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The
king among the Kshetrams is Kasi. Every one is aware of this fact in
this world. This place has some other names also. Those are
Avimuktham, Anandha vanam Maha-smasanam and Banaras
There is a
belief that the divine bright indescribable light is always on in
this place. Hence this Sthalam is called Kasi. Also it is said that
Jyothir lingam first came to the earth in this place. Kasi is the
central 'sthalam' among Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya Kasi, Kanchi,
Avanthika, Dwaraka. There is neither extricate nor extricable merged
with Parabrahmam Sankarar hence the name has happened Avimuktham.
Bhagavan Sankara happily married the daughter of Parvatha Raja
(king of mountain's) Parvathi and he lived in his new palace in Kasi
with his newly married wife. Hence this is called Anandha-vanam.
The Lord is the protector of the universe and his work is to
transform life into after-life. As the world ends in the 'great
deluge' with the Lord 's divine dance (Rudra thandavam) drawing in
all livings things to himself his living place is called
Maha-smasanam.
This
Holy place is in between two rivers called Varanam, and Asi. So this
holy place is called Varanasi. Demon Banaran renovated this sthalam
and installed the Sivalingam worshipped in this place. Hence this
place is called Banaras following the demon Banaran's name.
When
Brahma and Vishnu were confused as to what for they had been created
there was a voice that said " Both of you do penance." They
were thinking as to where they should do the penance. Again the same
voice said "Almighty Aadhi Sivam estabilished a huge city and it
is hanging in the space supported by the Lord's Soolam (trident). Do
the penance in that place." Then Brahma and Vishnu reached the
place and worshipped the "Parabrahma Lingam". Years passed.
Lord thought that even the human beings of the world should have all
prosperity and pray to himself. Hence he brought Kasi to the earth by
his divine force
After
the city was brought to the earth Vishnu did penance to Lord Siva .
He wanted water. So Maha-vishnu dug a well with his disk (Chakra) at
the place. He sweated like a water fall and the water filled the
well. Hence it is called 'Chakra-Pushkarni'.
In
Daksha yagna because Devi's consort Lord Siva was insulted by her
father Daksha the Devi went in to yoga-agni. When Siva came to know
about this incident he was very angry. He took sati Devi's body on
his shoulders and began to do" Aghora Thandavam" . When
Vishnu with his disc separated Sakthi from Siva to make Siva calm
down the Devi's ear ring fell in that place. Much later Siva went to
Kasi and enquired with Vishnu about the ear-ring of Sati. Vishnu
showed the well that he had created with his disk. Siva peeped into
the well and unexpectedly his ear-ring (kundalam) fell into the well.
After this Siva disappeared,at that moment there was a very bright
light from the well and a Siva Lingam appeared. This is the first
Jyothir Lingam to appear in this world. Paramatma is giving all his
blessings to his devotees in 'Jyothir Linga swaroopam'because the
earrings of Siva and Sakthi both fell in the same place the lingam
came out as 'Siva Sakthi—Rupam'. Vishnu took the lingam and
installed it in a holy place. Siva was delighted and showed his
'Viswa-roopam' to Vishnu. Then Vishnu prayed to Siva to send Ganga to
the earth . He further prayed that when devotees take a dip into the
river all their sins should be wiped off and Lord Siva should bestow
his blessings on them. Siva said "So be it". The History of Kshetram: According
to legend, Varanasi was founded by the God Siva The Pandavas are
also stated to have visited the city in search of Siva to atone for
their sins of killing his guru and Brahmahathi that they had
committed during the Kurukshetra war It is regarded as one of seven
holy cities which can provide libration
(Moksham):
The
archaeological evidence speaks that Varanasi kshetram is the seat of
the Vedic religion and Philosophy in the Ganges valley and began in
the 11th and 12th century. Further it states
this place among the world oldest continually colonized cities, and it is also said that Varanasi area was populated by Vedic
community people. The recent excavations at Aktha and Ramnagar, two
sites very near to Varanasi, show them to be from 1800 BC, suggesting
Varanasi started to be inhabited by that time too
Varanasi
is an important industrial center, famous for its Muslin and silk
fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture. The city's religious
importance continued to grow in the 8th century, when Adi Sankara
established the worship of Lord Siva as on official sect of Varanasi.
During the Mogul invaded in the country the temple destructed many
times and reconstructed in the English period.
The
interesting places other than the temple
Museums,
Jantar Mantar, Saranath Museum, Bharat Kala Bhawan, and Ram Nagar
fort.
