Benares: 2 definitions
Introduction
Benares means something in Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: BuddhismBenares refers to one of the places visited by Dharmapāla during his tour of North India. Anāgārika Dharmapāla (born 1864) was a Ceylonese Buddhist who travelled across India and beyond, spreading Buddhism. According to Bhikkhu Sangharakshita in his Biographical Sketc, “he travelled as a pilgrim, not caring at all for comforts, mixing with the sanyasins, ascetics, Hindu pilgrims, and with passengers of the third and intermediate classes, eating at times the poorest food, sleeping at times in places where the poor sleep and gaining an insight into the characteristics of the poor classes, who are suffering from intense ignorance, superstition and poverty”.
India history and geogprahy
Source: Ancient Buddhist Texts: Geography of Early BuddhismBenares is another name for Bārāṇasī, the capital of Kāsī: one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas of the Majjhimadesa (Middle Country) of ancient India, as recorded in the Pāli Buddhist texts (detailing the geography of ancient India as it was known in to Early Buddhism).—It was at Benares that the Buddha gave his first discourse on the Dhammacakka or the wheel of Law. The Buddha met an Ājivika named Upaka on his way to Benares to preach the wheel of Law at Isipatana Migadāya. He reached Benares after crossing the Ganges at Prayāga direct from Verañjā. The Buddha spent a great part of his life at Benares. Here he delivered some of the most important discourses and converted many people. Bārāṇasī (mod. Benares) had other names as well, viz. Surundhana, Sudassana, Brahmavaddhana, Pupphavatī, Ramma and Molinī. The extent of the city is mentioned as 12 yojanas whereas Mithilā and Indapatta were each only seven leagues in extent.
Benares was a great centre of industry, trade, etc. There existed trade relations between Benares and Sāvatthī and between Benares and Taxila. The people of Benares used to go to Taxila. We read in the Susīma Jātaka that a certain youth of Benares Went to Taxila, two thousand leagues away from the former, to learn the ‘hatthi-sutta’. We know from the Bhojājāniya Jātaka (No. 23) that ‘all the kings round coveted the kingdom of Benares’.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text (+786): Kashi, Varanasi, Kashika, Manikarnika, Varanaseya, Baranasi, Mahashmashana, Matsyodari, Jitvara, Kukkutamandapa, Yava, Brahmadatta, Dadhivahana, Suciparivara, Bhallatiya, Yasapani, Vissasena, Baranaseyyaka, Cundatthila, Baranasinaseyyaka.
Relevant text
Search found 79 books and stories containing Benares; (plurals include: Benareses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Vinaya Pitaka (3): Khandhaka (by I. B. Horner)
The story of the merchant’s son < [8. Robes (Cīvara)]
On permission for woollen garments, etc. < [8. Robes (Cīvara)]
On rejection of human flesh < [6. Medicine (Bhesajja)]
The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter X - The Śarakṣepa-jātaka (story of the arrow that was shot far) < [Volume II]
Chapter XVI - Earlier history of Padumāvatī (former birth) < [Volume III]
Chapter XL - The Jātaka of Yaśoda < [Volume III]
The Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6 (by Robert Chalmers)
Jataka 336: Brahāchatta-jātaka < [Volume 3]
Jataka 164: Gijjha-jātaka < [Book II - Dukanipāta]
Jataka 282: Seyya-jātaka < [Book III - Tika-Nipāta]
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 4 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 8 - Life of Vallabha (1481-1533) < [Chapter XXXI - The Philosophy of Vallabha]
Part 2 - The Life of Caitanya < [Chapter XXXII - Caitanya and his Followers]
Part 5 - Some Companions of Caitanya < [Chapter XXXII - Caitanya and his Followers]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 6 - The 57 days between Buddha’s enlightenment and his first sermon < [Chapter XIII - The Buddha-fields]
Appendix 6 - Description of Ṛṣipatana or Ṛṣivadana (at Benares) < [Chapter V - Rājagṛha]
Appendix 5 - The story of the bhikṣu Kṣānti < [Chapter VIII - The Bodhisattvas]
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)