ABSTRACT
Hindu sacred geography is nourished by an enduring connection with water. The sanctification of the landscape occurs principally through this element, and indeed, places deemed to be sacred—tīrthas, literally “fords”—were originally so because of their location specifically at river confluences or crossing places. Although water’s foundational role has been underplayed at times because of the imposition of major shrines as hubs of worship, the variety of water structures found in temple compounds still testifies to this connection: wells, in particular, are often found adjacent to temples, apparently as secondary destinations for devotees. In looking at the wells of Banaras (Varanasi) in Uttar Pradesh, India, this chapter demonstrates, though, that these water places are independent and autonomous sacred locations. Through an exploration of their layered textual and oral traditions, together with ritual practices and local uses, the wells of Banaras emerge as fundamental landmarks of this pilgrimage city.
