1847.] Notes on the Caves of Burahur. 401 



He lived about the reign of the Orissa Raja Telenga Mookund Deb, 

 A. D. 1550. He was by birth a brahman, but by conversion a Muham- 

 madan, and such was the terror he inspired, that it is commonly re- 

 ported and believed, that the arms and legs of the idols for many a 

 kros round dropped off at the sound of his kettle drum. 



The present ghaut is of modern date, but the former possibly may 

 have been coeval with the temple. Stones of large size are imbedded 

 in the river, between the ghaut and the temple, which probably are 

 the ruins of the ancient ghaut. Triveni is still held in high estima- 

 tion by the inhabitants of Orissa. The fame of its sanctity is far 

 spread. Once a year there is a grand mela, and thousands flock to 

 the ghaut for the purpose of bathing in the river. The sight is well 

 worth the seeing. It is a fine picture for a clever artist. There is 

 something highly picturesque in the attitudes, the grouping and the 

 dresses. There is too a lesson to be learned from the deep fervor, how- 

 ever mistaken, and the burning zeal, however blinded, of the anxious 

 worshippers. A lesson which Christians may learn and not be ashamed, 

 and yet a painful impression is forced upon a thinking mind, that 

 while light and knowledge are spreading rapidly, and so many nations 

 enjoying the blessings they confer, here in ancient India, near the very 

 seat of a Christian Government, superstition so dark and strong should 

 hold its sway, and delude, alas how fatally its thousands and thousands 

 of votaries. 



This is but a skeleton account of Triveni, which others may be able 

 to fill up. These are but broken links of a chain it is difficult to 

 connect. Others in possession of better data, and with a better know- 

 ledge of Indian history, may be able perhaps to form a connection. 



Notes on the Caves of Burahur, by Capt. Kittoe, 6tk N. I. 



I now proceed to redeem my pledge of publishing the result of my 

 enquiries concerning the caves of Burahur in Bahar. 



Differing from all other works of the kind known to us, these caves 

 or chambers are, with one exception, entirely devoid of sculpture or 

 ornament of any kind. They are in all seven in number ; four in one 



3 G 



