Indian Antiquary Vol 55

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 39

FEBRUARY, 1926 ]
BUDDERMOKAN
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a cave constructed of stone on the bare rock, which superstructure once served as a hermit's cell. The spot where these buildings are situated is called Buddermokan, Budder being the name of a saint of Islam, and mokan, a place of abode. It is said that 140 years ago [i.e., in 1736 A.D., be it noted] or thereabouts, two brothers named Manick and Chan [ ? Chand], traders from Chittagong, while returning from Cape Negrais in a vessel loaded with turmeric, called at Akyab for water, and the vessel anchored off the Buddermokan Rocks. On the following night, after Chan and Manick had procured water near these rocks, Manick had a dream that the saint Budder Auliah desired him to construct a cave or a place of abode at the locality near where they procured the water. Manick replied that he had no means wherewith he could comply with the request. Budder then said that all his (Manick's) turmeric would turn into gold, and that he should therefore endeavour to erect the building from the proceeds thereof. When morning came Manick, observing that all the turmeric had been transformed into gold, consulted his brother Chan on the subject of the dream and they conjointly constructed a cave and also dug a well at the locality now known as Buddermokan.
" There are orders in Persian [fi.e., in the Persian or Urdu character ] in the Deputy Commissioner's Court of Akyab, dated 1834, from William Dampier, Esquire, Commissioner of Chittagong, and also from T. Dickenson, Esquire, Commissioner of Arakan, to the effect that one Hussain Ally (then the thugyi of Bhudamaw Circle) was to have charge of the Bud. dermokan in token of his good services rendered to the British force in 1825, and to enjoy any sums that he might collect on account of alms and offerings.
“ In 1849 Mr. R. C. Raikes, the officiating Magistrate at Aykab, ordered that Hussain Ally was to have charge of the Buddermokan buildings, and granted permission to one Mah Ming Oung, a female fakir; to erect a building. Accordingly in 1849 the present masonry buildings were constructed by her. She also re-dug the tank.
“ The expenditure for the whole work came to about Rs. 2,000. After Husain Ally's death his son Abdoolah had charge, and after the death his sister Me Moora zamal, the present wife of Abdool Marein, pleader, took charge. Abdool Marein is now in charge on behalf of this wife.'”
Burmese corruptions of Mussulman names are always difficult, and those just given are, as stated, impossible. All I can suggest for Marein is that it is a mistake for Karin (-Karim) and that the pleader's name was 'Abdu'l-Karim," the servant of the Generous "; or possibly, by metathesis, for Rahim, which would make his name 'Abdu'r-Rahim, "the servant of the Compassionate," Ar-Rahim is the second and Al-Karim is the forty-second of the Ninety-nine Names of God. See Hughes' Dictionary of Islam, p. 141, Herklot's Qanoon-e-Islam, p. 240ff, and the present writer's Proper Names of Punjabis, p. 43 ff. There is no "Most Comely Name of God" at all like Marein. Moora zamal may be merely a misprint of Murs zamat, a possible designation for a woman.
Dr. Forchhammer next goes on to describe the "Buddermokan" thus:-"The interior is very simple, square or quadrangular room. There are really two caves, one on the top of the rocks. This has an entrance in the north and south sides : the arch is vaulted and so is the inner chamber. The exterior of the cave is 9 feet 3 inches wide, 11 feet 6 inches long, and 8 feet 6 inches high; the inner chamber measures 7 feet by 5 feet 8 inches, height 6 feet 5 inches. The material is partly stone, partly brick plastered over ; the whole is absolutely devoid of decorative designs. The other cave is similarly constructed, only the floor is the bare rock, slightly slanting towards the south entrance : it is smaller than the preceding cave. The principal mosque stands on a platform : & flight of brick and stone stairs leads up to it. The cast front of the temple measures 28 feet 6 inches; the south side 26 feet 6 inches; the chamber is 16 feet 9inches long and 13 feet wide : the ceiling is a cupola ; on the west side is a niche, let 1 foot into the wall with a pointed arch and a pillaster each side. [This must be the mihrab that is obligatory in every mosque.] Over it bangs a copy in Persian ? (character not language), of the grant mentioned above. A small prayer-hall (if meant for Muhammadans