92 
H. Beveridge —The Antiquities of Bagura. 
[No. 1, 
two old trees. The sacred part of the river extends over reaches or 
about two miles, from Skand (a name of Siva) ghat to Gobindghat in the 
village of Gokul. The place called Sila Devi’s ghat lies about half-way 
between the above ghats. An annual fair is held in the month of Chait, 
but the most sacred time is when the conjunction of the planets admits 
of the bathing’s taking place in the month of Pus (Pus Narayani). 
Mr. O’Donnell speaks of the grant for the lakhiraj of Mahasthan 
having been confirmed in 1666 by the Governor of Dhaka. In fact, 
however, the confirmation is dated 7th Jumada I, 1096, A. H. (1st 
April, 1685) in the thirtieth year of the reign. I have seen the original 
sanad, which is in the Becord-room at Bogra. The deed bears the seal of 
Kokultash Muzaffar-Jang [Husain]. It is in the form of an order addressed 
to the officials of Silbaris in Sirkar Bazuha, and directs them to respect 
the lakhiraj of the saint Muhammad Sultan Mahi-suwar’s Astan. The 
word ‘ astan’ suggests to me the idea that Mahasthan may after all be a 
Muhammadan name meaning the Great Astan. The Hindu name perhaps 
was Siladwip. The place is also often called Mastangarh and under this 
name it appears in the Survey Map. I send a copy of the Sanad along 
with these remarks.* With regard to the resumption-proceedings, noted 
* The following is a transcript of the copy of the Sanad — 
— 
J J tjUaiLof j (Jla. d/ 
i . . . Ijk. (jjaLa j 
jfsiso oS[)Lm./c lb b Loj j 
b j dA~vj|j> 
g j 2 * j <W>,£/o <x.'L)L«f j(jj j jjjj &T lj 
H 
V 
*» I 
^uiy 
J^tp jsk *I 
