Muntakhab al-tawarikh 41: Houses of Charity.

41

[Text, vol. ii. p. 324.] In A.H. 991 the King erected two buildings outside the city where he might feed fakírs, both Musulmán and Hindú; one he called Khairpúra, the other Dharmpúra. Some of Abú-l Fazl's people had the charge, and used to spend the King's money in procuring food. As the Jogís also used to flock there in great numbers, a separate receiving-house was built for them, and called Jogípúra. Nightly meetings were held in private with some of these men, and they used to employ themselves in various follies and extravagancies, in contemplations, gestures, addresses, abstractions and reveries, and in alchemy, fascination and magic. The King himself studied alchemy, and used to exhibit the gold which he made. One night in the year, called Shív-rát, was appointed for a grand assembly of Jogís from all parts of the country, on which occasion he would eat and drink with the best of them; and used to be gratified by their assurances of a life three or four times longer than the natural life of man.