Varanasi, or Benaras, (also known as Kashi)
Varanasi
is a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh dating to the 11th
century B.C. Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws Hindu
pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral
rites. Along the city's winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi
Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
Dashashwamedh ghat |
Varanasi,
or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the
world. Varanasi`s Prominence in Hindu mythology is virtually unrevealed. Mark
Twain, the English author and literature, who was enthralled by the legend and
sanctity of Benaras, once wrote:
“Benaras is older than history, older than
tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put
together”
Varanasi Junction, popularly known as Varanasi Cantt Railway Station |
According to legend, Varanasi was founded
by the god Shiva. There happened a fight between the two supreme gods, Brahma
and Shiva, and the succeeding combat resulted in one of the four heads of
Brahma being torn off by Shiva. It was a custom of the time that the victor
carried the slain adversary’s head in his hand and let it hang down from his
hand as an act of ignominy and a sign of his own bravery. A bridle was also put
into the mouth. Shiva thus dishonored Brahma's head, and kept it with him at
all times. When he came to the city of Varanasi in this state, the hanging head
of Brahma dropped from Shiva's hand and disappeared in the ground. The land of
Varanasi is therefore considered an extremely holy religious site.
The Pandavas, the mythic
protagonists of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, are said to have visited the city
in search of Shiva to atone for their sin of fratricide and Brāhmanahatya that
they had committed during the climactic Kurukshetra War. It is regarded as one
of seven holy cities (Sapta Puri) which can provide Moksha; Ayodhya, Mathura,
Bodh Gaya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avanti, and Dvārakā are the seven cities known as the
givers of liberation.
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