1850.] 



Sircar of Pytun. 



257 



naut by disclosing the circumstances of his journey, for it appears 

 Eknaut had no conception of the honor he was enjoying. Srikhund 

 knowing his divine nature had been disclosed to his master, disap- 

 peared, but at the earnest entreaty of the holy man he consented to 

 show himself and then finally departed. The stone which Srikhund 

 used in grinding chunam for making the lines upon the forehead, is 

 now shown in the temple, as well as the large water pot, he daily 

 filled from the river. Eknaut's works are highly spoken of, many 

 of which are composed in ridicule of the gross superstitions of the 

 day, and abounding in satire upon idolatry : yet the manner of his 

 death is an abuegation of these principles, for, far advanced in years 

 he departed from life in all the odour of sanctity, by an act conse- 

 crated by the very worst description of superstition, drowning him- 

 self in the sight of the people in the middle of theGodavery. This event 

 occurred in the year 1521, corresponding to 1598 A. D. A shrine 

 upon the bank, north of the city, commemorates the circumstance, 

 and yearly in the month of March a fair is held there. A substantial 

 Dhurrumsalla is attached to the shrine, and over the eastern gate- 

 way are the following inscriptions cut in stone in the Balbood charac- 

 ter. Translations of which are as follows : — 



No. 1. — Eknaut Swamy being piously disposed, obtained the favor of his 

 Gooroo Janardhun by whose aid he advanced in knowledge, and 

 clothed himself with the attributes of a divinity. 



No. 2. — Behold the deity, a, Saint transcendent in virtue, who by the 

 nector of Sri-Narrain, obtained the favor of God. 



No. 3. — The pure streams of his fame are sufficient to wash out the 

 sins of this kalayoog, and his deep piety is like Ambrosia to human 

 beings : were those, void of wisdom and benevolence, to seek ac- 

 quaintance with his doctrine, they would attain to perfect beatitude. 



No. 4— Illegible. 



No. 5. — As the Deity Srikrishun Brama Charree, otherwise called Sri- 

 khundee, absented himself from heaven to serve Eknaut, it is an 

 evidence of his divine nature. 



No. 6.— Illegible. 



No. 7. — The works that Eknaut performed are translations of the holy 

 books Eamayen, Dushmushkund, and Rookmeenee Swayemwur, a 

 labor meriting rewards. 



No. 8.— He also translated the holy book Yakadushkund, held in great 

 estimation by the learned Brahmins of Benares, for which act of 

 piety he obtained the gratitude of men. 



