Page:Report of a Tour Through the Bengal Provinces of Patna, Gaya, Mongir and Bhagalpur; The Santal Parganas, Manbhum, Singhbhum and Birbhum; Bankura, Raniganj, Bardwan and Hughli in 1872-73.djvu/171

Rh are now too worn to be at all legible. Close to the temple is a pakka kund, ablution in which cleanses from sin. However this may be, I am quite certain that ablution in it must be particularly disagreeable, the stench its waters exhale being strongly perceptible 50 yards off, and in color and consistence it more resembles the contents of sewers than any other semi-fluid substance I can think of. Pilgrims after bathing in the larger tanks, which themselves are not particularly sweet, are, as a final measure, to bathe in this; there are hot springs in the kund, and the water is warm; there are also cold springs in the kund close to the hot, which is seen bubbling up; the hot springs are sulphurous, and give off freely sulphuretted hydrogen.

The other temples are all very small and very numerous; they are avowedly modern.

Outside, to the left of the long line of temples which line the road, leading straight to the principal shrine, are numerous hot springs; the waters have a sulphurous smell, and evidently contain sulphuretted hydrogen; they enjoy some reputation in curing diseases, and I have no doubt they deserve it; they all empty into a small rivulet, which runs past them, and discharges itself in a small stream about 200 yards from the group of temples.

The temples are built of a variety of materials, brick and stone, both cut and rough; the cut stone is roughly dressed, not smoothed; there are traces of an old brick inclosure about the principal temple, which is situated on a high mound.

There are numerous fragments of statues of no special interest. Lingams innumerable are to be seen at every step. The long lane or road leading from the tank to the temple is lined by semi-nude jogis, and the tanks are crowded by pilgrims, male and female, in gay dresses, busy washing away old sins and clearing the way for fresh ones. The morality, both of jogis and of pilgrims here, is not of a very strict type; this is, indeed, the chronic state of things at most other tiraths that I have seen, but here there is less of even outward appearances preserved than elsewhere generally.

The place is fabled to have been the residence of Bakra Muni, and the lingam in the principal temple having been established by him, is known as Bakeswar.

I obtained a list of tirthas here, which I append; it is of interest, as giving the names of numerous well-known as well as of some obscure tirthas.