Varanasi, the holy city of India, is also known by the name
of Kashi and Benaras. Kashi, the city of Moksha for Hindus since centuries, is
known for its fine-quality silks, 'paan' and Benares Hindu University and
Avimukta of the ancient days, Varanasi is the most popular pilgrimage point for
the Hindus. One of the seven holiest cities, Varanasi city is also one the
Shakti Peethas and one of the twelve Jyotir Linga sites in India. In Hinduism
it is believed that those who die and are cremated here get an instant gateway
to liberation from the cycle of births and re-births.
Considered as the abode of Lord Shiva, Varanasi is situated
on the banks of River Ganges, which is believed to have the power of washing
away all of one's sins. As pundits here will tell you, whatever is sacrificed
and chanted here or given in charity reaps its fruits thousand times more than
those good deeds performed at other places because of the power of that place.
It is believed that three nights of fasting in Varanasi city can reap you
rewards of many thousands of lifetimes of asceticism!
Varanasi is the oldest city of the world. Varanasi is more
than 3000 years old and is famous as the city of temples. In Varanasi, there
are temples at every few paces. Looking at the number of temples in Varanasi,
it is hard to believe that a large number of them were demolished during the
medieval times. Jyotirlinga Visvanatha Temple or Golden Temple, rebuilt in
1776, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Jnana Vapi well (meaning 'Well of Wisdom)
is believed to have been dug by Lord Shiva himself. It is believed that the majestic
Alamgir mosque has replaced one of the most ancient shrines known as the temple
of Bindu Madhava. The thirty-three hundred million shrines fill one with awe
and wonder with sheer numbers.
The Ganga Ghats (river front) are the most popular pilgrimage
spot of Varanasi and are centers of music and learning. There is a great
tradition of Yatras in the holy city of Kashi and the most sacred path is that
of Panchkoshi Parikrama, the fifty-mile path with a radius of five miles that
cover 108 shrines along the way, with Panchakoshi Temple as its main shrine.
Other popular pilgrimage route is Nagara Pradakshina, which covers seventy-two
shrines along the way. Since time immemorial Varanasi is a great center of
learning. The holy city has been a symbol of spiritualism, philosophy and
mysticism for thousands of years and has produced great saints and
personalities like Guatama Buddha, Mahavira, Kabir, Tulsi Das, Shankaracharaya,
Ramanuja and Patanjali.
Places
to Visit in Varanasi
Ganges
River
Ganges River, Hindi Ganga,
great river of the plains of northern India. Although officially as well
as popularly called the Ganga in Hindi and in other Indian languages,
internationally it is known by its conventional name, the Ganges. From time
immemorial it has been the holy river of Hinduism. For most of its course it is
a wide and sluggish stream, flowing through one of the most fertile and densely
populated regions in the world. Despite its importance, its length of 1,560
miles (2,510 km) is relatively short compared with the other great rivers of
Asia or of the world.
Kashi
Vishwanath Temple
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the most famous Hindu
temples and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Varanasi, Uttar
Pradesh, India, the holiest existing place of Hindus. The temple stands on the
western bank of the holy river Ganges, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas,
the holiest of Shiva temples. The main deity is known by the name Vishwanatha
or Vishweshwara meaning Ruler of the universe. The temple town, which claims to
be the oldest living city in the world, with 3500 years of documented history,
is also called Kashi and hence the temple is popularly called Kashi Vishwanath
Temple.
Ramnagar
Fort
Ramnagar Fort looks very elegant from the western bank of
the River Ganges as it is located at the scenic place opposite to the Tulsi
Ghat. It is situated around 14 km from the Cantt railway station Varanasi and
around 2 km from the BHU Varanasi. It opens daily, except the holi festival,
from 10 am to the 5 pm. Ramlila fair at the Ramnagar Fort attracts more crowds
otherwise throughout the year there is an optimum crowd.
Dashashwamedh
Ghat
Dashashwamedh ghat is one of the oldest, most spectacular
and important ghat, located at the bank of the river Gange near to the old
Vishwanath Temple in the Kashi. The literal meaning of the Dashashwamedh is the
Ghat (river front) of the ten sacrificed horses (dash means 10, ashwa means
horse, medh means sacrifice).
Manikarnika
Ghat
Manikarnika Ghat is associated with the two legends. It is
believed that the Lord Vishnu dug a pit using his Chakra and at the same time
the Lord Shiva was watching Lord Vishnu, the earring (“manikarnika”) had fell
into the pit created by the Lord Vishnu. According to the second legend, the
Goddess Parvati (consort of Lord Shiva, Goddess Annapurna) hid her earrings,
and asked Lord Shiva to find them.
Assi Ghat
According to the ancient history, it is said that the
Goddess Durga (consort of the Lord Shiva) had thrown her sword in the river
(called Assi River) after killing the demon Shumbha-Nishumbha. That’s why the
place has been named as Assi Ghat as it is located at the union of the River
Ganga and Assi River.
Chaukhandi
Stupa
Chaukhandi Stupa is one of the important Buddhist Stupas at
Sarnath. It is a lofty mound of brick, whose square edifice is surrounded by an
octagonal tower. The Chaukhandi Stupa is said to be originally a terraced
temple during the Gupta period (4th to 6th Century). Govardhan, the son of Raja
Todarmal, gave the present shape to the Chaukhandi Stupa. He built an octagonal
tower to commemorate the visit of Humayun, the great Mughal ruler. Chaukhandi
Stupa was built to mark the place where Lord Buddha met his first disciples as
he traveled from Bodh Gaya to Sarnath. Today, the Chaukhandi stupa stands
neatly in lush green lawns, well maintained by the Archaeological Survey of
India. Draped in the calmness and mystery of history, the Chaukhandi Stupa
forms a gateway to the Buddhist city of Sarnath.
Dhamek
Stupa
Probably the most noticeable structure at Sarnath is the
Dhamek stupa. It is, in fact, one of the most prominent Buddhist structures in
India; it is also referred to as Dhamekh and Dhamekha. It is located 13 Km away from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
The great Mauryan King Ashoka in 249 BCE had commissioned a structure at the
place and Dhamekha Stupa was built in 500 CE to replace the same.
Near the site stands an Ashoka pillar with an edict engraved
on it. Many stupas were built by the Mauryan king Ashoka in order to enshrine
small pieces of bones and other relics of Buddha and his disciples. Stupas are
circular mounds encircled by large stones.
The Dhamek Stupa represents the deer park (Rishipattana).
This park is said to be of great importance as Buddha gave his first sermon,
after attaining enlightenment, to his disciples that revealed his “Eightfold
Path“.
Gyanvapi Mosque
The Gyanvapi mosque is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh,
India. It was constructed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb after he demolished
the original Kashi Vishwanath temple at the site. It is located north of
Dashaswamedh Ghat, near Lalita Ghat along the river Ganges.
It is a Jama Masjid located in the heart of the Varanasi
city. It is administered by Anjuman Inthazamiya Masajid (AIM).
About PRABISH BISHUNGKHE
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