WRITTEN BY LONDON SWAMINATHAN

Post No. 12,942

Date uploaded in London – –   21 JANURARY 2024                 

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

https://www.pustaka.co.in/home/author/london-swaminathan

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 Hindu’s Holiest City Varanasi is in Uttar Pradesh on the banks of River Ganga. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga Shrines.

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Varanasi, also known as Kasi (kaasi) is the oldest city in the world. Hindus believe Mahabaharata war took place just before Kali Yug which began in 3102 BCE. Kasi Kingdom and the kings famous three daughters Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika lay the foundation for the great epic. So it is known from Vedic days.

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Author Mark Twain wrote in 1897 of Varanasi,

Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.

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The presiding deity is Shiva with the name Viswanath. Goddess Visalakshi is his consort.

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On Deepavali day Priceless Gold statue of Goddess Annapoorani will be displayed worship. It is preserved in the vault of Reserve Bank of India at other times.

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The name Varanasi is derived from two rivers Varuna and Asi that go around Kasi area. Foreigners corrupted the name and Varanasi became Benares. Ganges tributaries forming the city’s borders: Varuna still flowing in northern Varanasi, and Assi, today a small stream in the southern part of the city, near Assi Ghat. 

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There  are 64 Ghats according to tradition; but modern count is 84 Ghats in the River Ganges. Dasa Asvamedh Ghat is the most famous one.

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Manikarnika and Harischandra Ghat are well known because the dead bodies are half bunt there and pushed into the river.

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Great saints like Tulsidas, Kabir das are associated with Kasi.

Buddha born as a Hindu king, came and delivered his first lecture at Kasi area and that place is known as Sarnath now.

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It is one of the Seven Holy Cities of India known as Saptapuris.

अयोध्या मथुरा माया काशी काञ्ची अवन्तिका ।  पुरी द्वारावती चैव सप्तैते मोक्षदायकाः Meaning: 1: Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya (Mayapuri or Haridwar), Kashi (Varanasi), Kanchi (Kanchipuram), Avantika (Ujjain) … 2: … and Dwaravati (Dwaraka); These seven cities are giver of Moksha (Liberation) (and are called Mokshapuri).

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Muslim fanatic Aurang Zeb demolished most famous Shiva Temple and built a mosque on it. He did the same in Ayodhya and Mathura as well. Later Kasi Viswanath Temple was built by a Maratha commander after Auranga Zeb’s demolition.

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Kasi is not only a pilgrim centre but also a centre for popular silk saris .

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Scholars from all over India came to Kasi to win the famous scholars of other sects.

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Now there over 4000 places of worship in Kasi.

Gnanvapi inside a mosque is in news nowadays; it is believed fanatic Aurang Zeb buried Hindu’s holy Shivlinga there.

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Nattukkottai Chettiar community of Tamil Nadu is doing amazing service there.  “Even if Punjab Mail is delayed Sambo Shankara won’t be delayed” is the popular saying in Kasi. The community is doing Puja thrice  a day and the Puja articles are taken along the streets from their Choultry to the temple. They do it with the slogan Sambo Shankara, Sambo Shankara and hence the saying.

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Famous Durga temples are there. After Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India, vast improvements  are done so that devotees get easy access to the temple .

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Kasi is a holy pilgrim centre for Hindus, Jains , Buddhists and Sikhs because of their saints birth or visit to it.

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Ancient Tamil inscriptions end with a curse which shows the sanctity of the place. “If anyone violates the instructions in the inscription that person will get the sin of killing a holy cow on the banks river Ganga in Kasi. This shows Cow, Ganga and Kasi are the most sacred things for the Hindus

–subham—

Tags – Amazing facts, Kasi, Varanasi, Viswanath temple,