DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.611#0151
THE RELIGIOUS LIFE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF BENARES. 107
of unbelief. Then how many genuinely devout idolators
there are, men and women who honestly believe in all
that their spiritual guides have told them, and implicitly
do what they are bidden. There are many who have
given up belief in idolatry, and the stories connected with
it, and yet are nominal adherents. " Do you believe
these things?" " I shut my eyes and believe."
An important feature of the life of Benares is the
large opportunity afforded for Brahmans coming from
different parts of India, being supported at the Chhatras,
gaining instruction in the formularies of Hinduism, and
possibly a smattering of other Sanskrit learning, and
then returning to their own country to be the teachers,
and priests of the people. Some of course, get more than
a smattering of Sanskrit learning, they become really
learned pundits.
These Chhatras mentioned above require a little
further notice. They very in their scope and purpose,
but, unitedly, embrace the uses of hostels, scholarships,
and alms-houses. By endowments atone, provision is
made for the support of over two thousand persons, it has
been recently stated, four thousand. This provision is
not exclusively for Brahmans, but much of the money has
been left explicitly for them, and they possibly get their
full share of the endowments not thus limited. In some
cases there are buildings where Brahman students can
be accommodated, more commonly the endowment
arranges for a daily dole to the recipients.
About Sadhus, so-called devotees, perhaps the less
said the better. There are Sadhus and Sadhus. Some
are only lazy, some are vicious. Many among the
Hindus themselves are getting more and more to feel
what a weary load these men are upon the country, and
how demoralizing to the whole community. This system
of religious vagrancy is inevitably bound up with the
of unbelief. Then how many genuinely devout idolators
there are, men and women who honestly believe in all
that their spiritual guides have told them, and implicitly
do what they are bidden. There are many who have
given up belief in idolatry, and the stories connected with
it, and yet are nominal adherents. " Do you believe
these things?" " I shut my eyes and believe."
An important feature of the life of Benares is the
large opportunity afforded for Brahmans coming from
different parts of India, being supported at the Chhatras,
gaining instruction in the formularies of Hinduism, and
possibly a smattering of other Sanskrit learning, and
then returning to their own country to be the teachers,
and priests of the people. Some of course, get more than
a smattering of Sanskrit learning, they become really
learned pundits.
These Chhatras mentioned above require a little
further notice. They very in their scope and purpose,
but, unitedly, embrace the uses of hostels, scholarships,
and alms-houses. By endowments atone, provision is
made for the support of over two thousand persons, it has
been recently stated, four thousand. This provision is
not exclusively for Brahmans, but much of the money has
been left explicitly for them, and they possibly get their
full share of the endowments not thus limited. In some
cases there are buildings where Brahman students can
be accommodated, more commonly the endowment
arranges for a daily dole to the recipients.
About Sadhus, so-called devotees, perhaps the less
said the better. There are Sadhus and Sadhus. Some
are only lazy, some are vicious. Many among the
Hindus themselves are getting more and more to feel
what a weary load these men are upon the country, and
how demoralizing to the whole community. This system
of religious vagrancy is inevitably bound up with the