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CONTENTS.
V
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
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
race.
1
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.
19
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
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
37
CHAPTER IV.
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.
61
CHAPTER V.
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
82
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 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.
93
CHAPTER VII.
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
116
CHAPTER IX.
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
123
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
129
.
CHAPTER XI.
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
Ghát.
139
CHAPTER XII.
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
146
CHAPTER XIII.
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
CHAPTER XV.
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
184
CHAPTER XVI.
S'ivála Ghát.—The Old Fort.—Raja Cheit Singh ; History
of his Insurrection and of the proceedings of Warren Hastings
in connexion therewith
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'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
Buddhism
230
CHAPTER XIX.
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
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 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.-
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