| After a pilgrim
passes the image of Mahakal Bhairab, he will feel as if a lot more of physical exertion
has to be put in to reach the summit, especially as the path becomes extremely steep. In
spite of the steps cut out of the stone, it is far from easy to ascend. Here also one
finds some inscriptions, which are not very distinct. Near about these inscriptions there
is another female deity with eight hands. This image is worshipped as Saraswati. Above
this idol -one comes across two paths and both of them lead to a cave temple of Narsingh
Bhagwan. There is a tank known as Sita Kund. One of these paths passes by Sita Kund
while the other skirts another tank called Sunkh Kund. Sita Kund tank is about 500 feet
long and 100 feet wide and is situated in front of the ruins of the oldest temple, at a
level of 500 feet above the surrounding plain. Near Sita Kund there are three large
tamarind trees which offer shade to the pilgrims. The cave temple of Narsingh Bhagwan is
carved out of the hill and the roof is so low that one cannot stand up in it. Near the
cave temple there is one small ashram constructed of bricks and stones.
The ashram apparently accommodated some hermits in
the past. The ashram is now empty. On the summit of the hill there are two small temples.
One of the temples contains six marks of human feet. These marks are held sacred and the
legend is that they are the foot-marks of Vishnu, Saraswati and Laxmi. There are two other
temples at the summit occupied by the Jains and are used by them as places of pilgrimage.
The Jain temples are built of stone and mortar and are evidently not very old.The summit
of the hill commands exquisite scenery. The tanks surrounding the hill, the fields, and
the two rivers, the Chir and the Chandan, look very beautiful. Mandar Hill is extremely
valuable for the antiquarian and the Hindu and Jain pilgrims. |
