310 
1872.] F. S. Growse — The Tirthas of VrvnM-mna and Golcula. 
sculptured panels, while the other is quite plain. Over its single door, 
which is at the east end, is a Sanskrit inscription, given first in Bengali and 
then in Nagari characters, which runs as follows : 
^ftqrn 
jrfwfwfc^r W i 
J J 
f»J tTfwfsf^^rPJT II 
The above, it is believed, has never been copied before. As the letters 
were raised, instead of incised, and also much worn, a transcript was a 
matter of some little difficulty ; and the Brahman in charge of the shrine 
declared the inscription to he absolutely illegible, or at least if the letters 
could be decyphered, quite unintelligible. The information it gives is 
certainly not very perspicuous, and there is no indication of a date ; hut we 
are enabled to gather thus much that the chapel at all events was founded 
by a Guhavansa,* hearing the name of Gunanand. The main building, 
which may possibly bo a little older, is popularly ascribed to one Bam Das, 
a Kshatriya of Multan. The court-yard is entered, after the ascent of a flight 
of steps, through a massive square gateway with a pyramidal tower, which 
groups very effectively with the two towers of the temple. As the buildings 
are not only in ruins, hut also from peculiarities of style ill-adapted to 
modern requirements, they are seldom if ever used for religious service, which 
is ordinarily performed in an elegant and substantial edifice erected on the 
other side of the street under the shadow of the older fane. The annual 
income is estimated at Es. 10,100 ; of which sum Es. 8,000 are the 
voluntary offerings of the faithful, while only Es. 2,100 are derived from 
permanent endowment. A branch establishment at Eadha Kund with the 
same dedication is also supported from the funds of tho parent house. 
The temple of Gopinath, which may bo slightly the earliest of the 
series, is said to have been built by B&esil Ji, a progenitor of the Shaikhawat 
branch of the Kachhwaha Thiikurs. This great K&jput family claim ultimate 
descent from Baloji, the third son of Eaja Uday Karan, who succeeded to 
the throne of Amber in 1389, A. D. To Baloji fell by inheritance the district 
of Amritsar, and after him to his son Mokal. This latter was long childless 
till through the blessing of the Muhammadan saint Shaikh Burhan, he 
became the father of a son called after his spiritual progenitor, Shaikh Ji. 
He is accounted the patriarch of all the ShaikMwat race, who for more than 
four centuries have continued to observe the obligations originally contracted 
with him. At the hirtli of every male infant, a goat is sacrificed, and while 
the kalimah is recited, the child is sprinkled with the blood. He is invested 
with the baddhiya, or cross-strings, usually worn by little Muhammadans ; 
* This word is a little quostionublo and may bo read “ Guruvansa.” 
