Tribes in Ancient India c31.138

c31.138

From the Jātakas it is evident that the people of Benares were charitable, especially to hermits.⁷ Visayha, a great merchant of Benares, had alms-halls built at the four city-gates, besides one in the heart of the city and one at the door of his own house. He distributed alms at these six points, and everyday 600,000 men came there to beg.⁸ In the Lalitavistara there is a reference to Ratnacūḍa (Ratna-śikhī), a charitable king of Kāśī.⁹