17 
1904.] W. N. Edwards —Archaeological Remains in Bishnath. 
temples in Bishnath :<—Visvanath, Uma Dewal, Chandi Dewal, Sibanath 
Dewal, Komoleswar Dewal Basdeo Dewal and the Bordhol Dewal. 
Of these, there are now only two mandirs actually standing, and both are 
fine specimens of the architecture of the Ahoom kings, but both are 
abandoned as far as worship is concerned, the Thakurs having built 
small cutcha houses near them where “ Puja ” is carried on. 
The Bor Dhol mandir, the larger of these, was built by the order of 
Gaurinatha Siipha who reigned from 1780 to 1795, while the smaller 
one called “ Sibanath Dewal ” was built some 50 to 60 years previously 
in the reign of Sibasing. This is a somewhat smaller structure, and of 
less handsome design, and was constructed from the materials taken 
from the old temple of Visvanatha; which was dismantled owing to the 
depredations of the Brahmaputra river. 
The Visvanath temple was built by Godadhara Simha or, as he 
was known to the Ahooms, “ Chupatpha.” There is a copper plate 
still in existence which sets forth that in the year A.D. 1685 Goda- 
dhara Simha granted for the upkeep of the temple :—“ Certain orna¬ 
ments, four Brahmans, 40 Sudra Paiks, eight dancing girls, and also 20 
puras of Brahmattar Land.” There is also a second “ Phuli ” granting 
24 Puras of Devottar Land and servants to the same temple dated 
1815 A.D. This was in Chandrakant’s reign. 
The temple, however, has long since disappeared and the Linga is 
now only exposed for six months in the year when the river falls; for 
the rest of the time it is buried by the water. 
Of the remaining temples, that of “ Candi ” and “ Uma ” are the 
most important. The former is a square brick building, built on the 
rocks, at the edge of which, the new channel of the Brahmaputra flows. 
This was built from public subscriptions, some 60 years ago, by a reli¬ 
gious mendicant named Brahma Chari Fakir, and covers the spot where 
Sati’s chest fell. To the right of the temple there is a Linga carved 
out of the rock. The out-buildings attached to this temple have fallen 
into decay, though the temple itself commands worshippers. It is 
evident that the rents received by the owners of these temples from 
the Bramatta and Devottor lands are no longer utilized for the purpose 
for which they were intended. The last temple of importance is that 
of “Umamal” which is situated on the Island, and the Brahmin 
ministering there shows one the spot where Sati’s arm fell. Here 
there is no brick building ; merely a shed roofed with corrugated iron, 
built over the sacred rock. Close to this shrine is a rock on which the 
following inscription has been deciphered : — 
“ Written by Holodbar, son of Laksimidhar Sarmah, Commander 
of the array of the king of Pratappur.” There is no date. There are 
J. i. 3 
