Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-07-08
NTYDIAS SACRED CITY.

IN
Tba disturbances IN Benares, of
.bicb the cable has recently brought
s,;of rerorts, draw attention to one of
ba oldest cities in the world and, in
he ewes of millions of men, the most
,acred. Like most disorders in India
tbe basis Of the present trouble is re-
;,nous the moving cause being the de-
Tolitiou of temple to make room for
,sw water works.
Renares. the most ancient city in
india. lies about four hundred miles in
, northwcsterly direction from Cal
,ntta the most modern. There the
Tanges sacreiest of all streams in the
,stimation Of 200, 600, 600 of men. makes
gantle curve, along the north side of
Ebjch sacred city stretches for more
ban three miles, with an average
7readth Of about one mile and half.
Within that area there is n population
4 225, 600, mostly Hindus, who live
lie that not only IN its outward con-
EtiOps. but in It's thoughts and beliefs
md the aims and hopes that form it, is
As different from ours rs the life of any
leople OF whom the writer has any
knowledge.
And vet We are more closely related
o them than to any of the other great
aces Of men. There is no truth which
modern research into the origin of ma
lions has revealed more clearly than
Ibis, that our foreiathers and theirs of
he great Aryun or Indo-Europeon race
)nce spoke the me language. were
governed by the same laws, observed
he same religious rites, and had com
non home on the banks of the OXus, in
Central Asia.
The most Trustworthy part of a coun-
Iy's history is often found written on
he ruins of its cities. Much of the
last of Italy is Inscribed on the ruins of
Rome, and so with India by no means
/ small part of its history may be read
n the remains of remote Bcnares
rom which the present city has drifIed
,wO or three miles southwark i'll the
course of ages. As the commercial
progress and political greatness of
England are seen in the wonderful
rowth and magnitude OF London, so
Benarcs, more than any other city re-
lects the India of the Hindu people I;
lot, indeed, commercially or POLITICAL
v but religiously and intellectually.
In Beuares the Hindu faith and Hindu
philosophy find patronage and protec-
ion, and there, probably, the contest
letween these and the new ideas which
English ducation and the new life which
Christian missions are introducing will
be most severe and prolonged. What
Mecca Is to the devout Mohnmmedan
and all that Jerusalem ever was to the
Dious jew, Benares has been and still
Is to the holy Hindu. .He adores the
very dust of it, regards its stones as
acred, and cherishcs no higher hope
than to pass the closing days of this
lie within its precincts, that he may
ihus secure passport to higher and
happier future state.
Bennres is, and for many. years has
been, known by two names-Benares
and Kashi. The former may be regarded
As the civil name, used in common by
Hindus, MOhammedans, and EurOp-
cans. The latter is the sacred name,
used almost exclusively by Hindus
when they speak of the city as place
)f pilgrimage or in n religious connec-
hon. Both names occur repeatedly in
Brahaminical literature that dates at
east ljO years before our era. All
writer's on Buddhism or "the Law, }"
Is it is termed by its adherents, agree
hat SRkyn Mum, the founder and the
only real historical Buddha, on attain
ngtO the state of BuddhGhood, travelled
from the city of Gaya to Benares.
There he spoke of the change that had
come over him, and began TO proclaim
The two leading principles of his rellg-
ION, namely, "Dharma," or righteous
ness, and &" Nirvnna meaning literally
Willingness. Snkya NUM- is believed
by the est authorities to have entered
On his mission 5SS Il. Q. As Benares
was undoubtedly city of considerable
population and influence when he fixed
upon 1t as the most suitable place from
Which to promulgntc his doctrines, it
toundcd not later than the seventh CEN
tury before Christ.
In many respects Benares is differe mt
lrom the other great cities of India.
Religion Is its chief source of mainten-
ince and grcut wealth; without it, it
would dsoon sink into comparative insign-
lcance. To the European it seems one
OF The most undesirable places in India
70 live IN, and, indeed, nearly all who
TOT any time are situated there dwell IN
asaburb nearly n mile and n half fur
Ller II from the river than the city. For
nlhdus u Beuarcs has strong fascina-
uon; they regard it as most beautiful
ana worthy to lie loved. The city is
gilehy built of sandstone, and is n vast
%Dyflnth OF lofty narrow streets and
nia%aars, int" many of which the rays of
tue sun penetrate for only few mo-
Ients of each day. The houses are
'hiehy two stories high, some of three
VI l"ur, and few even higher. Their
outer walls are adorned, on a large
VAle' with paint ngs of trees, gardens,
olrds' beasts, fishes, snakes hunting
scenes, gods, goddesses, and all kinds
u NEUROLOGICAL subjects The paints
useI consist of some very bright color
.uS matter, which, Notwithstanding
sonSttnt exposure to sun and rains,
preserves ITS freshness for many years.
ieW OF the paintings indicate skill,
must ol them Ignore both perspec-
-'e and proportion, and lend strange
ou' S,riklng appearance to the houses
on which they are seen.
u:1 ABOUT 70 per cent. of the peo; lie are
indus, who re divided primarily into
Dur great castes or classes,-called
FFr32hlmTns, or the priestly caste; the
TTSinatrls, or the military caste; the
'hlSN0S, or the trndino caste and Sul-
iTT'' T' or the servile, IA oring caste.
ise anese are POI ularjy believed to have
'pruhg respectively from the head, the
ns The chest, and the feet of Brah-
"a, me supreme, all-pervading spirit
- Vui .i whom they return. Abut 10000
:, Tie Hindus Of Benares are Brahmins.
,Io.. .uhapproachable, SO mysterious n
.ss ta oi men, or any that present such
"sA TO the student of human nature,
moi probably be found in all the