The Sacred City of the Hindus: An Account of Benares in Ancient and Modern TimesTrübner & Company, 1868 - 388 pages |
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Page xxxiii
... objects of interest to the contemplation of the devout Hindu ; and yet , a very few of them excepted , to speculate touching their age , in reliance on the data hitherto made available , would be much too perilous for pru- dence . 1 ...
... objects of interest to the contemplation of the devout Hindu ; and yet , a very few of them excepted , to speculate touching their age , in reliance on the data hitherto made available , would be much too perilous for pru- dence . 1 ...
Page 20
... objects were made of perishable material . The fact of no temples or other edifices having been discovered is regarded as a powerful reason in substantiation of this assertion . Now , to say the least , it is exceedingly premature to ...
... objects were made of perishable material . The fact of no temples or other edifices having been discovered is regarded as a powerful reason in substantiation of this assertion . Now , to say the least , it is exceedingly premature to ...
Page 31
... object was suited to their own purposes , and , without scruple or any of the tenderness shown by the present rulers , seized upon it for themselves . And thus it has come to pass , that every solid and durable struc- ture , and every ...
... object was suited to their own purposes , and , without scruple or any of the tenderness shown by the present rulers , seized upon it for themselves . And thus it has come to pass , that every solid and durable struc- ture , and every ...
Page 37
... objects . Some of them are wild parodies on the animal kingdom , representing imaginary creatures made up in a variety of ways . There is no city in India in which the reverence paid to images is more absolute and complete than in ...
... objects . Some of them are wild parodies on the animal kingdom , representing imaginary creatures made up in a variety of ways . There is no city in India in which the reverence paid to images is more absolute and complete than in ...
Page 50
... the third is the gilded tower of the temple of Bisheswar itself . These three objects are all in a row , in the centre of the quadrangle , filling up most of the space from one side to the 50 BENARES , PAST AND PRESENT .
... the third is the gilded tower of the temple of Bisheswar itself . These three objects are all in a row , in the centre of the quadrangle , filling up most of the space from one side to the 50 BENARES , PAST AND PRESENT .
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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.