Eternal Peace On The Waterfront – Banaras
“Only if ganga Maiya (Ganga river), Baba Biswanath (Lord Shiva) and Banaras is brought to the United States, will I ever agree to go there and live.” – Ustad Bismillah Khan, Shehnai Maestro.
It is not just the physical space that defines the ghats of Banaras (or Varanasi, it’s current official name). It’s a five millennia old civilization distilled. Banaras is one of the oldest continually lived cities of the world and its ghats are a totem of Indian spirituality and culture.
For visitors, it is an unparalleled visual and spiritual encounter – the devoted descending into the Ganga for Surya Namaskar at the crack of dawn, the thousands of diyas and scented flowers floating on the waters, the pundits and the rituals, the crowds and the commotion..Millions of devotees visit the city each year to wash away the sins, or simply, to wait for death.
It is estimated that there are over 100 ghats in the city. many of the ghats claim their origins from the Gods. For instance, Dasaswamedh – one of the main ghats in the city – is said to be the exact spot where Lord Brahma sacrificed 10 horses. Another ghat – Manikarnika- is said to have got its name when the Goddess Parvati – having lost her earrings (manik) on the banks of the Ganga – asked her husband Lord Shiva to search for them. Thus, devotees say theLord is forever present at the ghat, hunting for the never found earrings.
Because of deep spiritual links, Banaras is the cultural hub of north India. It is believed to be the city of Lord Shiva, who resdes here along with his consort, Parvati. The city, for thousands of years, has been a center for learning. Banaras Hindu University was established here in 1916 by Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya.
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