DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0158
119
A short distance to the north of Kasf-devi is the
temple of Bhut-Bhairo or, more pi-operly, Vishama-Bhai-
rava; the former being the vulgar designation which
the idol hears. Bhut means a demon; and Bhairo is the
deified magistrate of Benares; so that the idea is, that
the god Bhairo delivers his -worshippers from demons
and other infernal beings. The idol is dignified with
a moustache, the ends of which are curved after the
most approved fashion; but it is, nevertheless, an ugly
object. The head and part of the neck are alone
visible, the remainder of the person being hidden by
an apron which reaches above the head. The court in
which this temple stands contains several other shrines,
all which bear the marks of age upon them. Several
of those curious blocks of stone found in various parts
of Benares,—to which allusion has been made in a
previous chapter,—of pyramidal shape, and presenting,
on their surface, rude carvings of small temples, are
lying about the enclosure. I counted as many as
seven; and it is likely there are others. They are in
various positions; several being erect, whilst some are
standing out of the perpendicular, or are lying pros-
trate on the ground. There is no other place in Be-
nares, I believe, which contains such an assemblage of
these remarkable stones. On one side of the courtyard
is a large emblem of S'iva, about which the following
singular story is told. It is said, that, about six or
seven years ago, a tree fell down at this place, and,
on the spot where the trunk had stood, the emblem
was found in the position in which it is now seen.
The figure looks old; and it is not unlikely, that, in
A short distance to the north of Kasf-devi is the
temple of Bhut-Bhairo or, more pi-operly, Vishama-Bhai-
rava; the former being the vulgar designation which
the idol hears. Bhut means a demon; and Bhairo is the
deified magistrate of Benares; so that the idea is, that
the god Bhairo delivers his -worshippers from demons
and other infernal beings. The idol is dignified with
a moustache, the ends of which are curved after the
most approved fashion; but it is, nevertheless, an ugly
object. The head and part of the neck are alone
visible, the remainder of the person being hidden by
an apron which reaches above the head. The court in
which this temple stands contains several other shrines,
all which bear the marks of age upon them. Several
of those curious blocks of stone found in various parts
of Benares,—to which allusion has been made in a
previous chapter,—of pyramidal shape, and presenting,
on their surface, rude carvings of small temples, are
lying about the enclosure. I counted as many as
seven; and it is likely there are others. They are in
various positions; several being erect, whilst some are
standing out of the perpendicular, or are lying pros-
trate on the ground. There is no other place in Be-
nares, I believe, which contains such an assemblage of
these remarkable stones. On one side of the courtyard
is a large emblem of S'iva, about which the following
singular story is told. It is said, that, about six or
seven years ago, a tree fell down at this place, and,
on the spot where the trunk had stood, the emblem
was found in the position in which it is now seen.
The figure looks old; and it is not unlikely, that, in