The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.s1.214

v2.c17.s1.214

An image of the crow with four hands is preserved on a stone-slab close by (No. 20). To the faithful these are objects of great interest and to the priests sources of a steady income ; but there is nothing in them for the archaeologist. Immediately to the west of the tank there is a temple of medium size, but of considerable age, which is dedicated to Vimalā Devī, ‘the stainless wife of the All-destroyer’, Mahādeva, who presides here as a guardian of the Lord of the Universe. Though ensconced in a Vaiṣṇavite sanctuary, founded on the traditions of the Buddhists, and imbued with the utmost repugnance to animal sacrifice, the goddess has not been able to forego her partiality for flesh-meat, and, once a year, on the eighth of the waxing moon in the month of Āśvina, has a kid sacrificed to her at midnight. The priests of Jagannātha do not readily acknowledge this ; but when hard pressed explain it away as a mystery.