DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0213
172 BENARES, PAST AND PRESENT.
which is that of a lion, intended as the Vahan or
riding animal of Durga. Over the entrance itself are
peacocks, in bass-relief, standing with their heads to-
wards each other. The door is not large, but is ribbed
and massive, and is covered with brass; so that, viewing
it from the front, it has the appearance of being made
entirely of that metal.
The interior of the temple, like most Hindu shrines,
is confined and gloomy. Directly opposite the door
stands the goddess Durga. Her body is of marble,
covered with gold, and is arrayed in a yellow dress
partially concealed by a scarf. The image is in a small
shrine, in front of wbich is a table; and on the table
lie various vessels used at the hour of sacrifice. It
is over this table, and before the face of the idol, that
the sacred fire is waved. To the left is another table,
of smaller dimensions, which, when I saw it, was com-
pletely covered with white blossoms of flowers. Near
by, in a niche in the wall, are two idols, representing
Krishna and his wife Eadha. To the right of Durga
is her five-headed husband Siva.
The tank and a garden in the neighbourhood were
also the work of Eaja Cheit Singh. The former is
surrounded by a spacious ghat, the stairs of which are
built of stone. On occasion of the natives of Benares
proceeding on pilgrimage to this spot, they are ac-
customed to bathe in the tank; and sometimes large
crowds may be seen assembled on the stairs. But so
extensive are the ghats, that hundreds of persons might
dress and undress upon them, without incommoding one
another. The tank is a square, at each corner of which
which is that of a lion, intended as the Vahan or
riding animal of Durga. Over the entrance itself are
peacocks, in bass-relief, standing with their heads to-
wards each other. The door is not large, but is ribbed
and massive, and is covered with brass; so that, viewing
it from the front, it has the appearance of being made
entirely of that metal.
The interior of the temple, like most Hindu shrines,
is confined and gloomy. Directly opposite the door
stands the goddess Durga. Her body is of marble,
covered with gold, and is arrayed in a yellow dress
partially concealed by a scarf. The image is in a small
shrine, in front of wbich is a table; and on the table
lie various vessels used at the hour of sacrifice. It
is over this table, and before the face of the idol, that
the sacred fire is waved. To the left is another table,
of smaller dimensions, which, when I saw it, was com-
pletely covered with white blossoms of flowers. Near
by, in a niche in the wall, are two idols, representing
Krishna and his wife Eadha. To the right of Durga
is her five-headed husband Siva.
The tank and a garden in the neighbourhood were
also the work of Eaja Cheit Singh. The former is
surrounded by a spacious ghat, the stairs of which are
built of stone. On occasion of the natives of Benares
proceeding on pilgrimage to this spot, they are ac-
customed to bathe in the tank; and sometimes large
crowds may be seen assembled on the stairs. But so
extensive are the ghats, that hundreds of persons might
dress and undress upon them, without incommoding one
another. The tank is a square, at each corner of which