Religious Beggars at Benares
100+ years old art print ...
in excellent condition ... reverse side is blank !
Size of the image: 6 1/4 x 9 inches; print size,
including blank margins: 10 x 13 inches.
Excellent condition. Printed on medium heavy smoother
paper.
From the original description:
We had not rested since the morning, and I was looking
about for a bench to sit upon, when a Brahmin approached us, and offered
to take me to one of the houses where I could rest myself, and at the same
time enjoy the view of the temples and the square. I passed
upwards of an hour at the window of my obliging friend without getting
weary of contemplating the varied and picturesque scene of the crowd.
Among the numerous troops of pilgrims I recognised types of all the different
countries I had passed through: all wore their finest holiday garments;
and the women, bending under the weight of the gold and silver ornaments
which covered their bodies, slowly followed the men,
bearing with attitudes of infinite grace large brass trays laden
with heaps of flowers, offerings destined for the gods. Then from
time to time there was a procession accompanying an idol placed in a palanquin,
which came from some distant village to prostrate themselves before Mahadeo,
the G-od of Gods, or to dip in the water of the Well of Wisdom. Zebus
with pendant humps and plump limbs passed with majestic steps through the
crowds of pilgrims, who respectfully saluted them; and parrots and peacocks
animated the terraces and the spires of the temples with their bright colours
and discordant cries, while reddish-tinted, short, thickset monkeys gambolled
impudently on the porticoes. We continued our walk over the town; the streets
of which, though everywhere of astonishing narrowness, were tended with
a care that does honour to the cleanly instincts of the Hindoos.
These narrow streets were lined with little stalls, where, amongst other
curiosities, were displayed very fine pieces of silk brocaded with gold,
called Kincob, which are one of the specialities of Benares; muslins of
very fine texture; and finally idols of brass and bronze, the astounding
variety of which would delight a collector. The temples were very numerous,
but nearly all of very limited dimensions; mostly being small chapels
with walls covered with sculptures, preceded by porticoes with two columns,
and surmounted by spires of great elegance. We issued at length from the
town, properly so called, and entered the suburbs, which are intersected
by large and regularly built streets, lined with handsome, many-storied
houses. Here carriages can circulate freely, and our guide soon found
us a caleche, with which we continued our excursion. At a short distance
from the suburbs, on the banks of a piece of water surrounded by broad
stairs, stands the great temple of Dourga Khound (the fountain of Dourga),
one of the most beautiful edifices in Benares. Europeans generally
denominate it "The donkeys' Temple." These animals are, in fact,
kept here in considerable numbers; they fill the yards, and cover the walls;
and at the first step you take within their enclosure the grimacing groups
surround and assail you in order to obtain the usual offering,—which means
a rupee to the Brahmin, and an ample distribution of parched corn to the
quadrumana. The temple, which is built entirely of stone, is suffused from.
base to summit with red ochre, the tint of which, resembling blood, is
particularly pleasing to the ferocious Dourga. The columns, the walls,
the spires, and, in short, all the - exterior parts of the edifice are
covered with a profusion of very finely sculptured ornaments; and in the
court preceding the sanctuary is placed a fine monolith, supporting a monstrous
figure. If we are to believe the Brahmins, this temple dates from
the eighth or ninth century.
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