Varanasi City – Spiritual Capital of India

Varanasi City Sacred Place for Hindus

Varanasi city is one of the seven holiest cities in India and also known as Kashi and Benaras. Benaras is the city of Moksha for Hindus since the centuries. The Varanasi city is one of the twelve Jyotir Linga sites and has one Sakthi Peethas and most popular pilgrimages to the Hindus. The Hindus believe that who die and cremated here, those got the salvation, which is the main concept of Hinduism.

Hindus belief on Varanasi Temple:

The City also the abode of Lord Shiva, the temple situated on the banks of River Ganges. The pilgrims make the bath in the River Ganges. The Hindus believe that those who made the bath in the sacred Ganges those sins washed away from their lives and turn as the purified people. The pundits said that who sacrificed and chanted here will get the graces of Lord Shiva thousand times more than those good deeds performed at other places because of the power of that place. The people believed that three nights of fasting in the spiritual city can reap your rewards of many thousands of lifetimes of asceticism!

Varanasi History

Varanasi city is more than 3000 years old and one of the oldest cities in the world. Many temples occupied at every corner of the city and every temple has its own spiritual history and also narrated about the importance of the temples in Hindu Puranas. But most of the temples demolished during the Muslim rulers in medieval times. But the devotees rebuilt Jyotirlinga Visvanatha temple in 1776, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Well Jnana Vapi, another attractive holy place, the devotees believed that Lord Shiva has been dug in this well. Another most popular pilgrimage spots of Varanasi are the Ganga Ghats. In ancient place and at present also these Ganga Ghats are the centres of music and learning. Every day the priests offer the poojas to the sacred River Ganges for purifying all the sins of the devotees.

The Old Varanasi History

The old city is very famous for its muslin, silk fabrics, perfumes and various sculptures. Some of the historical figures 23 rd Jain Tirthankara lived in the city and Gautama Buddha also spent many days in Varanasi city.  During the period of Kashi kings, Varanasi was the capital city of their dynasty. Many historical kings ruled this city and treated this place very sacred. During the period of Adi Shankara, Varanasi city thrived with religious importance.

During the period of Qutb-ud-din-Aibak, he ordered the soldiers to destroy the city and temples. Due to his orders, the soldiers demolished thousands of the temples and religious monuments in 1194 A.D. Some of the other ancient temples also destroyed in 1496 A.D. Even after facing such difficulties, Varanasi had been maintained the cultural activities and religious rituals. The saints and Poets Kabir Das, Ravidas and Guru Nanak Dev had visited the place during the celebrations of the religious festival. The famous Mughal emperor improved greater around the 16th century. He also constructed some new temples of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.

Spiritual and Cultural Activities in Varanasi city

Kashi Naresh the King of Kashi started the religious celebrations of the City and become the chief guest of the cultural activities. The religious rituals connected with the River Ganges. The spiritual city struggled during the mediaeval period due to the brutal activities of Muslim rulers and their lust for spreading Islam. Later in the 18th century, Varanasi City became an independent kingdom of Kashi. Still, Kashi Naresh’s generations are living in the fort of the Ramanagar. Kashi Naresh ‘Raja Balwant Singh’ built the fort in the eighteenth century. These generations are the chief cultural patrons and also known as the essential part of all religious celebrations of Hindus.