DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.635#0212
CHAPTER XI
REMAINS OF OLD BENARES----A HINDU-MUHAMMADAN
RIOT----A WEAVERS' COLONY
A thorough examination by trained archaeologists of
the ruins and fragments of sculpture which are scat-
tered about Benares and built into modern shrines and
temples might throw much light on the ancient history
of the city. Hitherto this work has been left chiefly
to Europeans without sufficient critical knowledge of
Hindu art, whose judgment has been biassed by a
fixed idea that nearly everything old in Benares is of
Buddhist origin. Sherring, while recognizing the pro-
bability of many of the antiquities of the city being of
Brahminical or Jain origin, is too much inclined to
attribute to Buddhists every ancient column with a
plain bracket capital and every stone carved with the
lotus flower.
Fergusson's review of Indian architectural styles,
admirable though it is, stands in need of explanation
and modification in the light of recent knowledge. In
his time it was hardly realized that Buddhism was only
an offshoot of Hinduism, which grew up in India,
flourished, and decayed side by side with dozens of
other sects of even older origin, some of which, like
the Jains, were most active builders.
The artistic study of Indian sculpture, like that of
REMAINS OF OLD BENARES----A HINDU-MUHAMMADAN
RIOT----A WEAVERS' COLONY
A thorough examination by trained archaeologists of
the ruins and fragments of sculpture which are scat-
tered about Benares and built into modern shrines and
temples might throw much light on the ancient history
of the city. Hitherto this work has been left chiefly
to Europeans without sufficient critical knowledge of
Hindu art, whose judgment has been biassed by a
fixed idea that nearly everything old in Benares is of
Buddhist origin. Sherring, while recognizing the pro-
bability of many of the antiquities of the city being of
Brahminical or Jain origin, is too much inclined to
attribute to Buddhists every ancient column with a
plain bracket capital and every stone carved with the
lotus flower.
Fergusson's review of Indian architectural styles,
admirable though it is, stands in need of explanation
and modification in the light of recent knowledge. In
his time it was hardly realized that Buddhism was only
an offshoot of Hinduism, which grew up in India,
flourished, and decayed side by side with dozens of
other sects of even older origin, some of which, like
the Jains, were most active builders.
The artistic study of Indian sculpture, like that of