DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.635#0143
130 BENARES, THE SACRED CITY
southern side, leads up to a single chamber recessed
in the wall, where a number of Brahmins may be seen
daily going through a series of gymnastic exercises
very similar to the forms of physical culture now so
much in vogue in Europe. The approach to the
interior of the observatory is through a lane on the
opposite side. Within there is not much of the
original building left, except the great astronomical
instruments invented by Jai Singh. They are not
now in working order.
Close by the approach to the observatory is a little
temple known as Dalbhyeswar. Shiva's emblem is
placed low down in a cistern within the shrine, and in
times of drought water is poured in, so that the temple
is filled up to the threshold, with the idea that it will
act as a charm to compel rain. Near this is another
small temple, dedicated to Shiva as lord of Soma, the
moon—the shining bowl from which the Vedic gods
and the Pitris drunk their nectar of Soma-juice, and
the place of all health-giving and healing herbs. This
temple is much resorted to on account of the curative
powers still attributed to the moon.
The next ghat downstream is Nepali Ghat, where,
recessed in the stone embankment, and completely
covered by the river in the rainy season, is a pretty
little shrine of Ganga, the Ganges, represented as a
female figure seated on a crocodile. Above it a stair-
case leads to the Nepalese temple, a very picturesque
building, half-hidden by magnificent tamarind and
pippal trees. It is built chiefly of wood and brick;
the double-storied roof, with great projecting eaves
supported by brackets, is characteristic of the archi-
tecture of Nepal and of other sub-Himalayan districts.
southern side, leads up to a single chamber recessed
in the wall, where a number of Brahmins may be seen
daily going through a series of gymnastic exercises
very similar to the forms of physical culture now so
much in vogue in Europe. The approach to the
interior of the observatory is through a lane on the
opposite side. Within there is not much of the
original building left, except the great astronomical
instruments invented by Jai Singh. They are not
now in working order.
Close by the approach to the observatory is a little
temple known as Dalbhyeswar. Shiva's emblem is
placed low down in a cistern within the shrine, and in
times of drought water is poured in, so that the temple
is filled up to the threshold, with the idea that it will
act as a charm to compel rain. Near this is another
small temple, dedicated to Shiva as lord of Soma, the
moon—the shining bowl from which the Vedic gods
and the Pitris drunk their nectar of Soma-juice, and
the place of all health-giving and healing herbs. This
temple is much resorted to on account of the curative
powers still attributed to the moon.
The next ghat downstream is Nepali Ghat, where,
recessed in the stone embankment, and completely
covered by the river in the rainy season, is a pretty
little shrine of Ganga, the Ganges, represented as a
female figure seated on a crocodile. Above it a stair-
case leads to the Nepalese temple, a very picturesque
building, half-hidden by magnificent tamarind and
pippal trees. It is built chiefly of wood and brick;
the double-storied roof, with great projecting eaves
supported by brackets, is characteristic of the archi-
tecture of Nepal and of other sub-Himalayan districts.