Religion in Varanasi

"As a mission-field, Benares is not so fruitful as many other places, yet it is, no doubt, one of the first in importance; for Benares is the heart of Hinduism, and, if that be pierced, Hinduism receives its death-blow."

"A few of them, as shown before, of more courage than the rest, whose hearts the grace of God has touched, honestly avow their disbelief in idolatry and belief in Christianity, and, in spite of all opposition, cast in their lot with the small hut continually increasing body of native Christians. Others, — but how large a class I cannot say, — abandon their idols, yet do not become Christians. Others, again, — a considerable number, I believe, — worship idols reluctantly, from feelings of respect to their relations and acquaintances, and, if possible, solely on public occasions and at festivals. They^re not yet ready to give up everything for their principles; they are not ready to sacrifice property, position, family, and friends, for what they have been brought to feel is the truth."

"The fact is, all this class are beginning to be scandalized by idolatry, and somewhat ashamed of it. They know too much to be honest and conscientious idolaters. They cannot willingly prostrate themselves before an image of stone or clay. Some have deeper feelings than others; and some are too frivolous and thoughtless to distress themselves much about the matter. But, I believe, very few, indeed, of the educated class,—that is, educated on the English model, — are thorough and hearty idolaters; and I am satisfied, that there is not one who does not hold Hinduism with a lighter and looser grasp than formerly, or than would have been the case, had his mind not been expanded and benefited by the education he has received. Let it be well understood, that education de-Hinduizes the Hindu, breaks down idolatry, and inspires him with a distaste for it, and a latent desire to be free from it."

"A cow was dragged out from a neighbouring house and killed at the foot of the pillar. Its blood was taken into every corner, till all the sacred place was splashed with it, and then the carcass was flung with shouts of exultations, into the holy tank of Bhairo. Firewood was heaped round the Lat and lighted, to destroy no doubt the metal appendages of the pillar; and finally, amidst cries of triumph, the Lat itself was overthrown, shattering in its fall into many pieces."

"The Benares Gazetteer notes: ‘The city experienced one of those convulsions which had frequently occurred in the past owing to the religious antagonism of the Hindu and the Musalman sections of the population. The chief source of friction was the mosque built by Aurangzeb on the site of the old temple of Bisheshwar, the most sacred spot in the whole city.’"

"In the early part of the quarrel, the Mussalmans, in order to be revenged on the Hindus for the defeat they had sustained, had taken a cow, and killed it on one of the holiest ghats, and mingled its blood with the sacred water of the Ganga. This act of double sacrilege was looked on, by the Brahmans, as having destroyed the sacredness of the holy place, if not of the whole city, so that salvation in future might not be attainable by pilgrimage to Benares. They were, therefore, all in the greatest affliction; and all the Brahmans in the city, many thousands in number, went down, in deep sorrow, to the river side, naked and fasting, and with ashes on their heads, and sat down on the principal ghats, with folded hands, and heads hanging down, to all appearance inconsolable, and refusing to enter a house or to taste food…. But the British functionaries went to them, expressed their sorrow for the distress in which they saw them, and reasoned with them on the absurdity of punishing themselves for an act in which they had no share, and which they had done all they could to prevent or avenge. This prevailed, and after much bitter weeping, it was resolved that Ganga was Ganga still; Mr. Bird … who was one of the ambassadors on this occasion said that ‘the scene was very impressive and even awful. The gaunt, squalid figures of the devotees, their visible and apparently unaffected anguish and dismay, the screams and outcries of the women who surrounded them, and the great numbers thus assembled, altogether constituted a spectacle of woe such as few cities but Benares could supply’."

"In their memorandum to the government, dated 20 November 1809, the Hindus of Varanasi under the leadership of Rattan Singh pleaded: From the personal bigotry of Aurungzebe Alumgeer, mosques were erected on the site of our place of worship; the four principal are Bisseysur and Gyanbaffi [Vishweshwara and Gyan Vapi], Kirrit Baseysur [Krittivaseswara], Bindho or Beynee Madho [Beni Madhav]; Caul Bhyro Koolusthum [Kal Bhairav]. That emperor in his zeal introduced his religion in common with ours at these places. It is prayed that these may be restored to us for the purposes of our worship … that the Musalmans be not allowed to come to the places of worship, or to kill cows, or for recreation and pleasure to pass along the roads frequented by the Hindus in order that by this method a line may be distinctly drawn between us."

"To the north of the road leading from the Eaj Ghat Fort to the cantonments, at a distance of from three quarters of a mile to a mile from the former place, is the Kapilmochan Tank. It is also called Bhairo ka Talao, or the tank of Bhairo. This is a strong and well- built structure, the stairs and foundations being of solid stone. On the high ground to the north of the tank stands a pillar, from seven to eight feet in height, and three in thickness, situated in the midst of a slightly- elevated stone chabutra or platform. This is the Lator pillar of Siva. It is representative of an ancient pillar, which formerly stood on this spot, and was thrown down by the Mohammedans, in a struggle between them and the Hindus, some sixty years ago. The original Ldt was famous among the Hindy. population, both for its antiquity and for its sanctity. There is some ground for supposing that the present pillar is a fragment of the ancient one; and that it, very likely, bears a portion of the carving known to have been on the original column. The probability is increased by the circumstance that it is encased in copper, and is carefully watched over by the Brahman priests. It would be interesting to examine it, and to determine the age of its carvings, or of any inscription which may be upon it."

