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

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

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 Karwaț.-

Temple of Saníchar.-The goddess Annpúrná and her temple.-

Temples of Ganeś and Sukresśwar

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.

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.

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..

Panchgangá Ghát.-Legends respecting it.—Lakshmaṇbálá

Temple. The Minarets.-Temple of Kámeśwar.-The Machau-

darí Tírth or Place of Pilgrimage.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sivála 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'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

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

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.-

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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