1851.] Notes on the " Mahdpurushyas." 457 



embracing three sides of the building ; the fourth is finished off with 

 an open gable across which, and contiguous to the Namghar, there is 

 another smaller building on posts in which is contained a stone image 

 of Vishnu and " Sala'grams." 



The Shostro is one hundred and eighty feet long by sixty in breadth 

 supported on fourteen rows of posts. The altar, covered over with red 

 silk, on which the Bhagavat and other sacred books are deposited under 

 square frames of talc, is placed in the centre aisle in the south portion 

 of the building ; and receives light from the open gable above it. 

 There are two entrances, one from the east near the altar, the other from 

 the north facing it, besides which and the gable there is no opening for 

 the admission of light except from spaces cut out in the ornamental carv- 

 ing of a cornice of wood which encircles three sides of the building under 

 the verandah, and through which spaces the portion of the congregation, 

 who not being admitted into the interior of the building, are obliged 

 to confine themselves to the verandah, can see what is going on inside. 

 Near the northern entrance to the right there is a colossal figure of 

 Hanuman and to the left a similar image of Garur supported on 

 massive frames of timber and painted in bright colours. These images 

 are not worshipped, which, indeed, might be inferred from their position 

 between the congregation and the altar. Down the centre aisle there 

 are two rows of large candelabra of wrought iron each capable of hold- 

 ing some hundreds of small oil burners to illumine the building for 

 the evening service. It is only on great occasions that they are all 

 used, a few near the altar being sufficient for the ordinary services. To 

 give me a better view of the interior of the building they were all 

 lighted for me in the clay time, the morning service was then being 

 celebrated and the vista of these pyramids of light with numerous 

 white draped figures to assist in distributing it through the vast 

 gloomy building had a most imposing effect. There is nothing else 

 in the interior of the building worth noticing. The outer or verandah 

 posts are all elaborately but rudely carved, every second or third being 

 a caryatid representing one of the incarnations of Vishnu. None but 

 Bhakats, or disciples, after purification and change of raiment are 

 admitted into the interior of the Shostro. Women are excluded but 

 may sit in the Verandah, and at certain periods join in the spiritual 

 songs. 



3 n 2 



