EKLINGA, a celebrated Saiva temple in the defiles of the Viudhya. The most antique temples are to be seen in such spots, within the dark gorge of the mountain, or on its rugged summit, in the depths of the forest, and at the sources of streams, where sites of seclusion, beauty, and sublimity alternately exalt the mind's devotion. In these regions the image of creative power appears to have been the earliest, and at one time the sole object of adoration, whose symbols, the serpent-wreathed phallus (lingam) and its com panion the bull, were held sacred even by the children of the forest. In these silent retreats Mahadeva long continued to rule triumphant. The temple of Eklinga, situated in one of the narrow defiles leading to the capital, is an immense structure, though more sumptuous than elegant. It is built entirely of white marble, most elabo rately carved and embellished. The brazen bull, placed under his own dome, facing the sanctuary of the phallus, is nearly of the natural size, in a recumbent posture. It is cast (hollow), of good shape, highly polished and without flaw, except where the hammer of the Mahomedan had opened a passage in the hollow flank in search of treasure.
Amongst the many temples where the brazen calf forms part of the establishment of Bal-Cesar, there is one sacred to Nanda alone, at Naen, in the valley. This lordly bull has his shrine attended as devoutly as was that of Apis at Memphis, nor will Eklinga yield to his brother Serapis. The changes of position of the Apis at Naen are received as indications of the fruitfulness of the seasons, though it is not apparent how such are contrived. The physiological worship of the god Siva, with his emblem the lingam, priapus, or phallus, and his vahan, the bull Nandi or Basava, seems to have entered India on its western border. But it is now very general, and Nandi, in stone or in brass, is to be seen everywhere ; perhaps half a million of them are in India, generally couching, looking to the lingam.