Varanasi
is a beautiful and more than 10 century old city. The city has very old
heritage, culture and places to visit. It is famous for many places like
Sarnath, Banks on Ganga, Temples etc.
The
original name of present ‘Varanasi’ city was 'Kashi’, which was derived from
the word 'Kasha' meaning brightness. The present name Varanasi has its origin
in the two tributaries of the Ganges – ‘Varuna’and ‘Asi’, which flank its
northern and southern borders. ‘Banaras’ or ‘Benaras’,as it is popularly known,
are the name local popular name of official name ‘Varanasi’.
Historians
have now ascertained that the Aryans first settled in the middle Ganges valley
and by the second millennium BC, Varanasi became the nucleus of Aryan religion
and philosophy. The city also flourished as a commercial and industrial center
famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, ivory works, perfumery and sculptures.
In
the 6th century BC, Varanasi became the capital of the kingdom of Kashi. During
this time Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath, just 10 km away
from Varanasi. Being a center of religious, educational, cultural and artistic
activities, Kashi drew many learned men from around the world; the celebrated
Chinese traveler Hsüan Tsang, is one of them, who visited India around AD 635.
Present
Varanasi or better known locally as “Banaras”is situated on the banks of River
Ganges. The city is also considered as one of the holiest city of India. The
place is believed to be a sacred city with very old tradition and culture.
Varanasi or Banaras is a place which still holds its old traditional cultural
values. The city has all those major amenities which a modern advance city
requires.
Varanasi
is famous for spiritualism, mysticism, Indian philosophy and Hinduism. All
these are reflected in numerous sects, temples, Ashrams and Ghats. Varanasi is
associated not only with Hinduism but also with Buddhism and Jainism. Varanasi
also boasts of Buddhist Stupas and Jain temples. Varanasi is mainly associated
with Hinduism, temples form the main attraction. The Ganges Ghats (river
fronts) are the main center of religious activities and rituals and also form
one of the main attractions of Varanasi. The most important temples of Varanasi
are Durga temple, Vishwanath temple, Sankat Mochan temple, Tulsi Manas temple
and the Bharat Mata temple.
Kashi
Vishwanth Mandir
Varanasi
is place strewn with temples across the city. The place has great spiritual
importance with may spiritual attractions like Art, Dance, Music etc. Varanasi
is the oldest surviving city of the world and the cultural capital of India. The
most famous temple Kashi Vishwanath Mandir is located on the western bank of
India's holiest river Ganges and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest
of Shiva Temples. It is in the heart of this city that there stands in its
fullest majesty the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in which is enshrined the
Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha. Kashi Vishwanath Temple is
one most famous Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the Holiest
existing Place of Varanasi, where at least once in life a Hindu is expected to
do pilgrimage, and if possible, also pour the remains of cremated ancestors on
the River Ganges.
The
temple has been destroyed and rebuilt a number of times. The Gyanvapi Mosque,
which is adjacent to the temple, is the original site of the temple. The
current structure was built by the Maratha monarch, Ahilya Bai Holkar of Infore
in 1780. Since 1983, the temple is being managed by Govt. of Uttar Pradesh.
During the religious occasion of Shivratri, Kashi Naresh (King of Kashi) is the
chief officiating priest and no other person or priest is allowed to enter the
sanctum sanctorum. It is only after he performs his religious functions that
others are allowed to enter.
The
temple is visited every day by thousand of devotees. The temple roof is clad
with Gold. The temple complex consists of a series of smaller shrines, located
in a small lane called the Vishwanatha Galli, near the river. The Shiva Linga
of the main deity at the shrine is 60 cm tall and 90 cm in circumference housed
in a silver altar. There are small temples for Kaalbhairav, Dhandapani,
Avimukteshwara, Vishnu, Vinayaka, Sanishwara, Virupaksha and Virupaksh Gauri in
the complex. There is a small well in the temple called the Jnana Vapi (the
wisdom well) and it is believed that the Jytorlinga was hidden in the well to
protect it at the time of invasion. It is said that the main priest of the
temple jumped in the well with the Shiv Ling in order to protect the jyotir
Ling from invaders.The architecture and temple interior comes alive with
mesmerizing effect during the main prayers.
The
Temple has great importance in Hindu Religion. The temple is widely recognized
as one of the most important places of worship in Hindu religion and most of
the leading Hindu saints, including Adi Sankaracharya, Ramakrishna Paramhansa,
Swami Vivekananda, Goswami Tulsidas, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Gurunanak have
visited this site. A visit to the temple and a bath in the river Ganga is
believed to lead one on a path to Moksha (liberation). Thus, people from all
over the nation, try to visit the place at least once in their lifetime. There
is also a tradition that one should give up at least one desire after a
pilgrimage the temple, and the pilgrimage would also include a visit to the
temple at Rameswaram in South India, where people take the water samples of
Ganga to perform prayer at the temple and bring back the sand from near that
temple. Due to the immense popularity and holiness of this temple, hundreds of
temples across the nation have been built with the same style and architecture.
Many legends establish that the true devotee achieves freedom from death and
samsara by worship of Shiva. Shiva's devotees on death are directly taken to
Mount Kailash by his messengers to his abode and not to Yama. The superiority
of Shiva and his victory over his own nature - Shiva is himself identified with
death - is also ascertained. There is a popular belief that Shiva himself blows
the mantra of salvation into the ears of people who choose to end their lives at
the Vishwanath temple.
A Visit to
River Ganges ‘Ghats’:
A
bath in Ganges River followed with visit to the Temple has deep importance for
Hindu’s. The century olds Ghats which are located 4 kms along the river Ganges
is spectacular sight, especially with importance of each Ghat and its history
and timeless appeal. The long string of bathing steps leading down to the water
on the western bank of the Ganges itself tells its spiritual story. Most are
used for bathing but there is also located is ‘Marikarnika’ Ghat or the
cremation Ghat for Hindus. There, one can often experience watching funeral
processions threading their way through the backstreets to this ghat. The best
time to visit the ghats is at dawn when the river is bathed in a mellow light
as pilgrims come to perform puja (literally ‘respect’; offering or prayers) to
the rising sun, and at sunset when the main ‘ganga aarti’ ceremony takes place
at Dasaswamedh Ghat. One can explore a trip from Dasaswamedh Ghat south to
Harishchandra Ghat and can have a great knowledge about the place Varanasi. The
Ghats are best approached by Dashashwamedha ghat, where boats are available on
hire.
Varanasi
is mainly popular for these ghats and the spiritual environment over here.
People here come to explore about the Hindu culture, tradition and religion.
Thus this place is very famous and full of tourists from across the world
throughout of year.
Reaching
Varanasi
By
Air: This oldest city of the world is properly linked and reachable to main
Indian cities. The daily domestic flights are the easy source to reach Varanasi
in few hours. Various Airline operators including India Airlines operates their
daily flight to Varanasi
By
Rail: the direct train from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and other states of India's
help people to reach the destination easily. The Railways has started direct
train to Varanasi from Delhi.
By
Road: The flat and clean road of Varanasi highway allows people to travel
through road as well. Public and private transport vehicles are available for
Varanasi as it is properly connected with major cities of India.
