1-The
"authorities" are not altogether clear, and the matter is by no means
beyond controversy. One legend describes the Emperor of India, Vikramaditya, as
having learned of the Infant Salivahana, born of a virgin, simultaneously with
Jesus at Bethlehem, and as being slain by him when on an expedition to destroy
the young child, then in his fifth year. Salivahana was immediately crowned at
Oujein. This was at the time of the beginning of the present era; and
Salivahana is said to have left the earth in the year 79. Major Wilford explains
that this name signifies "borne upon a tree."
The account
generally accepted relates that when Kali was about to destroy the world,
Vishnu made an avatar or descent for its salvation. He became the son of
Vasudeva and Devaki. The king, Kansa, having commanded to destroy all male
infants born at that time, he was carried away and placed with a foster-mother
in another country. Hence Devaki is revered as Mother of the God.-A. W.
2-The government
of Magadha or Northern India had fallen into the possession of the Maurya
monarchs, belonging to the Sudra caste. King Chandragupta was allied to seleukos, and
his successor Piyadarsi was the prince known to us as Asoka. Having embraced
Buddhism, this prince labored zealously to disseminate the doctrines, not only
over India, but to other countries, clear to Asia Minor and Egvpt. The cave
temples, however, were constructed by older sovereigns, but the Brahmans often
seized the sanctuaries of other worships and made them their own.-A. W.
3- Fergusson
agrees with this description. In his treatise on "Architecture" he
remarks: "The building resembles to a very great extent an early Christian
Church. In Its arrangements, consisting of a nave and side aisles terminating in
an apse or aide-dome round which the aisle is carried; Its arrangements and
dimensions are very similar to those of the choir of Norwich cathedral."
General Furlong,
while accepting the theory of the later origin of the structure, considers the
temples at Karli as at first Buddhistic, adding the significant fact that
Buddhism Itself appropriated the shrines and symbology of earlier worships. In
confirmation of this the Rev. Dr. Stevenson, writing for the "Journal of
the Royal Asiatic Society," insists that the worship of Siva was "an
aboriginal superstition," which Brahmanism had adopted, but imperfectly
assimilated. The rock-temples appear to have belonged to this worship, but
there is no account or tradition of their construction, and Mr. J. D. Baldwin
ascribes them to an earlier population.-A. W
4- A ghaut is a
"bluff" near a body of water, rather than a mountain.-A. W.
5- This
description indicates that, not Devaki, the mother of Krishna, but Uma, Maya or
Prakriti the Sakti or consort of Siva, was the divinity here honored. It may be
that the Brahmans, appropriated an archaic sanctuary to their own religion,
named the divinity anew, but it was to be Sakti plainly enough. It is stated by
Mr. Keane that a similar figure, known as the Shee-lah-na-gig is found in the
Tara cemetery, and other sacred places in. Ireland.
6- Akbar was a
Moghul monarch who came to the throne of Mahommedan India, about three
centuries ago. Disgusted with the cruelties and arbitrary requirements of the
Koran, he made himself familiar with other beliefs, finally adopting a mystic
theism. His long reign was peaceful and prosperous, and he is grateful1y
remembered.
7-Probably Joel,
11,19: "I will no more make :you a reproach among the heathen."
8- The Solar and
Lunar races were Aryan alike. The Lunar peoples repudiated the Solar divinities
or relegated them to a subordinate rank.
9- Probably the
hanging gardens of the Median queen of Nebuchadnezzar.
10- In his great
work on Rajasthan.
11- This
statement is confirmed by several ancient classic writers.
12- The term
Rajpoot signifies man of royal descent. The other designations of this caste,
are Kshathriya, Rajauya and Rajbausi, all denoting royal association. After the
Aryan Invaders of India bad begun to devote themselves to husbandry and the
arts of civilized life, the military class remained apart and became a distinct
caste and people. Like the princes of Assyria they are altogether kings and
kingly.
Internet
References
Karla Caves
Durga Mandir, Varanasi
Howdah
Deeg
Jaipur
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