The Sacred City of the Hindus: An Account of Benares in Ancient and Modern TimesTrübner & Company, 1868 - 388 pages |
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Page 49
... enclosure , several shrines are visible . The worshipper pays his homage to any god , or to all , as he may elect ; but he must of necessity approach the paramount deity of the place , that is to say , the plain conical stone already ...
... enclosure , several shrines are visible . The worshipper pays his homage to any god , or to all , as he may elect ; but he must of necessity approach the paramount deity of the place , that is to say , the plain conical stone already ...
Page 51
... enclosure , to the north , is a large collection of deities , raised upon a platform , called by the natives ' the court of Mahadeva . ' They are , for the most part , male and female emblems . Several small idols likewise are built ...
... enclosure , to the north , is a large collection of deities , raised upon a platform , called by the natives ' the court of Mahadeva . ' They are , for the most part , male and female emblems . Several small idols likewise are built ...
Page 54
... enclosure of which are two small shrines , one of white marble , the other of stone , and between them a scaffolding of carved stone , from which a bell is suspended . Standing in this courtyard , the chief objects in which have been ...
... enclosure of which are two small shrines , one of white marble , the other of stone , and between them a scaffolding of carved stone , from which a bell is suspended . Standing in this courtyard , the chief objects in which have been ...
Page 55
... enclosure , the ground becomes considerably ele- vated , and upon it stands a mosque built of very old materials , the pillars of which date as far back as the Gupta period , and possibly earlier . May not these old stones and pillars ...
... enclosure , the ground becomes considerably ele- vated , and upon it stands a mosque built of very old materials , the pillars of which date as far back as the Gupta period , and possibly earlier . May not these old stones and pillars ...
Page 58
... enclosure is a stone box , which is the common treasury for the reception of the gifts intended for this object . In it may be seen a singular medley of rice , grain , water , flowers , milk , etc. , which , though perhaps not unwelcome ...
... enclosure is a stone box , which is the common treasury for the reception of the gifts intended for this object . In it may be seen a singular medley of rice , grain , water , flowers , milk , etc. , which , though perhaps not unwelcome ...
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Common terms and phrases
ANCIENT REMAINS antiquity architraves Asiatic Aśoka Bakaríyá Kund banks Bará Barna bass-relief bathe Bengal Bisheswar Brahmá Brahmans Buddha Buddhist building built called carved centre century chaityas Cheit Singh Christian Chunar city of Benares cloister deities distance divine Durgá edifice enclosure entire erected excavations existence feet in height festival figure five formerly four Gaṇeś Ganges goddess gods ground Hindu Hinduism Hiouen Thsang honour hundred idolatry idols images inches India inscription James Prinsep Jou-laï Káśí king large number Mahadeva Mahalla Manikarniká Melá miles Mohammedan monastery mosque native neighbourhood niche northern original ornamented persons pilgrimage pilgrims pillars portion present priests quadrangle Ráj Ghát Raja Raja of Nepal Rám Rámnagar regarded religion religious remarkable residence river road ruins Sangam Sanskrit Sárnáth sculptured side Siva small shrine spot square stairs stands stone Stupa tank temple terrace tower Vihára Vishnu wall Warren Hastings worship
Popular passages
Page 198 - I resolved," — these are the words of Hastings himself, — "to draw from his guilt the means of relief to the Company's distresses, to make him pay largely for his pardon, or to exact a severe vengeance for past delinquency.
Page 5 - 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 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 5 - 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. The broad and stately flights of steps which descended from these swarming haunts to the bathing-places along the Ganges were worn every day by the footsteps of an innumerable...
Page 5 - Hindus 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. Nor was superstition the only motive which allured strangers to that great metropolis. Commerce had as many pilgrims as religion. All along the shores of the venerable stream lay great fleets of vessels laden with rich merchandize.
Page 236 - Brahmani geese, while the two farther ones carry only single birds. Over the - nearest pair of geese, on the right hand of the figure, there is a frog. The attitudes of the birds are all good, and even that of the human figure is easy, although formal. The lotus scroll, with its flowing lines of graceful stalk, mingled with tender buds, and full blown flowers, and delicate leaves, is very rich and very beautiful.
Page 40 - 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 xxix - 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 189 - ... 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.