DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0042
6 BENARES, PAST AND PRESENT.
as they were now in an arupa world, they could not
receive its benefit. With affection for the ascetics who
were dead, he looked to discover in what place Kondanya
was, and the four other recluses with whom he had prac-
tised austerities; and when he saw that they were in
the Isipatana wihara, near Benares, he resolved that
unto them first lana should be said. At the end of
sixty days, in the eighth week after he became Budha,
Gotama went from the Ajapala tree to Isipatana alone,
a distance of 288 miles." P. 184. The brief inaugural
discourse which he there delivered is stated to have been
as follows: — " Then Budha opened his mouth, and
preached the Dhamsak - paewatum - sutra (Dhamma-
chakka). ' There are two things,' said he, ' that must
be avoided by him who seeks to become a priest; evil
desire, and the bodily austerities that were practised
by the (Brahman) ascetics.'" P. 187.
It is plain that Benares must hare been, at this time,
a city of power and importance, the weight of whose
opinions on religious topics was very considerable in the
country generally; and, therefore, that it was of the
utmost consequence to secure its countenance and
support on any great subject affecting the religious
belief of the entire nation. That this was the real
reason why Gautama wished to commence his career
from Benares, admits of no controversy. But, if Benares
was so celebrated at that era, we must look away from it
to preceding ages for the date of its foundation.
The Buddhists themselves give us some glimpses of
intelligence respecting the history of this city prior
to the year of Sakya's visit; and these, although
as they were now in an arupa world, they could not
receive its benefit. With affection for the ascetics who
were dead, he looked to discover in what place Kondanya
was, and the four other recluses with whom he had prac-
tised austerities; and when he saw that they were in
the Isipatana wihara, near Benares, he resolved that
unto them first lana should be said. At the end of
sixty days, in the eighth week after he became Budha,
Gotama went from the Ajapala tree to Isipatana alone,
a distance of 288 miles." P. 184. The brief inaugural
discourse which he there delivered is stated to have been
as follows: — " Then Budha opened his mouth, and
preached the Dhamsak - paewatum - sutra (Dhamma-
chakka). ' There are two things,' said he, ' that must
be avoided by him who seeks to become a priest; evil
desire, and the bodily austerities that were practised
by the (Brahman) ascetics.'" P. 187.
It is plain that Benares must hare been, at this time,
a city of power and importance, the weight of whose
opinions on religious topics was very considerable in the
country generally; and, therefore, that it was of the
utmost consequence to secure its countenance and
support on any great subject affecting the religious
belief of the entire nation. That this was the real
reason why Gautama wished to commence his career
from Benares, admits of no controversy. But, if Benares
was so celebrated at that era, we must look away from it
to preceding ages for the date of its foundation.
The Buddhists themselves give us some glimpses of
intelligence respecting the history of this city prior
to the year of Sakya's visit; and these, although