Varanasi or kashi popularly known as Benaras is one of the oldest living cities of the globe and oldest city of India, situated within the west banks of the river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh. It is 320 km south east from Lucknow and 121 km east of Allahabad. While under Mughal rule, Banaras was also called as Muhammadabad for a comparatively short period of time. Varanasi is the ancient and the most holy place for the Hindus. It is also called as the holy city that combines in itself the cultural essence and spirituality of India.
Varanasi or Kashi is both a noble place of pilgrimage and a microcosmic center of faith. A large number of pilgrims visit the city from all parts of India and the world because of holiest Ganga located in the Varanasi. Legends said that the holy city of Varanasi was founded centuries before the birth of the Christ. Varanasi is located between the two streams of River Ganga- Varuna to the north and Assi to the south. Varanasi combines the name of both these rivers. It is also mentioned in Holy Scriptures like Puranas, Buddhist texts and in the Mahabharata. The most mesmerizing part of the holy city of Varanasi is that almost all the activities seem to revolve around river Ganga and its Ghats. Life on the banks of the Ganga begins before dawn, when thousands of pilgrims come to the river for the holy dip. It is thought that the holy river will purify them of their sufferings and wash their sins away.
With the sun rise the Ghats burst into activity. In the morning, the Ghats present a charged holistic atmosphere. Brahmans recite passages from sacred texts and priests perform various kinds of holy rituals. Perhaps Varanasi is the only place that stimulate an individual to reflect about life, to anticipate about creation and the irrelevance of historical wealth in the face of death. The burning Ghats at the edge of River Ganga keep reminding people that life is mortal. At the same time, the rising sun and the morning and evening rituals at the Ghats bring hope and optimism to thousands of stressed people. This is the spirit of Varanasi- “the Gateway to Moksha.“
History of Varanasi
Varanasi also known as kashi, is one of the oldest populated cities in the world. The early history of the city is the first Aryan settlement in the Ganges valley and by the second millennium BCE. Varanasi was a nucleus of Aryan religion and philosophy that was renowned for its commercial and industrial center such as muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture. Varanasi became the capital kingdom of Kashi in the 6th century BC. At the time Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon at sarnath, which is 10 km far away from vanaras. Varanasi afterward deteriorated during three centuries of Muslim occupation, beginning in 1194. During the period of Muslim rule, many of the city’s Hindu temples were devastated and knowledgeable scholars runaway to other parts of the country. In the sixteen century, The Mughal emperor Akbar took some relief to the city’s religious and cultural activities. After onward Varanasi city became an independent kingdom with Ramnagar capital in 1910. Varanasi became part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, after India’s independence in 1947.
Facts about Varanasi
Varanasi is the most colorful, implacably, chaotic and most interesting place on the earth. It is a maze of narrow alleys meandering behind its waterfront ghats. It is a place to spend the last days of our lives and attain Nirvana, but there are some intersecting facts about Varanasi, which have never heard. Here are some of the interesting about the holy land- Varanasi.
- Varanasi is one of the most ancient livingcities in the world dating over 3000 years.
- It is supposed that the individualwho takes his final breath in Varanasi will most likely undertake salvation. Bodies of the departed are brought from far-off places at Manikarnika Ghat.
- Varanasi-the holy land is the origin of the 23rd Tirthankara(savior in Jainism), named Parsvanath. is one of the fourTirthankaras that have the most Jain devotes. Tirthankaras are the ford-makers and teachers of Jainism.
- It is the only place on the globe, which has 84 Ghats, making it the city with the most amazing number of stream banks on the planet.
- BanarasHindu University of Banaras is one of the greatest colleges on the planet offering courses in Hindu sacred writings – Vedas.
- Marriage of a frog –a bizarre tradition is conducted in Varanasi with much interest and show to please the Rain Gods.
- Famous artists like Pandit Ravi Shankar and UstadBismillahKhan have their roots in Varanasi.
- Each year a huge number of travelers come here and several of them make this place their home –such is the wealth of this devout place!
- Varanasi witness’s huge crowd during festivals like the five-day longmusic festival- DrupadMela (February-March), and the Ganga Mahotsav a grand festival held in November on the banks of River Ganga.
- Varanasi is also famous for its Benares silk saris.
