Kashi The religious capital of India

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Kashi

• The religious capital of India

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KASHI aka BENARAS aka VARANASIaka

• "the city of temples",
• "the holy city of India",
• "the religious capital of India",
• "the city of lights",
• "the city of learning"
• "culture capital of India"

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Geography of Varanasi District

• Situated in Uttar Pradesh on the left (west) bank
  of river Ganga
• Geographical Area( 2001) in Sq. Km. 1535
• Population(2001) 31.3867 Lakhs         
• Literacy (2001) in Lakhs
• Total16.9440   Male 10.5061  Female 6.4379
• Temperature(2004-05) in Celsius
• Max 47  Min 4.5

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Location
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Quote from Sankaracharya (8th century)

• In Kashi the Light shines
• The Light illumines everything
• Whoever knows that Light
• Truly reaches Kashi

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Facts about Kashi

• Varanasi is generally believed to be about 3,000
  years old.
• Tulsidas wrote his Ramacharitamanas here.
• Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath
  12km from Kashi.
• Ayurveda is said to have originated at Varanasi.
• Patanjali wrote his seminal works in Kashi in 2nd
  century AD.
• Adi Shankaracharya was here in 8th century AD
  when he revived the Hindu religion.

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History of Kashi

• During the time of Gautama Buddha (born 567 BC),
  Varanasi was the capital of the Kingdom of Kashi.
  Buddha visited several Ghats in Kashi.
• During successive invasions starting with the
  hordes of Mahmud of Ghazni in 1033 AD followed by
  Mohammed Ghori in 1193 AD, Muslims pillaged and
  destroyed several times Hindu temples (which were
  being continually rebuilt) in Varanasi, and used
  the temple material to build mosques.

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History of Kashi

• At the start of the seventeenth century, Mughal
  Emperor Akbar brought some relief in the
  destruction of Hindu temples, but near the end of
  that century, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb led
  another temple destruction and even renamed the
  city as Mohammadâbâd.
• Marathas came to rescue it in 17th century.
  Marathas brought old pride of city back when it
  was under their control.

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Why is Kashi a tirtha?

• Kashi is regarded as the dwelling place of Lord
  Shiva and Parvati on earth . There are several
  shrines of Lord Shiva (shivalinga) along the
  Ghats.
• The main temple of Kashi known as Vishwanath
  temple is the main Shiva shrine. This
  jyotirlingam is swayambhu (self manifest lingam).
  Of the 12 jyotirlingam shrines in India the one
  is Kashi is believed to be the first one to
  manifest.
• It is believed that bathing in the holy river
  Ganga along the Kashi Ghats will wash away all
  our sins.
• Dying in Kashi is considered pious. The
  traditional belief is that the person is
  liberated from continuous cycle of rebirth and
  attains nirvana.

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Ghats of Kashi - Highlights

• The ghats lie more than six kilometers along the
  western bank of the river stretching in a
  semicircle. Altogether there are 80 ghats in
  Kashi.
• The southernmost ghat is Assi Ghat and the
  northernmost is Adi Keshava Ghat before Malaviya
  Bridge.
• More than 1,000,000 pilgrims visit the ghats each
  year. One of the most popular yatras the
  Panchtirthi Yatra takes pilgrims to the 5 most
  sacred ghats Asi, Kedar, Dasaswamedha,
  Panchganga and Manikarnika.

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Kashi Ghats
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Dasaswamedh Ghat (Place of the 10 Horse
Sacrifice)

• This ghat is centrally located and is Kashis
  holiest spot. It is located close to "Vishwanath
  Temple", and is probably the most spectacular
  Ghat.
• A group of priests daily perform in the evening
  at this ghat "Agni Pooja" (Worship to Fire)
  wherein a dedication is made to Lord Shiva, River
  Ganga, the Sun, Agni (Fire), and the whole
  universe.
• According to one Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma
  created it to welcome Lord Shiva.
• Story of Lord Brahma and King Divodasa (notes..)

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Dasaswamedh Ghat(Preparation for Ganga Arati)
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Dasaswamedh Ghat(Ganga Arati)
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Dasaswamedh Ghat(Ganga Arati)
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Other Ghats of Kashi - Highlights

• Asi Ghat
• This is the first ghat and one of the few that
  have no steps. The river Asi joins the Ganga at
  this point. As per the myth, Goddess Durga was
  fighting demons Shumbh and Nishumbh here and
  dropped her sword, the asi, here and a river
  sprang from the cut made in the earth.
• Kedar Ghat
• The Kedareshwar Temple stands above the steps of
  this ghat. The Kedar temple and ghat are very
  popular with pilgrims from Bengal and South
  India.
• Panchganga Ghat
• This ghat is said to possess the power of five
  sacred rivers. This ghat is traditionally
  attributed to Vishnu.

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Other Ghats of Kashi - Highlights

• Narad and Chauki Ghats
• Buddha had meditated at these ghats.
• Tulsi Ghat
• Named after saint Tulsidas who translated
  Ramayana from Sanskrit to Hindi.
• Harishchandra and Manikarnika Ghats
• Dedicated to cremating the dead. The fires here
  havent gone out for centuries. The Tarakeshwar
  temple of Shiva stands here. It is said that Lord
  Shiva himself rows the souls of the dead across
  the river of eternity to heaven, all the while
  singing the Taraka Mantra, the prayer of
  salvation.
• Story of Goddess Parvatis earring (notes)

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Kashi Ghats
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Nepali Ghat
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Kashi Ghats(Morning on the Ganges)
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Kashi Ghats(Early morning ride)
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Kashi Ghats(Enjoying the boat ride)
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Kashi Ghats
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Kashi Ghats
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Kashi Ghats
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Kashi Ghats
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Kashi Ghats
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Kashi Ghats
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Kashi Ghats
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Kashi Ghats
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Kashi Ghats
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Kashi Ghats
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Wood for Cremation
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Vishwanath Temple

• The Vishwanath temple was first built about 1000
  years ago.
• It was destroyed in the 12th century when much of
  the city was ravaged and mosques replaced
  temples.
• Rebuilt in 16th century, it was again torn down
  by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
• In 1777, Indores Queen Ahilya Bai built the
  present structure.
• In 1835, Maharaja Ranjit Singh (of Punjab) gold
  plated the roof with 750 kilograms of gold.
• The Gyan Vapi Mosque of Aurangzeb (next to the
  temple) bears evidence in its foundation and rear
  columns of the original temple.

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Kashi Vishwanath Temple
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Near Kashi Vishwanath Temple
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Bazaar near Kashi Vishwanath Temple
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Bazaar near Kashi Vishwanath Temple
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Milk ready to be sold
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Lassi ready to be sold
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What else is in Varanasi

• Varanasi is the main center of Sanskrit learning
  in North India.
• Banaras Hindu University, one of the countrys
  oldest and most renowned institution or learning
  has a unique collection of old manuscripts from
  Hindu scriptures.
• Banaras silk saris are famous all over India for
  the quality and design.
• Marigold flowers are famous from Varanasi and
  widely used for Puja.
• Banarasi Paan (betel leaves) are famous all over
  India.
• Banaras is also known for classical music, some
  of the great musicians like Ustad Bismillah Khan
  and Pandit Ravi Shankar are from Banaras.

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Marigold flowers with the seller
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Banaras Silk Sarees
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Banarasi Paan (Betel Leaves)
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Kashi offers a glimpse of all the four endeavors
of human lifeDharma, Artha, Kama and
MokshaHOW?