"Previously to this outbreak, the Hindus must have cherished, for a prolonged period, very bitter feelings against the Mohammedans, on account of the insult which, ever since the time of Aurungzeb, had been heaped upon their religion in this locality. The pillar was once situated in the enclosure of a Hindu temple ; but that ruthless monarch destroyed the temple, and, in its place, erected a mosque, leaving the curiously carved pillar either as an ornament to the grounds, or under a wholesome dread of provoking to too great a pitch the indignation of his Hindu subjects. The Hindus, however, continued to pay divine homage to the pillar^ which, although repugnant to the feelings of the Mohammedans, was, nevertheless, endured by them, especially as they were permitted to receive a portion of the offerings. The natives say, that, after the serious collision between these two great sections of the people in the city, the pillar was removed to the banks of the Ganges, and thrown into the river."

"In consequence of this, a fight took place in which the Muhammadans had the worse ; but in , revenge, they threw down a pillar called the Lat — or Mohadeo’s staff, held in reverence by the Hindoos as sacred. This pillar was about forty feet high, and covered with ancient carvings. It had originally stood in the Hindoo temple, destroyed by the Emperor Aurungzebe. A Muhammadan mosque had been erected on the site of this temple, enclosing this antique pillar ; but for a share of the offerings, the Muhammadans had winked at the idolatry of the Hindoos, and for long permitted them to go in to reverence this object of their devotion. The Hindoos had a tradition, that the pillar was gradually sinking, it having, according to report, been once twice its present height, and it was also prophesied, that when its top should become level with the ground, all nations should be of one caste. The throwing down, therefore, of this pillar was regarded as most ominous and dangerous to Hinduism. The whole Hindoo population, headed by the Brahmans and devotees, rose in fury on the Mussulmans, and attacked them with every sort of weapons within their reach. One mosque was pulled down, and they determined to destroy every other in the city ; but the civil authorities, with all the military force that could be collected, interposed, and by putting guards to defend the mosques, succeeded in saving them. It was difficult indeed, to trust to the native soldiers ; hut they did their duty well, for though many of them were Brahmans, they kept guard manfully on the mosques, in fidelity to their military oath, though doubtless it would have been more agreeable to their own feelings, to have joined in pulling them down. Yet they kept .off the Brahmans, as well as others, at the point of the bayonet. Two Brahman soldiers, keeping guard where the pillar was lying prostrate, were overheard thus conversing on the subject ; “ Ah !” said one, “ we have seen what we never thought to see Sheo’s Lat has its head level with the groupd. We shall all be of one caste shortly ; what will be our religion then ?” “ I suppose the Christian, answered the other — for after all that has passed, I am sure we shall never become Mussulmans.” A sagacious remark, as persecution and voilence are never likely to produce conviction, either of the truth or goodness of the religion of the persecutor, though it may occasionally lead to a temporary, or false profession of it on the part of the persecuted, to be changed into the most virulent opposition, whenever an opportunity is obtained."

"After the riot had been suppressed, the worst difficulty still remained. In the early part of the quarrel, the Mussulmans, in order to be revenged on the Hindoos, for the defeat they had sustained, had taken a cow and killed it, on one of the holiest ghats, and mingled its blood with the sacred water of the Gunga. This act of double sacrilege was looked on by the Brahmans, as having destroyed the sacredness of the holy place, if not of the whole city, so that salvation in future might not be attainable, by pilgrimage to Benares. They were, therefore, all in the greatest affliction; and all the Brahmans in the city, many thousands in number, went down, in deep sorrow, to the river side, naked, and fasting, and with ashes on their heads, and sat down on the principal ghats, with folded hands, and heads hanging down, to all appearance inconsoleable, and refusing to enter a house, or to taste food. Two or three day’s abstinence, however, tired them, and a hint was given to the magistrates, and other public men, that a visit of condolence, and some expression of sympathy would comfort them, and give them some excuse for returning to their usual course of life. Accordingly the British functionaries went to the principal ghat, and expressed their sorrow for the distress in which they saw them ; but reasoned with them on the absurdity of punishing themselves, for an act in which they had no share, and which they had done all they could to prevent, or avenge. This prevailed, and after much bitter weeping, it was resolved, that “ Gunga was Gunga still,” and that a succession of costly offerings from the laity of Benares, the usual Brahmanical remedy for all evils, might wipe out the stain which their religion had received, and that the advice of the judges was the best and most reasonable. Mr. Bird, who was one of the ambassadors on this occasion, said, “ that the scene was very impressive, and even awful. The gaunt, sqnallid figures of the devotees — their visible, and apparently unaffected anguish and dismay — the screams and outcries of the women who surrounded them, and the great numbers thus assembled, altogether constituted a spectacle of wo, such as few cities but Benares could supply.”"