VASUPUJYA BIL

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 04/07/2016

An unspecified »bil or hole« is used as a sacred sacrifice pit within a Jain temple, dedicated to the Tirthankar Vasupujya and established by the king Srenika Maha Raja. SITUATION: At an unspecified location somewhere at or near the town of Bhagalpur (N24°53': E086°55'). HOLE DESCRIPTION: »In front of that temple (now only a brick room) … [remain two out of four pillars] in front of the feet of Vasupujya Tirthakara [sic! qua: Tirthankar]. At the bottom of the pillar, on the left hand, is a bil, or hole, into which it seems a man can pass: the Jain pilgrims, after worshipping the sculptured feet of Vasupujya Tirthakara, proceed to the mouth of that hole, and cast into it, cocoa-nuts [Cocos nucifera], cardamoms [Elletaria cardamomum], nutmegs [Myristica var., prob. angustifolia], sweetmeats, &c. It is said that there are many Jain images in that cavity, and that all the ancient sages were accustomed formerly to go into the cavern to visit those images. On the east and north of the temple of Vasupujya are two tanks, and between them is a mango grove, where the pilgrims encamp« (HINDOO TRAVELLER 1824: 152 after an unspecified Oriental Magazine --not seen). NOT SEEN: BUCHANAN (1810-1811 published 1939).