A PILGRIM'S DIARY 77

Saivite and that the tides of Vaishnavism flowed
over this pre-existing condition. Some think that the
very name is a corruption of Jyotir Math, the
probable older form. »

The temple of Badri itself is exceedingly modern.
That will be a glad day in India when a developed
respect for history shall guide the councils of all who
have to do with the building and repair of temples 1
At present they see no reason why the mortar of the
master-builder should not be smeared all over the
beautiful weathered surfaces of the grey stones of the
temples. They call it necessary repairs. As if a
skin that was renewed every few years could ever
look beautiful to those who loved us I I know nothing
that so puts one out of tune for worship as a look of
aggressive newness on the face of a church or temple
that one knows to be old and fraught with many
memories 1 Even at Joshi Math, the main sanctuary
has successfully rid itself of most of the traces of
its past. In this case, however, there is a mold of
smaller shrines, built on the edge of the magnificent
plinth-like terrace, which have never been interfered
with, though some of them have fallen into decay,
and these witness to the history of the spot in
unmistakable terms. At Badri Narayan itself, the
gateway and ramparts of the temple are not so
modern. They are built in a Mogul style of somewhat
late type. Within, the only minor shrine is that of
Ghanta-Karna, the Bell-eared, who acts as Kotwal of
the sanctuary. In temples of the older Vaishnavism,