DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0218
177
which, all natives are passionately fond ; and they must
take great care that the Benares side of the road is not
defiled. They must not quarrel, or give one another bad
language; must not receive any present, and must not
give any food, or water, or anything else even to a friend,
or take any such things from him. This last require-
ment has been dictated by a spirit of selfishness; for the
pilgrim is so intent on the acquisition of merit, that he
cannot bring himself to share it with any one,—though
it be even his dearest friend. He will render no assist-
ance to his neighbour to* enter the gates of heaven, un-
less he can do so without loss to himself. While striving
to enter within the sacred gates himself, he will suffer
his fainting, foot-sore brother to die upon the road.
Such is the hard selfishness of Hinduism. Indeed, sel-
fishness is the very root of Hinduism, is its sap and life,
is its branches, and blossoms, and fruit.
Starting from the Manikarnika. Ghat, the pilgrim keeps
along the banks of the Ganges until he arrives at the Asi
Sangam and Asi Ghat, where a petty stream flows into
the great river. From this spot he proceeds to a temple
of Jagannath close by, and thence on to the village of
Kandhawa, where he stays for the remainder of the day,
having performed a journey of six miles. The second
day's march is to the village of Dhupehandi, ten miles
further on, where he worships the tutelary goddess of
that name. On the third day he arrives at Eameswar,
after a long walk of fourteen miles. The fourth day
brings him to S'ivapur, where he visits the famous
shrine of the Panch Pandav, or five brothers who were
all married to one woman.
12
which, all natives are passionately fond ; and they must
take great care that the Benares side of the road is not
defiled. They must not quarrel, or give one another bad
language; must not receive any present, and must not
give any food, or water, or anything else even to a friend,
or take any such things from him. This last require-
ment has been dictated by a spirit of selfishness; for the
pilgrim is so intent on the acquisition of merit, that he
cannot bring himself to share it with any one,—though
it be even his dearest friend. He will render no assist-
ance to his neighbour to* enter the gates of heaven, un-
less he can do so without loss to himself. While striving
to enter within the sacred gates himself, he will suffer
his fainting, foot-sore brother to die upon the road.
Such is the hard selfishness of Hinduism. Indeed, sel-
fishness is the very root of Hinduism, is its sap and life,
is its branches, and blossoms, and fruit.
Starting from the Manikarnika. Ghat, the pilgrim keeps
along the banks of the Ganges until he arrives at the Asi
Sangam and Asi Ghat, where a petty stream flows into
the great river. From this spot he proceeds to a temple
of Jagannath close by, and thence on to the village of
Kandhawa, where he stays for the remainder of the day,
having performed a journey of six miles. The second
day's march is to the village of Dhupehandi, ten miles
further on, where he worships the tutelary goddess of
that name. On the third day he arrives at Eameswar,
after a long walk of fourteen miles. The fourth day
brings him to S'ivapur, where he visits the famous
shrine of the Panch Pandav, or five brothers who were
all married to one woman.
12