Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v1.c17.s1.13

v1.c17.s1.13

This sacred mountain (Sumeru) is claimed by the Brahmans as the abode of Mahadeva,¹ Adiswar,² or Baghes ³; by the Jains, as the abode of Adinath,⁴ the first Jiniswara, or Jain lord. Here they say he taught mankind the arts of agriculture and civilized life. The Greeks claimed it as the abode of Bacchus; and hence the Grecian fable of this god being taken from the thigh of Jupiter, confounding meros (thigh) with the meru (hill) of this Indian deity. In this vicinity the followers of Alexander had their Saturnalia, drank to excess of the wine from its indigenous vines, and bound their brows with ivy (vela) ⁵ sacred to the Baghes of the east and west, whose votaries alike indulge in ‘ strong drink.’