Buchanan described the sanyasis as very “poor-looking creatures” who appeared to live a “life of listless mortification”, having little or no communication with the shore during the rainy season (floods), owing to the rapidity of the current which rendered the approach dangerous. But, in other seasons, they received gracious offerings from almost every Hindu, of any sort of note, who passed up or down, and more abundantly during the Mela (three regular full moons, all in the fair season), so that they lay in ample stores. His description also indicates that the temple had risen into great reputation only lately, since it was only Ananta, the then previous Mahanta, who had erected most of the buildings which then stood. However, that it had become important, is clear since “Almost every person that comes to bathe at Sultangunj, on the three full moons, visits the temple of Gaibinath, carries up a pot of water, and pours it over the image. At the festival of the God a good many perform this ceremony, but in order to render it more efficacious, such as have strength of head and limbs, carry the water to the summit of the spire, and dash it thence on the image. This however is a work to which many cannot pretend, as the spire is lofty, and the ascent to it is by ladders of a very tremendous appearance.”

To be continued....