323 
1872.] F. S. Growse — The Tirthas of Vrindd-vana and O alula. 
tani, who again, on his decease when only thirty years old, managed the 
estate till the coming of age of the two sons whom his widows had been 
specially authorized to adopt. The elder of the two, Pratap Chandra, 
founded an English school at Kandi and Dispensary at Calcutta. He was 
for some time a Member of the Legislative Council of Bengal, received from 
Government the title of Bahadur, and was enrolled as a Companion of the 
Star of India. He died in 18G7 ; his brother Isvarchandra in 1803. The 
latter left, one son, Indrachand, who with his three cousins, Puran-ehandra, 
Kari-cliandra, and Sarad-chandra, the sons of Pratap-chandra, are the pre- 
sent owners of the estate, which, during their minority is under the control 
of the Court of Wards, the General Manager being Mr. Robert Harvey of 
Calcutta. 
The great temple, founded by Seth Gobind Das and Radha Krishan, 
brothers of the famous millionaire Lakhmi Chand, is dedicated to Rang Ji, 
a Dakhani title of Vishnu. It is built in the Madras style, in accordance 
with plans supplied by their guru, the great Sanskrit scholar, Swami Rang&- 
chari, a native of that part of India, who still presides over the magnifi- 
cent establishment. The works were commenced in 1845 and completed in 
1851, at a cost of 45 lakhs of Rupees. The outer walls measure 773 feet in 
length by 440 in breadth, and enclose a fine tank and garden in addition to 
the actual templc-court. This latter has lofty gate-towers, or gopuras, 
covered with a profusion of coarse sculpture. In front of the god is erected 
a pillar, or dhwajastha stamhha, of copper gilt, sixty feet in height and also 
sunk some twenty-four feet more below the surface of the ground. This 
alone cost Rs. 10,000. The principal or western entrance of the outer court 
is surmounted by a pavilion, ninety-three feet high, constructed in the Ma- 
thura style after the design of a native artist. In its graceful outlines and 
the elegance of its reticulated tracery, it presents a striking contrast to the 
heavy and misshapen masses of the Madras Gopura, which rises immediately 
in front of it. A little to one side of the entrance is a detached shed, in 
which the god’s rath, or carriage, is kept. It is an enormous wooden 
tower in several stages, with monstrous effigies at the corners, and is brought 
out only once a year in the month of Chait during the festival of the Brah- 
motsav. The mela lasts for ten days, on each of which the god is taken 
in state from the temple along the road a distance of 690 yards to a garden 
where a pavilion has been erected for his reception. The procession is 
always attended with torches, music, and incense, and some military display 
contributed by the Raja of Bharatpur ; and on the closing day, when only 
the rath is used, there is a' grand show of fireworks, which people of all 
classes congregate from long distances to see. The image, composed of the 
eight metals, is seated in the centre of the car, with attendant Brahmans 
standing beside to fan it with chauries. Each of the Seths, with the rest of 
