The Sacred City of the Hindus: An Account of Benares in Ancient and Modern Times - Matthew Atmore Sherring - Google Books

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CONTENTS.

Introduction-By FITZEDWARD HALL, Esq., D.C.L.

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

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

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.

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

Bisheswar, now a Mohammedan Mosque.—The Well Gyán

Bápí.—Temple of Ad-Bisheswar.—The Well Káśí Karwat.-

Temple of Saníchar.—The goddess Annpúrņá and her temple.-

Temples of Gaņeś and Sukreśwar

Temple of Bhaironáth, the god-magistrate of Benares.-

Daņdpán, or the Deified Staff.— Temple of the Planet.—Kál-

kúp, or Well of Fate.—Image of Mahákál, or Great Fate.— The

Maņikarņiká 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 Márkandeswar

and Daksheśwar. — Legend of Raja Daksh. — Temples of

Alpmțiteswar and Ratneswar.

Legend respecting Divodás. - Temple of Divodáseśwar. -

The Well Dharm-kúp.-Rádhá-Kțishņa.—The Nág-Kúán, or

Serpent's Well.—Old Images.—Temples of Bágeswari, Jwara-

hareswar, and Siddheswar

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 Sháh, 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.

Panchgangá Ghát. Legends respecting it.—Lakshmaņbálá

Temple.—The Minarets.— Temple of Kámeswar.—The Machau-

darí Tírth or Place of Pilgrimage.

107
CHAPTER VIII.

Temple of Jágeswar, a Resort of the Native Aristocracy of

Benares.---Kási-Deví, Goddess of the City of Benares.-Karn-

ghaņța Táláo or Tank.—

Temple of the Demon Bhút-Bhairo.-

Temple of Bará Gaņeś.-Jagannath.—Satís

The Piśách-Mochan Tank.-Legend of the Goblin Piśách.-

The Festival of Lotá-Bhanța, or the Egg-plant. The Gháts and

Temple of Piśách-Mochan.—Súraj-Kuņd or Tank of the Sun.-

The Hom or Burnt Sacrifice. - The god Ashțáng-Bhairo.

Temple of Dhruveswar or the Pole Star

The Mán-Mandil Ghát.-Temple of Dálbhyeswar.-

of the Moon or Someswar. — The Mán-Mandil Observatory,

erected by Raja Jay Sinh.-Description of its Instruments.-

The Nepalese Temple

Daśāśamedh Ghát and Temple.—Legend of Daśášamedh.--

Siddheswari Temple.-Chandra Kúp, or Well of the Moon.-

Temple of the goddess Sankațá Deví.—Sankațá Ghát. Rám

The Bengali population of Benares.—The popular Temple of

Kedáreśwar.-Legend of Kedár.-Mánsarwar Tank and sur-

rounding Temples. — Bál-Krishṇa and Chaturbhuj Idols. —

Máneswar Temple. The great Image of Tilubhaņdeswar.-

Ancient mutilated Statue. — Temple of Duláreśwar.-Peepul

tree at Chauki Ghát. ---Swinging gods

Durgá Kund Temple.-Bloody Sacrifices; their meaning. -

Sacred Monkeys.—Legend of Durg and Durga.—Durga Kund

or Tank.-Kurukshetr Táláo or Tank.-The Lolárik Kúán or

Well.—Ancient Sculptures

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-kosi Road, or

Sacred Boundary of Benares.--Pilgrimage of the Panch-kosí.

-Sanitary condition of Benares.—Improvements suggested. . 169

Barna Sangam, or Confluence of the Barna and Ganges.-

A'd-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

S'ivála Ghát.—The Old Fort.—Raja Cheit Singh ; History

of his Insurrection and of the proceedings of Warren Hastings

in connexion therewith

Hindu and Mohammedan Melás or Religious Festivals, held

periodically, in Benares

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'éipat-

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

Ancient Buddhist Ruins at Bakaríyá Kuņd.—Remains of old

Wall.-Carved Stones and Ancient Pillars.—Remains of small

Buddhist Temple. — Remains of larger Temple. - Traces of

Buddhist Monastery

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 Budaon

Mahalla.—Ancient Mound or Ridge.- Ancient Remains, No.

IV., Tiliyá Nálá and Maqdam Sahib.-Ancient Remains, No.

V., Lát Bhairo.-Ancient Remains, No. VI., Battis Khambhá.-

Ancient Remains, No. VII., Arhái Kangura Mosque; Hindu

Temple of Kírtti Bisbeswar.-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.-

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

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