Page:Report of a Tour Through the Bengal Provinces of Patna, Gaya, Mongir and Bhagalpur; The Santal Parganas, Manbhum, Singhbhum and Birbhum; Bankura, Raniganj, Bardwan and Hughli in 1872-73.djvu/58

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REPORT OF A TOUR

They were named—

(1) Hazrat Pir Mansur Wali Alláh, after whom the Mohalla Mansurganj is named.

(2) Hazrat Pir Maruf Wali Alláh, after whom the Mohalla Maruganj is named.

(3) Hazrat Pir Mehdi Wali Alláh, after whom the Mohalla Mehdiganj is named.

(4) Hazrat Pir Jaffer Wali Alláh, from whom Jafferganj Mohalla derives its name.

The Muhammadan name of Patna is Azimabad, from Prince Azim, son of Akbar (so runs the tradition), who on the conquest of Patna was sent by the king at the request of the four saints. He built several masjids in it, and bestowed on it the name of Azimabad.

From Patna it will be convenient to follow the footsteps of Hwen Thsang, the Chinese traveller.


TILÁDAKA.

From Patna the Chinese pilgrim travelled south-west to the village of Tiládaka. The distances given in the life and in the travels of Hwen Thsang differ considerably; the former making it 7 yojans, the latter 100 li. The actual distance to Tillâra, however, is 25 miles from the south-east end of modern Patna, and 28 miles from what I would consider the south-east end of Pâṭaliputra, and it lies due south instead of south-west of Patna. From Hwen Thsang’s itineraries, therefore, it is clear that Tillâra can lay no claim to being the modern representative of Tiládaka, but in this instance there is proof of the most conclusive nature that Tillâra is Tiládaka. An inscription cut on the jamb of the doorway to the present Sangin Masjid at Tillâra distinctly mentions the name Telâḍaka. On submitting the inscription to General Cunningham, he at once read the name as Telaḍaka, and communicated the important discovery to me. Tillâra had been previously identified with Tiládaka by General Cunningham, Geog. Anc. India, page 455; see also J. A. S. for 1872, page 250 et seq.

The identification of Telâḍaka is thus established beyond dispute. The modern Tillâra, however, is a small straggling village situated between two branches of the Phalgu river, the Soná and the Katár. The principal objects of interest here are the Sangin Masjid, the dargah of Syad Yusuf, and a high mound near the north-west end of the