DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0097
61
CHAPTER IV.
Temple of Bhaironath, the god-magistrate of Benares.—Dandpan, or the
Deified Staff. — Temple of the Planets. — Kal-KUp, or Well of Fate.
—Image of MahaMl, or Great Fate. —The Manikarnika Well and
Ghat. — Legends respecting the Well. — Temple of Tarakes'war.
— Sindhia Ghat and the Eaja of Nagpore's Ghat. — Temple of
Briddhkal.—Shrines of Markandes'war and Dakshes'war.—Legend of
Raja Daksh.—Temples of Alpmrites'war and Ratnes'war.
The temple of Bhaironath is situated upwards of a
mile to the north of the temple of Bisheswar. The god
of this shrine, as already described, is, in public esti-
mation, the deified kotwal, or police-magistrate, of Benares
and its suburbs, as far as the Panch-kosi road, within
the circuit of which, under the orders of his royal
master Bisheswar, he exercises divine authority over both
gods and men. He is bound to keep the city free from
evil spirits and evil persons, and, should he find any
such within its sacred precincts, to expel them forthwith.
As it is through his care and energy that its inhabitants,
and all others who may conceive the vain design of
ending their days at this hallowed spot, eventually, it
is supposed, obtain salvation, it is of the utmost import-
ance that he should perform the functions of his high
office wisely and well. It is a natural result, therefore, of
his possessing such vast authority, that, for the execution
of his orders, he should have deemed it right to arm
CHAPTER IV.
Temple of Bhaironath, the god-magistrate of Benares.—Dandpan, or the
Deified Staff. — Temple of the Planets. — Kal-KUp, or Well of Fate.
—Image of MahaMl, or Great Fate. —The Manikarnika Well and
Ghat. — Legends respecting the Well. — Temple of Tarakes'war.
— Sindhia Ghat and the Eaja of Nagpore's Ghat. — Temple of
Briddhkal.—Shrines of Markandes'war and Dakshes'war.—Legend of
Raja Daksh.—Temples of Alpmrites'war and Ratnes'war.
The temple of Bhaironath is situated upwards of a
mile to the north of the temple of Bisheswar. The god
of this shrine, as already described, is, in public esti-
mation, the deified kotwal, or police-magistrate, of Benares
and its suburbs, as far as the Panch-kosi road, within
the circuit of which, under the orders of his royal
master Bisheswar, he exercises divine authority over both
gods and men. He is bound to keep the city free from
evil spirits and evil persons, and, should he find any
such within its sacred precincts, to expel them forthwith.
As it is through his care and energy that its inhabitants,
and all others who may conceive the vain design of
ending their days at this hallowed spot, eventually, it
is supposed, obtain salvation, it is of the utmost import-
ance that he should perform the functions of his high
office wisely and well. It is a natural result, therefore, of
his possessing such vast authority, that, for the execution
of his orders, he should have deemed it right to arm