DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0099
BENARES, PAST AND PRESENT. 63
stitute a climax of absurdity. But the Hindu is as
solemn in the presence of the divine stick,—administer-
ing, as he imagines, divine justice,—as though it were
the chief judge of the Sudder Adawlut, and is totally
unconscious of the ludicrous position he occupies.
The worship of Dandpan illustrates, very instructively,
the changes that have come over popular Hinduism even
within a few centuries. Dandapani,—to give the un-
corrupted Sanskrit word,—is, properly, the name of an
attendant of S'iva, and signifies ' staff in hand.' The true
character of this personage has been forgotten; and his
emblem has been elevated to the rank of a substantive
deity.
But to return to Bhaironath. The wall on either side
of the door, leading into the enclosure, is decorated with
paintings. On the right is a large figure of Bhaironath
or Bhairo (for he possesses both titles,) himself, depicted
in a deep blue colour, approaching to black; and behind
him is the figure of a dog, intended for him to ride
on. The dog, too, is holy; and, in the neighbourhood
of the temple, sweetmeat-sellers make small images
of a dog in sugar, which the worshippers purchase and
present to Bhaironath, as an offering. On the left side
of the doorway is a larger figure of a dog; and above it
are ten small paintings, representing the ten avatars
of Yishnu. The door itself is carved and embellished
not inelegantly. On passing through into the quad-
rangle, I was struck with the confined position of the
temple, which fills up a large portion of the entire area;
so that from the quadrangle itself it is impossible to
gain more than a very limited view of its upper part.
stitute a climax of absurdity. But the Hindu is as
solemn in the presence of the divine stick,—administer-
ing, as he imagines, divine justice,—as though it were
the chief judge of the Sudder Adawlut, and is totally
unconscious of the ludicrous position he occupies.
The worship of Dandpan illustrates, very instructively,
the changes that have come over popular Hinduism even
within a few centuries. Dandapani,—to give the un-
corrupted Sanskrit word,—is, properly, the name of an
attendant of S'iva, and signifies ' staff in hand.' The true
character of this personage has been forgotten; and his
emblem has been elevated to the rank of a substantive
deity.
But to return to Bhaironath. The wall on either side
of the door, leading into the enclosure, is decorated with
paintings. On the right is a large figure of Bhaironath
or Bhairo (for he possesses both titles,) himself, depicted
in a deep blue colour, approaching to black; and behind
him is the figure of a dog, intended for him to ride
on. The dog, too, is holy; and, in the neighbourhood
of the temple, sweetmeat-sellers make small images
of a dog in sugar, which the worshippers purchase and
present to Bhaironath, as an offering. On the left side
of the doorway is a larger figure of a dog; and above it
are ten small paintings, representing the ten avatars
of Yishnu. The door itself is carved and embellished
not inelegantly. On passing through into the quad-
rangle, I was struck with the confined position of the
temple, which fills up a large portion of the entire area;
so that from the quadrangle itself it is impossible to
gain more than a very limited view of its upper part.