A History of the Mahrattas v2.c48.62

v2.c48.62

¹ Pāl (originally called Rājāpur) is a village in Sātāra District, lying on both banks of the Tārli, about twenty miles north-west of Karād. The celebrated temple, mentioned by the author, is that of Khandoba, which was built in the fifteenth century on the site of a legendary appearance by the god to a milkmaid named Pālai. Many families prominent in the history of the Deccan have bestowed gifts on the temple, at which a great fair, in celebration of the marriage of the god Khandoba, is held annually in the Hindu month Paush (December-January). As at the Jejuri Temple, many Murlis, or sacred harlots, are attached to the temple at Pāl. The priests are Brahmans and Guravs. (B.G., xix. 529 ff.) See remarks on Khandoba in Introduction, vol. i, pp. lv-lvii, ante.