailasa is
