Indian Antiquary Vol 16

Author(s): John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 22

12
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1887.
which encircles the basement; & second protects interior of the building immediately beneath the walls of the lower half of the church; a the large cupola is an altar soven or eight feet third forms the roof of the nave; a fourth the long, and six feet in width, which has two roof of the belfry; a fifth and a sixth seem also small flights of steps serving as predellas (seats to have been used for the sake of giving for the priests), and covered with a beautiful symmetry to the whole. The quaint objects on carpet, which is sometimes of gold stuff and the gables of the third and fourth roofs are sometimes of silk, according to the solemnity dragons' heads with projecting tongues; an of the day or festival. ornament that forcibly recalls that on Oriental "The altars (of the Hindus generaHy) are and Chinese buildings.
covered with gold or silver brocade, or with The following description of a temple by some lovely painted material. The altar in this Tavernier, which existed in his day at Benares, Pagoda is so arranged that it, and the idols but was afterwards destroyed by Aurangzeb, which are upon it, can be seen from without the is worth transcribing here. He says"_"The entrance door; because neither women nor Pagoda at Banarus" is the most famous in young girls are permitted to enter nor (even) all India after that of Jagannath. They the men of one of their tribes (castes ?), but may be called almost equal, and are both have to pay their devotions outside. Amongst situated near the banks of the river Ganges in the idols, which stand on the altar there is one the respective cities whence they derive their which is five or six feet high; its body, arms, names. From the door of the Pagoda at and legs are not visible, but only the head Banaras one descends by steps down to the and neck, all the rest being covered with a river, on which are at intervals small plat- robe which trails down to the ground. Someforms with very dark little rooms, in some of times this idol wears a rich gold chain round which the Brahmans live. Others they use as its throat, or an ornament of rabies or pearls or kitchens in which to prepare their food; because emeralds. The idol was made in remembrance these idolaters after having washed them- and in the likeness of Bainmada (P Balarama), selves, said their prayers, and made their offer- whom they consider to have been & very ings in the Pagoda, prepare their food them- great personage ;- saint, whose name they selves, fearing lest another not in a condition of
are constantly invoking. On the left hand of ceremonial purity should touch it. But above the altar is a figure of an animal, or rather all they drink with much devotion of the of some mythological creature, partly elewater of the Ganges, imagining that by so phant, partly horse, and partly mule. It is of doing they will be freed from all stain of sin. massive gold, and is called by them Goru, To return to the Pagoda, which is built in (Garuda P) which no one but a Brahman is the form of a cross, as are all the other ever allowed to approach. Near the entrance temples. In the centre of the exterior rises an to the Pagoda, between the great door and the immensely high cupola, constructed somewhat high altar (above described) one sees a smaller like a high tower, which has many sides to it, altar on the left hand, upon which is an idol in and terminates in a point. At each of the four black marble, seated with its legs crossed, and ends of the cross is a small tower into which about two feet in height. When I entered, a one can ascend from the exterior. Before reach- boy was standing on the left hand of it. the son ing the top, there are several balconion and of the chief priest, who kept touching the idol niches, which give exit into the open air, and with pieces of silk and embroidered cloths of the around are sculptured figures consisting of shape of handkerchiefs, which he afterwards every kind of mis-shapen animal. In the returned to those who gave them to him for
* It is foreign to the scope of these papers to give a in 1600. In the passage I am about to quote I description of the interior, but it is well worth studying, have endeavoured to adhere uolosely as possible to and it is gratifying to be able to add that this most the text, but the Italian is very old fashioned, and interesting monument has been purchased by an some of the expressions made wi of are quaint and do Aropological Society, who have restored it and intend not admit of a litera) translation, to keep it carefully in repair. It is kept looked, but the
1 Viaggio nella Turchia, Pornia key is to be had at a small farmhouse a short distance
India, Dk. IV. oh. from the modern church now in use, and only a few yards
18, p. 598. distant from the old one.
* This is Tavernier's spelling of this name. I do not POS ONS Tavernier's work in the original, but " (This is, of course, not correct, the Jagannath I have an Italian translation of it published at Bologna temple being situated at Part in Orica-Ed.]