or BOODH GAYAH, a town of Hindustan, in the province of Bahar. It is one of the most celebrated places of Hindu pilgrimage, having been the birthplace of Boadh or Buddha, one of the supposed incarnations of the Deity. Many extraordinary ceremonies are performed here by those who frequent the sacred spot. Amongst these, many of the female pilgrims, especially widows, are in the practice of shaving their hair, and devoting themselves from that time to a life of sanctity. The whole business is under the superintendence of Brahmins, who permit any person to enter the temple and approach the idol, which is that of a man sitting cross-legged, and so very rudely carved as to indicate a very remote antiquity. The Bengal government derive from the resort of pilgrims to this sacred place an annual revenue of L.16,000. Long. 85. 5. E. Lat. 24. 49. N