About eleven miles from Raipur, near the village of Jagasar, is a
temple built to the memory of a faithful dog of the Bunjara species,
and this is the story of how it came to be built.
Many years ago a Bunjara Naik, or headman of the clan of Bunjaras,
or wandering traders, owed money to a "Marwari," or money-lender
at Raipur.
When pressed for payment, the Bunjara, who was then standing near
the Marwari's shop, said: "Here is my gold necklace, and here is
my faithful dog: keep both till I return to my camping-ground near
Jagasar, and fetch you the money."
The necklace and dog were then left as security, and the man went
his way.
That night the Marwari's shop was broken into by thieves, and many
valuables stolen, among them the golden necklace; but, before the
thieves could get clear away with their stolen property, the dog got up
and barked and leaped about, and made so much noise that the Marwari
and his men got up, caught the thieves, and recovered the property,
which was of considerable worth.
The Marwari was very pleased, and out of gratitude for what the dog
had done, determined to cancel and forgive the debt of his master,
the Bunjara. So he wrote a paper to cancel it, tied it to the dog's
neck and let it go, saying: "Carry the tidings to your owner."
Early next morning the dog trotted off, and was nearing the
camping-ground which was his home, when the Bunjara saw him, and,
very displeased, he took a stick and struck the poor dog across the
head, saying: "You brute! you could not remain even twenty-four hours
with the Marwari, though my honour was at stake."
The blow killed the dog on the spot, and as he fell, the Bunjara
noticed the slip of paper round his neck, and, on reading it, found
what joyful news his dog had brought to him. Not only was the debt
forgiven, but the reason for it was also stated on the paper.
The grief of the Bunjara was great, for in spite of his hasty temper
he loved his dog, as all Bunjaras do. He repented his hasty act, and
wept most bitterly over his favourite, vowing that he would try and
expiate the deed by building a temple to the faithful dog's memory
with the money he had recovered.
The small temple now standing on the spot where this took place
testifies to the fulfilment of that vow, and a small dog carved in
stone indicates why the Dog Temple was built.
To this day it is deeply revered by all the villagers around, and the
story of that faithful dog is often repeated to show how intelligent
and true a dog can be.