The Sacred City of the Hindus: An Account of Benares in Ancient and Modern Times |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 81
Page xxvi
In a similar spirit , they assert , that , at the same capital ruled , in turn , eighty -
four thousand monarchs descended from Asoka . * From these specimens it is
manifest that the Buddhist scriptures are little to be trusted for throwing light on
the ...
In a similar spirit , they assert , that , at the same capital ruled , in turn , eighty -
four thousand monarchs descended from Asoka . * From these specimens it is
manifest that the Buddhist scriptures are little to be trusted for throwing light on
the ...
Page xxvii
At that date , as he informs us , the kingdom of Vârâņasî had a circuit of eight
hundred miles , ' while its capital measured nearly four miles by somewhat more
than one . The inhabitants of the kingdom were , for the most part , Hindus .
At that date , as he informs us , the kingdom of Vârâņasî had a circuit of eight
hundred miles , ' while its capital measured nearly four miles by somewhat more
than one . The inhabitants of the kingdom were , for the most part , Hindus .
Page xxxi
Few Sanskrit manuscripts exist that were copied more than four or five centuries
ago , at which time Indian Buddhists must have been very rare , if there were any
at all . Neither among the Hindus nor among the Jainas has one ever observed ...
Few Sanskrit manuscripts exist that were copied more than four or five centuries
ago , at which time Indian Buddhists must have been very rare , if there were any
at all . Neither among the Hindus nor among the Jainas has one ever observed ...
Page xxxiv
Four of these streams , in small quantities , are believed to emerge into the
Ganges , through subterraneous channels , just in front of the Panchagangâ
landing . Relation des Voyages , etc. , by M. Langlès and Father Reinaud , Vol .
Four of these streams , in small quantities , are believed to emerge into the
Ganges , through subterraneous channels , just in front of the Panchagangâ
landing . Relation des Voyages , etc. , by M. Langlès and Father Reinaud , Vol .
Page 6
With affection for the ascetics who were dead , he looked to discover in what
place Kondanya was , and the four other recluses with whom he had practised
austerities ; and when he saw that they were in the Isipatana wihára , near
Benares ...
With affection for the ascetics who were dead , he looked to discover in what
place Kondanya was , and the four other recluses with whom he had practised
austerities ; and when he saw that they were in the Isipatana wihára , near
Benares ...
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
already ancient antiquity appearance bank base become believe Benares Brahmans Buddha Buddhist building built called capitals carved centre century Christian considerable contains deities described direction discovered distance divine edifice enclosure entire erected existence extent face feet figure five formerly foundations four Ganges Ghát give goddess gods Government ground half hands head height held Hindu honour hundred idols images inches India interest king leading less miles Mohammedan monastery mosque native northern object observed offerings once original pass perhaps period persons pilgrims pillars portion position present probably Raja reason received referred regarded religion religious remains remarkable representing residence respecting river road ruins sacred Sárnáth seen shrine side situated Siva square stands statue stone structure supposed tank temple terrace thousand tower various wall worship
Popular passages
Page 6 - The traveller could scarcely make his way through the press of holy mendicants, and not less holy bulls. The broad and stately flights of steps which descended from these swarming haunts to the bathingplaces along the Ganges, were worn every day by the footsteps of an innumerable multitude of worshippers.
Page 6 - Commerce had as many pilgrims as religion. All along the shores of the venerable stream lay great fleets of vessels laden with rich merchandise. From the looms of Benares went forth the most delicate silks that adorned the balls of St. James's and of Versailles, and in the bazaars the muslins of Bengal and the sabres of Oude were mingled with the jewels of Golconda and the shawls of Cashmere.
Page 6 - The schools and temples drew crowds of pious Hindoos from every province where the Brahminical faith was known. Hundreds of devotees came thither every month to die : for it was believed that a peculiarly happy fate awaited the man who should pass from the sacred city « into the sacred river.YNor was superstition the only motive which allured strangers to that great metropolis.
Page 3 - When Babylon was struggling with Nineveh for supremacy, when Tyre was planting her colonies, when Athens was growing in strength, before Borne had become known, or Greece had contended with Persia, or Cyrus had added lustre to the Persian monarchy, or Nebuchadnezzar had captured Jerusalem, and the inhabitants of Judaea had been carried into captivity, she had already risen to greatness, if not to glory.
Page 41 - Moreover, it is of great importance to bear in mind, that, as a man can hardly be better than his religion, the nature of the Hindu partakes of the supposed nature of the gods whom he worships. And what is that nature? According to the traditions handed about amongst the natives, and constantly dwelt upon in their conversation, and referred to in their popular songs, which, perhaps, would be sufficient proof...
Page xxx - History of Bengal, p. 36. Elsewhere we read, that, " having broken the idols in above a thousand temples, he purified and consecrated the latter to the worship of the true God.
Page 188 - ... and an expression of sympathy with these holy mourners, would sufficiently comfort them, and give them an ostensible reason for returning to their usual employment. Accordingly, all the British functionaries went to the principal ghat, expressed their sorrow for the distress in which they saw them, but reasoned with them on the absurdity of punishing themselves for an act in which they had no share, and which they had done their utmost to prevent or to avenge.
Page 128 - But finding that brass instruments did not come up to the ideas which he had formed of accuracy, because of the smallness of their size, the want of divisions into minutes, the shaking and wearing of their axes, the displacement of the centres of the circles, and the shifting of the planes of the instruments, he concluded that the reason why the determinations of the ancients such as Hipparchus and Ptolemy proved inaccurate...
Page 5 - Benares, a city which in wealth, population, dignity, and sanctity was among the foremost of Asia. It was commonly believed that half a million of human beings was crowded into that labyrinth of lofty alleys, rich with shrines and minarets and balconies and carved oriels, to which the sacred apes clung by hundreds. The traveller could scarcely make his way through the press of holy mendicants and not less holy bulls.
Page xxxvi - For the sanctity of its inhabitants, of its temples and tanks, of its wells and streams, of the very soil that is trodden, of the very air that is breathed, and of everything in it and around it, Benares has been famed for thousands of years.
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Sacred City of the Hindus: An Account of Benares in Ancient and Modern Times |
| Author | Matthew Atmore Sherring |
| Contributor | Fitzedward Hall |
| Publisher | Trübner & Company, 1868 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | 26 Oct 2006 |
| Length | 388 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |