Varanasi

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Varanasi

''Kashi redirects here. For other uses of that word, see Kashi (disambiguation)

Varanasi (Hindi: वाराणसी ', pronunciation / /), also known as Benares, Banaras, or Benaras (Hindi: बनारस ', pronunciation / /), or Kashi or Kasi (Hindi: काशी ), is a famous Hindu holy city situated on the banks of the river Ganges (Ganga) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, dating back to Sumer. ^* Varanasi culture is deeply associated with the river Ganges and its religious importance; the city has been a cultural and religious center in northern India for thousands of years. Varanasi has its own style of classical Hindustani music, and has produced prominent musicians, philosophers, poets, and writers in Indian history, including Kabir, Munshi Premchand, Jaishankar Prasad, Pandit Ravi Shankar, and Ustad Bismillah Khan. The city has its own dialect of Hindi. Varanasi is also the home of Banaras Hindu University.

Varanasi has been called the "Cultural Capital of India", although this term is used rarely today. The name Benares and Benaras were in active use during the British regime in India, but it is now most commonly referred to as Banaras. The official name, Varanasi, is not a modern name: the city lies between where the Varuna River, to the north, and the Assi River, to the south, flow into the Ganges. References to Varanasi can be found in age-old Indian scriptures and hymns. One such reference is found in one of the hymns written by Sri Ved Vyasa:

Ganga Tarang Ramneeya Jatakalapam, Gauri Nirantar Vibhushit Vamabhagam, Narayana priya madanag Madapahaaram, Varanasi Purapati Bhaj Vishwanatham

The city is said to be around 5000 years old. Author Mark Twain wrote:

"Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together!"

Holy city

Varanasi is said to be the most holy city in Hinduism. Varanasi is the site of the holy shrine of Lord Kashi Vishwanath (an incarnation of Lord Shiva), one of the twelve revered Jyotirlingas of the Lord Shiva. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, which in its present shape was built in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, is located on the banks of the Ganges. This temple makes Varanasi a place of great religious importance to the Hindus. Varanasi is considered as the most sacred place of pilgrimage for Hindus irrespective of denomination.

It is believed by Hindus that bathing in the river Ganges results in the remission of sins and that dying in the holy city of Kasi (Varanasi) circumvents rebirth.

In the residential neighborhood of the city lies Sarnath, the site of the deer park where Gautama Buddha is said to have given his first sermon about the basic principles of Buddhism. It is a major Buddhist pilgrimage center and also has a stupa built by the Maurya emperor Ashoka the Great.

The name Varanasi is derived from two tributaries of the Ganges, one in the north end of the city, called Varunā and the other in the south end, called Assi (now reduced to a water-drain). The city has an airport at Babatpur, 20 km from the city centre, and is also well-connected to all major cities in India by road and rail.

Regions near the banks of river Ganges are extremely crowded and house several Hindu temples, narrow winding lanes and road-side shops. The main residential areas of Varanasi (especially for the middle and upper classes) are situated in regions far from the ghats; they are more spacious and less polluted. Such a place in an Indian city is called a housing colony.

Probably due to its unique culture, Varanasi is a major tourist destination for foreign tourists in India. The city has also been influenced by Islamic culture. A symbol of Hinduism, the city was pillaged and destroyed several times by the Muslims, first by the hordes of Mahmud of Ghazni in 1033, all Hindu temples being destroyed. The material was used to build mosques. The latter destruction was led by the Moghul emperor Aurangzeb, who renamed the city Mohammadâbâd.

This explains the continuous tensions between comunities in the city and the fact that really ancient monuments are few. However, Varanasi has kept its sacred position as the Holy City of Hinduism.

Culture

A holy city, Varanasi does not take a backseat when it comes to fine arts and literature. Great Indian writers have lived in this city from Kabir to Bharatendu Harishchandra, Jayshankar Prasad, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi; even named after the city, e.g. Kashi Nath Singh.

Art lovers and historians like Rai Krishnadas, his son Prof. Anand Krishna, musicians like Pt. Omkarnath Thakur, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Siddheshwari Devi, Dr. Lalmani Misra, Dr. N. Rajam, Pt. Anokhelal, Pt. Samta Prasad, Kanthe Maharaj and numerous others have kept the city alive to the spiritual aspect of fine arts apart from their ability to entertain. Numerous festivals are celebrated that preserve traditional styles of classical and folk culture. All night, open music concerts like ones organised at Sankat Mochan temple, Hori, Kajri and Chaiti Mela, Budwa Mangal, are annual features that draw connoisseurs from all over.

Industry

Varanasi has several small cottage industries, including Silk sari making, the production of textiles such as hand-woven carpets, and handicrafts. The Banarasi Pan (beetle leaves) and Banarasi Khoa (a milk product, somewhat similar to cheese) sweets are famous, and the related small-scale industries employ many people. Indian Railways runs a major diesel locomotive factory in Varanasi, Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW).

Colleges and Universities

Varanasi is the site of four public universities:

Banaras Hindu University
Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth University
Tibetan University at Sarnath
Sir Sampoornanand Sanskrit University

The city has many other colleges and schools offering higher education in the fields of science, arts and other aspects of western model of education. Apart from these, many private and public institutes provide religious teaching.

Terrorist Acts in Varanasi

On 7th March, 2006, terrorists planted as many as four explosive devices in Varanasi. Around 20 people were reported killed, and many were injured. One of the bombs was planted in the Sankat Mochan Temple, a shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman, while another was planted on a platform of the Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station, the main railway station in the city. An unknown Islamic group called Lashkar-e-Kahab claimed responsibility for the terror attacks.

External links

varanasi.nic.in - Website on Varanasi of the NATIONAL INFORMATICS CENTRE, Govt. of India
Website on Varanasi of the Department of Tourism, Uttar Pradesh
Information on Varanasi from templenet.com
Photos of People bathing in the Ganga from india-picture.net
Varanasi Gate To Moksha
eVaranasi (Banaras) Holy City of India
Varanasi map