The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.s1.213.2

v2.c17.s1.213.2

The centre of the area within this enclosure is occupied by the great temple and the sides by a great number of small ones, some sacred spots and several out-offices, store-rooms, shops and the like. The names of these have been given in the plan: most of them are modern and held in no great estimation by the people. A few, however, are worthy of special notice. The most important of these to the pious pilgrim is No. 9, called Vaṭeśvara. It is the sacred fig-tree under which the Brahman messenger from Indradyumna met the pious hunter Viśvāvasu, so say the priests; but curiously enough the tree in the legend was an *aśvattha* (*Ficus religiosa*), whereas the tree as we now find it is the *vaṭa* (*Ficus indica*). The tree is certainly not two hundred years old but it evidently occupies the site of the holy Bo tree which doubtless formed an important appurtenance of the sacred fane when it belonged to the Buddhists. The tree is called Kalpavṛkṣa, and is noted for making barren women fruitful. Women who wish to bear the pledge of love to their lords spread the hem of their *sārī* under the tree and remain waiting in expectation of a fruit dropping on it from the tree. Should this happen within a resonable time, they retire satisfied that their object will soon be attained. The *Kapila Saṁhitā* as usual sings the praise of the tree in the most eulogistic terms. ‘Whoever’, it says, ‘stands under the shadow of this tree, immediately clears himself from the sin of killing Brahmans.