DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0068
32 BENAKES, PAST AND PRESENT.
temples in every direction, in some places very thickly,
yet it would be difficult, I believe, to find twenty
temples, in all Benares, of the age of Aurungzeb, or
from 1658 to 1707. The same unequal proportion of
old temples, as compared with new, is visible through-
out the whole of Northern India. Moreover, the dimi-
nutive size of nearly all the temples that exist is
another powerful testimony to the stringency of the
Mohammedan rule. It seems clear, that, for the most
part, the emperors forbade the Hindus to build spacious
temples, and suffered them to erect only small structures,
of the size of cages, for their idols, and these of no pre-
tensions to beauty. The consequence is, that the Hindus
of the present day, blindly following the example of their
predecessors of two centuries ago, commonly build their
religious edifices of the same dwarfish size as formerly;
but, instead of plain, ugly buildings, they are often of
elegant construction. Some of them, indeed, are so
delicately carved externally, are so crowded with bass-
reliefs and minute sculpturing, are so lavishly orna-
mented, that the eye of the beholder becomes satiated
and wearied. In regard to size, there is a marked dif-
ference between the temples of Northern and Southern
India; the latter being frequently of gigantic dimensions.
Yet, in respect of symmetry and beauty, the difference
is immensely in favour of the Northern fanes.
The present city of Benares, like the earlier one,
exhibits a tendency to shift its site. If any person
will take the trouble to ride through the city from
north to south, and then all along its extensive suburbs,
from the ancient fort at the junction of the Barna and
temples in every direction, in some places very thickly,
yet it would be difficult, I believe, to find twenty
temples, in all Benares, of the age of Aurungzeb, or
from 1658 to 1707. The same unequal proportion of
old temples, as compared with new, is visible through-
out the whole of Northern India. Moreover, the dimi-
nutive size of nearly all the temples that exist is
another powerful testimony to the stringency of the
Mohammedan rule. It seems clear, that, for the most
part, the emperors forbade the Hindus to build spacious
temples, and suffered them to erect only small structures,
of the size of cages, for their idols, and these of no pre-
tensions to beauty. The consequence is, that the Hindus
of the present day, blindly following the example of their
predecessors of two centuries ago, commonly build their
religious edifices of the same dwarfish size as formerly;
but, instead of plain, ugly buildings, they are often of
elegant construction. Some of them, indeed, are so
delicately carved externally, are so crowded with bass-
reliefs and minute sculpturing, are so lavishly orna-
mented, that the eye of the beholder becomes satiated
and wearied. In regard to size, there is a marked dif-
ference between the temples of Northern and Southern
India; the latter being frequently of gigantic dimensions.
Yet, in respect of symmetry and beauty, the difference
is immensely in favour of the Northern fanes.
The present city of Benares, like the earlier one,
exhibits a tendency to shift its site. If any person
will take the trouble to ride through the city from
north to south, and then all along its extensive suburbs,
from the ancient fort at the junction of the Barna and