BENARES

[s. 94] : Capital of the Benares Division, United Provinces, India, situated on the northern bank of the Ganges River, at the junction of the Ganges and Jumna. Population, 209,331, of whom about 155,000 are Hindus and 50,000 Mohammedans. In point of population Benares ranks sixth in India. It manufactures silks and shawls, cloth embroidered with gold and silver, jewelry, bra work, and lacquered toys the last two being exported to England in considerable — quantities. That which gives to Benares its interest and importance, however, is the fact that it is to-day, and has been for more than twenty-five centuries, the religious capital of India, and the most sacred of all the sacred places of Hinduism. Its origin dates back to the remotest period of Aryan occupation of India. Its early name was Varan as i, whence the modern Vanarasi, or Benares. Another name by which it is often called by the people is Kasi. It had been for many years probably for some centuries renowned by Hindus for its sanctity, when, in the 6th century, Gautama, then just starting out on his mi ion of converting India to his new cult of Buddhism, fixed his residence at Sarnath, the site of the ancient Benares, only four miles from the modern citv. It remained the headquarters of Buddhism until, after a period of 800 years, the forces of Brahmanism rose against their younger rival, overwhelmed the strongholds of Buddhism, and after — 77 a long struggle expelled it root and branch from the land. Benares then resumed its preeminence of sanctity in the minds of devout Hindus, which it has never since let slip. During the Mohammedan period, under the Mohammedan Empire (1200-1800) many of the old Hindu buildings were appropriated to Mohammedan uses, while many were destroyed, and the development of Hinduism and its architectural expre ion seem to have been kept in strict subjection; yet the city is said to contain to-day, besides innumerable smaller shrines, 1,454 Hindu temples, most of which are in sign if i cent architecturally, and 272 Mohammedan mosques. The largest of these is the Mosque of Aurangzib, built by the Mogul emperor of that name from the ruins of a Hindu temple. It stands on the high bank of the Ganges, with minarets towering up 147 feet. The cliff which forms the river front, and on which the city now stands, is some 100 feet above Flights of stairs at convenient the water level. points lead down to the water’s edge. These are known as “ghats,” or descending places, and up and down are continually pa ing Hindu devotees and pilgrims, with their attendant priests, going to or returning from the sacred waters of the Ganges, which are supposed to be capable of washing away sin. The view of the city from the water is exceedingly imposing, but the streets are narrow and mean, dirty and crowded. Benares is thronged by pilgrims from all parts of India. To bathe in the Ganges here is the hope of every devout Hindu; and to die in its sacred embrace, or, failing that, to have one’s bones after death transported thither and flung into the stream, is supposed to ensure the soul a speedy Bottles and jars are entrance into Paradise. filled by the pilgrims and carried by them to their homes, in order that their friends who are unable to make the journey in person may be anointed with a few drops of the holy water. Many wealthy Hindus, princes and others, swell the ranks of the pilgrims, and some even keep up It is from this pilresidences in the sacred city. grim trade that the prosperity of the city chiefly arises, as well as from the fees exacted by the Brahmans for tlie varied religious ceremonies. At Benares is situated Queen’s College, with a roll of many hundred students; also a normal These are government institutions. An observatory, where Hindu astronomers have pursued the study of astronomy, and which was erected in 1693, overlooks one of the ghats. There is a hospital, a town hall, a library and school. other literary institutions. The central position of Benares in the estimation of Hinduism, gives it peculiar importance to the Christian mi ionary. Blows struck here are aimed at the very heart and center of the Hindu faith. “Humanly speaking,” says the Rev. M. A. Sherring himself for many years a “were the city to a ban mi ionary at Benares don its idolatrous usages and to embrace the Gospel of Christ, the effect of such a step upon the Hindu community would be as great as was produced on the Roman Empire when Rome adopted the Christian faith. The special sanctity and influence of Benares constitute a gigantic obstacle to all religious changes within it.” The effect of education and of the di emination of Christian ideas has been to modify profoundly the life of the better cla es of native society in the city, altho ancient rites and usages are scrupulously maintained. —— Belrnt Bengal Mi ionary effort was commenced in Benares by the BMS in 1816. The city is now a station of the LMS (1820), with 8 mi ionaries and 28 native workers, men and women, with a high school and 12 common schools and 34 church members. It is a station also of the CMS (1832), with 11 mi ionaries and 22 native workers, men and women. It has 3 outstations, 2 high schools, an orphanage and 6 village schools and 175 communicants. WMS The has here 2 mi ionaries and 16 active workers, men and women, with 6 village schools and 30 church members. The Baptist Zenana Mi ion has 3 women mi ionaries and 3 native women workers, with 119 Zenana pupils. The Zenana Bible and Medical Mi ion has 15 women mi ionaries and 34 native women work with 1 hospital, 1 dispensary, 1 high school, 6 village schools and 225 Zenana pupils. ers, BENGA LANGUAGE: Belongs to the Bantu family of African languages and is spoken in the region of the Gaboon River, Frencli Congo, W, Africa. It is written with Roman letters. 95