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PLACES |
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VADI
NARSINHA
Vadi Narsinha (sirol T.), commonly called
Narsoba's Vadi, a vadi or suburb of Sirol (160° 40' N; 74°
35' E); a spot richly wooded with babhul and tamarind, lies three
miles south of Sirol at the meeting of the Krsna and Pancaganga. It
is named after Narsinha Sarasvati, who for twelve years is said to
have lived at the sacred meeting of the rivers. Most of the people
are Brahman pujaris or ministrants of the deity Narsinha.
Vadi Narsinha is a holy place and is visited by large numbers of
pilgrims. It has two large temples, one dedicated to Dattatreya ind
the other to Narayan Svami. The temple of Dattatreya to the south of
the village on the river bank is twenty-four feet long, twelve broad
and twelve high. From the temple to the river bed runs a flight of
steps 137 feet long and 127 broad. West of the temple of Dattatreya
lies the temple of Narayan Svami who is said to have been taught
religion direct by Dattatreya. It. is fifty-one feet long,
twenty-two broad and fourteen feet high. At the meeting of the Krsna
and Pancaganga is another flight of steps of hewn stone and mortar,
143 feet long and sixty-seven feet wide. There is a high school in
the town.
Besides the two villages of Aurvad and Gaurvad in
Belganv granted rent-free to Narsinha SarasvatI, the temple is in
receipt of Rs. 1,340 a year in cash. During the whole month from the
dark fifth of Magh or February-March a fair is held attended
by about 5,000 people from a distance of 200 miles. Piece-goods,
copper and brass vessels and other articles in daily use are offered
for sale in temporary booths. The total sales in the month amounted
to about a lakh of rupees. On the dark 12th of Asvin or
September-October, the day on which Dattatraya is said to
have disappeared from the world, another small fair is held attended
by about 10,000 people.
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