400 An Account of the Temple of Triveni near Hugh. [May, 



Satgaun or Supta-grama, must also have contributed to the sanctity 

 of Triveni. It was not only famous for its commerce in the palmy 

 days of Rome, but it was here the seven wise men of the east, the 

 Supta Rishis or Munis, renowned for their piety as well as their wis- 

 dom, resided, and in the plantain groves, or on the hanks of the sacred 

 stream, worshipped the river goddess. The Hindoos believe that they 

 came with Gunga from Hard war to establish her worship at this place. 

 Their names were Marichi, Atigira, Atre, Pulastya, Pulata, Crutu, and 

 Vashishta. Supta-grama was so called from the seven sages having 

 resided there. Their worship of Gunga is referred to in the following 

 extract from the Maha Bhagbut Pooran. 



ere *n?*i % ^m ?rf t t^^wt i ^^ "fN? wr^t 



" Oh ! Niirada, the seven Rishis after seeing Gunga, who was nearly to be 

 seen even by the Devids worshipped her, and she was pleased on hearing the 

 sound of the shell, &c." 



Mention is made of Supta-grama or Satgaun in Rennell's memoirs, 

 as well as Hamilton's Hindoos tan, and Mr. Marshman in his history of 

 Bengal, page 2, gives the following account : — ■ 



" The chief city of the west of Bengal was Satgaun, not very far 

 north of Hugh. It was known to the Romans. It is also mentioned 

 in the Poorans as Supta-grama, or the seven villages. It was the great 

 mart of Bengal to which nearly all the sea-borne trade was brought." 

 A tradition is still current amongst the inhabitants of Triveni that many 

 temples stood once on the banks of the three sacred streams, and they 

 attribute to the seven Rishis the honor of their erection. It is most 

 probable that the banks of these sacred streams in those early times 

 were studded with temples. Every neighbouring spot has its legend 

 still and retains its sanctity, and if such buildings are the signs of a 

 successful faith, whatever that faith may be, can we wonder, where no 

 clearer light had yet shone, that such signs were numerous, and that 

 Idolatry, springing with the mythological river at its mountain source, 

 should swell with the stream, and pour its full tide along unchecked, 

 deluging the country on either side as it passed to its Ocean boundaries. 



Such temples, if they remained unscattered in the time of Zatir 

 Khan Ghaz.ee, could scarcely escape the fury of the terrific Kalapahar. 