Ramnagar
Fort :
The
Ramnagar fort is located near the Ganges River on its eastern bank,
opposite to the Tulsi Ghat, was built in the 18th century by Kasi
Naresh Raja Balwant Singh with creamy chunar Sand Stone . It is in a
typically Mughal style of artichitecture with carved balconies, open
courtyards, and scenic pavilions. At present it is not in condition
The fort and its museum are should protect the history of the kings
of Banares.. It has a rare collection of American vintage cars,
sedan chairs (bejeweled), an impressive weaponry hall and a rare
astrological clock. The religious books is in Saraswathi bhawan. Hand
written Manuscript by Tulasi dass, and many books illustrated in the
Mughal miniature style, beautiful covers a part of collection, the
locations of banks of the river Ganges is a beautiful scan. However,
only a part of the fort is open for public viewing as the rest of the
area is the residence of the Kashi Naresh and his family. It is 14
kilometres (9 miles) from Varanasi.
Ghats
in Varanasi : Ghats are embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank
where pilgrims perform ritual ablutions. Ghats in Varanasi are an
integral compliment to the concept of divinity represented in
physical, metaphysical and supernatural elements. All the ghats are
locations on "the divine cosmic road", indicative of "its
manifest transcendental dimension". It is said that Varanasi has
at least 84 ghats. Steps in the ghats lead to the banks of River
Ganges, including the Dhashas wamedh ghat, the Manikarnika Ghat
the Panchganga Ghat and the Harishchandra Ghat Many ghats are
associated with legends and several are now privately owned. Many of
the Ghats were built when the city was under Maratha control.
Morning boat ride on the Ganges across the Ghats is a popular visitor
attraction. The extensive stretches of Ghats enhance the river front
with a multitude of shrines, temples and palaces built "tier on
tier above the water’s edge".
The
Important temples to visit: Sri
Durga Devi Mandir: Approximately 300 years old temple (18th
century). The temple, built in Nagara architectural style, this temple
has multi story spires and painted in red color with ocher. This
temple has a rectangular tank is called Durga kund . The
Naga-panchami day lord Vishnu reclining on the shesha in the temple
tank. Annapoorani Sangatha temple: Special feature in this sangatha temple has a
large sculpture of a lion and a nine temple cluster dedicated to the
9 planets. Kalabairava temple: There is
a well in the Kalabaira temple it is said that this well has some
religious significance as its water source is believed to be fed from
various underground streams flow it has curative power. Sri Mrutyanja moorthy temple. New Viswanat
temple: It is located in Banaras Hindu University campus. (This temple
planed by Pandit Malviya and construction by Birla.) Tulasi Manas
temple: is near by the Durga Temple, is a modern temple dedicated to
the god Rama.
It is built at the place where Tulsidas authored the Ramacharitmanas,
(Tulasi das Ramayanam) Many verses from this epic are inscribed on
the temple walls. Bharatha Matha temple.
The
Wall paintings
Varanasi
has an own culture of fine art and literature. Renowned Indian
writers have lived in the city, Kabir,Ravidas, and Tulasidas, who
wrote much of his Ramcharit manas here, Kulluka Bhatt, who wrote the
best known commentary of Manusmriti here in the 15th century, and
Bharatendu Harichandra.. . Varanasi is the center of arts and crafts,
particularly silks and brocades with gold and silver thread work,
carpet weaving, wooden toys, bangles made of glass, ivory work,
perfumes, artistic brass and copper ware and a variety of
handicrafts.
Music
in Varanasi : Saint
Goswami Tulsidas Awadhi Hindi Poet and prorogator of Bhakthi music in
Varanasi. Music in Varanasi is linked to the Pauranic legends. Lord
Siva who is reported to have established this city was credited with
evolving music and dance forms. In the historical medieval times,
when Vaishanava Bhakthi movement was a rage in the country,
literature of the times attest to the fact that Kasi was then a
famous centre of music. Saint musicians who furthered the musical
fame were Surdas, Kamir, Raidas and Tulasidas, which continues to
this day. During the monarchic rule of Sri Govindha chandra in the
16th century, the Dhrupad style of singing received royal patronage
and led to other related forms of music such as Dhamar Hori and
Chaturang. In recent times, Girija Devi, the famous classical singer
of Thumris, who was born here was instrumental in elevating music to
a status of respectability and appreciation.
Apart
from the vocal music singers, Varanasi is also associated with many
great instrumentalists like Ustad Bismillah Khan an iconic Sehnai
maestro,Pandit Ravisankar, the famous Sitar player and musicologist
who was given the highest civilian award of the country, the Bharat
Ratna.
Transport:
Varanasi
Junction, the largest station serving the city
Varanasi
is well-connected by air, rail and road. One of the major factors in
Varanasi's sustained existence as an lived in city is its
role as an established transportation part between cities.
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