CHAPTER LXVII.
SKETCHES ON THE GANGES FROM BENARES TO BINDACHUN.
"AT BUNARUS YOU SHOULD BE ON YOUR GUARD AGAINST THE WOMEN, THE SACRED BULLS, THE STAIRS, AND THE DEVOTEES[1]."
Benefits arising from a Residence in the Holy City of Kāshī—Kal[)u]-Bhoir[)u]v[)u]—The
Snake-Charmers—Gigantic Image of Hunoomān—Brahmanī Bulls—The
Ghāts from the River—Bhīm Singh—Tulsī Altars—Ruins of the Ghāt of the
ex-Queen of Gwalior—A Corpse—Young Idolaters—State Prisoners—The
City—Sultanpūr—Chunar—Picturesque Tree near the Ghāt—Singular Ceremonies—The
Deasil—Turnbull Gunge—Mirzapūr—Beautiful Ghāts and
Temples—Carpet Manufactory—Bindachun.
1844, Dec. 5th.—A friend accompanied me this morning to view Benares, or, as it is more correctly called, Bunarus: nothing pleases me more than driving about this city,—the streets, the houses, and the people are so well worth seeing. "A little to eat, and to live at Bunarus," is the wish of a pious Hindū; but a residence at this place is rather dangerous to any one inclined to violate the laws, as the following extract will testify:—"Kal[)u]-Bhoir[)u]v[)u] is a naked Shiv[)u], smeared with ashes; having three eyes, riding on a dog, and holding in one hand a horn, and in another a drum. In several places in Bengal this image is worshipped daily. Shiv[)u], under this name, is the regent of Kāshī (Bunarus). All persons dying at Benares are entitled to a place in Shiv[)u]'s heaven; but if any one violate the laws of
- ↑ Oriental Proverbs, No. 138.
