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. Sakya 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

xvii

Bisheswar, now a Mohammedan Mosque.-The Well Gyán

Bápí.-Temple of Ad-Bisheswar.-The Well Káśí Karwaṭ.-

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

Temples of Gaṇeś and Sukreśwar

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

Dandpán, 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-Kúáň, or

Serpent's Well.-Old Images.-Temples of Bágeśwarí, 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 Kásí 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.-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-

ghanța Táláo or Tank.-Temple of the Demon Bhút-Bhairo.-

Temple of Bará Gaṇeś.-Jagannath.-Satis

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

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

Temple of Pisách-Mochan.-Súraj-Kund or Tank of the Sun.-

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

Temple of Dhruveswar 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.-Sankatá Ghát.-Rám

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 Tilubhandeswar.-

Ancient mutilated Statue.-Temple of Duláreś war.-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-kesav 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
. 197

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 I'sipat-

tana Hall, or abode of Buddhist Devotees.-Remains of Vihára

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