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CONTENTS.
Preface.
Introduction-BY FITZEDWARD HALL, Esq., D.C.L.
CHAPTER I.
Early history of Benares.-Sanctity of the city.-Mythic cha-
racter of Indian history.-Ancient Buddhist records respecting
Benares.-Sákya Muni, or Buddha, preached the doctrine of
Buddhism first in Benares.-Antiquity of Benares. - Hiouen
Thsang's account of his visit to the city in the seventh century
of the Christian era.-Macaulay's description of Benares.—Con-
nexion of Benares with the religious history of half the human
race. Its connexion with Buddhism. Life and labours of
Buddha.-Benares subsequent to the fall of Buddhism in India.
The Brahman.—Sons of the Ganges.-Devotees and pilgrims.
-Benares, the religious centre of India
CHAPTER II.
No Architectural remains dating prior to the third century
before Christ yet found in India.-Ancient Hindu Edifices of
the primitive period, not of a rude character. Did the Hindus
borrow from the Assyrian and Persian Sculptors? - Ancient
remains found chiefly in the northern quarter of the city.
Mohammedan lust for Hindu edifices.-Shifting tendency of the
modern city. Origin of the appellation "Benares."
CHAPTER III.
Puranic form of Modern Hinduism.-Increase of Temples in
Northern India.-Number of Temples in Benares.-Temple of
Bisheswar, the idol-king of Benares.-Ancient Temple of
1
19
Bisheswar, now a Mohammedan Mosque.-The Well Gyán
Bápí.-Temple of Ad-Bisheswar. The Well Káśí Karwaț.-
Temple of Saníchar.-The goddess Annpúrná and her temple.-
Temples of Ganeś and Sukresśwar
CHAPTER IV.
Temple of Bhaironáth, the god-magistrate of Benares.—
Danḍpán, or the Deified Staff.-Temple of the Planet.-Kál-
kúp, or Well of Fate.-Image of Mahákál, or Great Fate.-The
Manikarnika Well and Ghát.-Legends respecting the Well.-
Temple of Tárakeswar.-Sindhia Ghát, and the Raja of Nag-
pore's Ghát.-Temple of Briddhkál.—Shrines of Márkaṇḍeśwar
and Daksheswar. - Legend of Raja Daksh. - Temples of
Alpmriteswar and Ratneswar.
CHAPTER V.
Legend respecting Divodás. -Temple of Divodáseswar. -
The Well Dharm-kúp.-Rádhá-Krishna.-The Nág-Kúái, or
Serpent's Well.-Old Images.-Temples of Bágeswari, Jwara-
hareswar, and Siddheswar.
CHAPTER VI.
Benares, Káśí, and Kedár, the three Grand Divisions of the
city. No old Hindu Temples in Benares.-Puranic character
of the Káśí Division of the City.-No trustworthy information
concerning Ancient Buildings to be obtained either from Hindus
or from their sacred writings.-Preference of the Old Fanes by
Pilgrims. Trilochan Temple.-Legends respecting Trilochan.
-The Idolater's idea of the benefit resulting from Worshipping
in this Temple.-Kot Lingeswar.-Nának Shah, the Sikh Guru.
—Painting in the Trilochan Temple, depicting the Punishments
of Hell.—Trilochan Ghát.-Gáe Ghát.-Temples of Nirbud-
dheswar and Ad Mahádeva.—Gor Jí, the Gujarati Brahman..
-
CHAPTER VII.
Panchgangá Ghát.-Legends respecting it.—Lakshmaṇbálá
Temple. The Minarets.-Temple of Kámeśwar.-The Machau-
darí Tírth or Place of Pilgrimage.
CHAPTER VIII.
Temple of Jágeswar, a Resort of the Native Aristocracy of
Benares.-Káśí-Deví, Goddess of the City of Benares.-Karn-
ghaṇṭa Táláo or Tank.-Temple of the Demon Bhút-Bhairo.—
Temple of Bará Gaṇeś.—Jagannath.-Satís
CHAPTER IX.
The Piśách-Mochan Tank.-Legend of the Goblin Piśách.-
The Festival of Lotá-Bhanța, or the Egg-plant.-The Ghats and
Temple of Piśách-Mochan.-Súraj-Kund or Tank of the Sun.-
The Hom or Burnt Sacrifice. -The god Ashṭáng-Bhairo.
Temple of Dhruveśwar or the Pole Star
CHAPTER X.
The Mán-Mandil Ghát.-Temple of Dálbhyeswar.—Temple
of the Moon or Someswar. The Mán-Mandil Observatory,
erected by Raja Jay Sinh.-Description of its Instruments.-—
The Nepalese Temple
116
123
129
CHAPTER XI.
Daśáśamedh Ghát and Temple.-Legend of Daśáśamedh.-
Siddheswari Temple.-Chandra Kúp, or Well of the Moon.-
Temple of the goddess Sankatá Deví.-Sankaṭá Ghát.-Rám
Ghát.
139
CHAPTER XII.
