“Ram Candrisi son of Sahib Ram an intelligent old Brahman of about 60 years of age remembered distinctly that when he was a child, a relative of his, Govardhan Das Yazid who was then of very advanced age used to come daily to this spot to do his poja. On satursdays in particular he used to make small offerings to Kumara at the foot of large mulberry tree growing there. This tree was cut down in the time of Governor Shaikh Ghulam Muhi-Ud-Din AD 1842-45 by the Mullah of the Ziarat when as the pious tradition holds blood flowed from the trunk. Goverdan Das and others at that time used to light lamps on the Parvan days at the foot of the mounds is the custom in temples and before divine images.”

Aurel Stein also visited the Jyestha Naga situated on the south - west hill slope of the Gagribal part of the Dal Lake at the village Jyetheir. Here he observed: “Remains belonging to ancient temples are found in several places near Gupkar. Thus large carved slabs are built into the Ziarat of Sayyad Najmu-d-din Sahib on west shore of the Gagribal, and also into the basements of other Muhammadan buildings in the village itself. Another large Linga, also much injured, I found on the hillside below the Jyesthanaga. At Jyetheir itself little ancient remains can be traced on the surface.”

A Pandit at Jeytheir Nag, Srinagar

August 25, 1891, Vangath. “Last night at Pir Baksh’s suggestion the kulis and Gujars who in the summer months pasture their flocks in the high valleys gave me a real serenade. Some of the Kashmiri songs were very melodic and reminded me of Hungarian songs.”

August 28, 1891. “I found my tent which had been pitched under same three Chinars where I had been three years ago. Pandit Govind Kaul brought the manuscripts to see and possibly to buy. The next day I took ride with G.K. along the eastern shore of the lake to visit several villages and springs mentioned in the Rajatarangini. On my return, I met Mr. Andrews. He is living on three boats with his wife and child. The next morning with Andrews I made a short excursion to the temple of Pandrethan which I had visited in 1888 and then went to the palace.

Shankracharya Temple, Srinagar 1895	Sundervon Temple on Shankracharya hill	Pandrethan Temple

Raja Amar Singh had invited me. My report about the Vangath temple, the ruins being despoiled for pieces of sculpture, interested him and he declared he was willing to spend something to have them restored. All in all, the Raja was very gracious. He was enthusiastic about my suggestion to build the new library in Jammu to house the Sanskrit manuscripts collection in the form of a Temple”. In December 1891 Stein made a visit to village Und at Attock.

A devotee at Shankaracharya Temple, 1895

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