The Bengali population of Benares.-The popular Temple of
Kedareswar.-Legend of Kedár.-Mánsarwar Tank and sur-
rounding Temples. — Bál-Krishna and Chaturbhuj Idols. —
Máneswar Temple.-The great Image of Tilubhanḍeswar.-
Ancient mutilated Statue.-Temple of Duláreswar.-Peepul
tree at Chaukí Ghát.-Swinging gods
CHAPTER XIII.
Durga Kund Temple.-Bloody Sacrifices; their meaning.-
Sacred Monkeys.-Legend of Durg and Durgá.—Durgá Kuṇḍ
or Tank.-Kurukshetr Táláo or Tank.-The Lolárik Kúán or
Well.-Ancient Sculptures
146
157
CHAPTER XIV.
Temple of the Maharaja of Benares at Rámnagar. — Raja
Cheit Singh's Tank.-Virtue of Pilgrimage to the Rámnagar
side of Benares.-Temple of Vedavyás.-Panch-kosí Road, or
Sacred Boundary of Benares.-Pilgrimage of the Panch-kosí.
-Sanitary condition of Benares.-Improvements suggested. . 169
CHAPTER XV.
Barna Sangam, or Confluence of the Barna and Ganges.-
Ad-keśav Temple.-Barna Ghát.-Ráj Ghat Fort; its use in
1857.-Remains of Buddhist Monastery.-Tank of Bhairo.-
Lát or Pillar of Siva.-Ancient Pillar.-Account of Dis-
turbance in Benares when the Pillar was thrown down.-The
Ghazeepore Road.-Ancient Bridge over the Barna
CHAPTER XVI.
Sivála Ghát.—The Old Fort.-Raja Cheit Singh; History
of his Insurrection and of the proceedings of Warren Hastings
in connexion therewith
. 184
197
CHAPTER XVII.
Hindu and Mohammedan Melás or Religious Festivals, held
periodically, in Benares
. . 213
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Buddhist Ruins at Sárnáth-Their Antiquity.-Sum-
mary of the Narratives of Fa Hian and Hiouen Thsang,
respecting the buildings formerly existing at Sárnáth and in
its neighbourhood.-Points of agreement in the Narratives.-
Modern Explorers of the Ruins.-Extent and Nature of the
Remains. The Great Tower: Description of it by Major-
General Cunningham, and account of his Excavations.-Age
of Buddhist Topes or Towers.-Remains of a Buddhist Mon-
astery Mr. Thomas's Account of them.-Discovery of large
numbers of Statues and Bass-reliefs.—Excavated Chamber.—
Foundation of an Ancient Tower-Major-General Cunning-
ham's Description of it.-The Chaukandí Tower.—The l'śipat-
tana Hall, or abode of Buddhist Devotees.-Remains of Vihára
or Temple-monastery.-Small Building, containing Sixty Sculp-
tures.-The Seal Chaityas.-The Buddhist Formula.-Sákya
Muni, the historical Buddha-His visit to Benares.-Spread of
Buddhism from Benares.-Decline of Buddhism in India.—
Destruction of Buddhist Structures at Sárnáth, by fire.-Fall of
Buddhism
230
CHAPTER XIX.
Ancient Buddhist Ruins at Bakaríyá Kuṇḍ.-Remains of old
Wall.-Carved Stones and Ancient Pillars.-Remains of small
Buddhist Temple. Remains of larger Temple. - Traces of
Buddhist Monastery
271
CHAPTER XX.
Further Account of Ancient Remains recently discovered in
Benares and its vicinity.-Meaning of the epithets 'ancient' and
'old' in relation to Benares.-Ancient Remains, No. I., in Ráj
Ghát Fort.-Ancient Remains, No. II., near Ráj Ghát Fort.-
Ancient Remains, No. III., Small Mosque in the Budáoǹ
Mahalla.—Ancient Mound or Ridge.-Ancient Remains, No.
IV., Tiliyá Nálá and Maqdam Sáhib.—Ancient Remains, No.
V., Lát Bhairo.-Ancient Remains, No. VI., Battís Khambhá.-
Ancient Remains, No. VII., Arháí Kangura Mosque; Hindu
Temple of Kírtti Bisheswar.-Ancient Remains, No. VIII.,
Chaukhambhá Mosque.-Ancient Remains, No. IX., Aurung-
zeb's Mosque, near Bisheswar Temple.-Ancient Remains, No.
X., Ad-Bisheswar Temple and neighbouring Mosque.-Ancient
Remains, No. XI., Stone Pillar standing in Sone ká Táláo.-
Note. . 288
CHAPTER XXI.
Source of the great wealth of Benares-Its chief Articles of
Commerce-Its Native Bankers-Its Poor-Increased desire for
Education. The Government or Queen's College.-Monolith in
the College Grounds.-The Normal School.-The Church of
England Mission.-The London Society's Mission.-The Baptist
Society's Mission.-Native Schools of various classes.-The
Benares Institute.-Public Buildings in the suburbs.-Monu-
ment to Mr. Cherry.-Influential Native Gentlemen of Benares. 328