Varanasi also known as Benares or Banaras is situated on the banks of the River Ganges in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is regarded as a holy city by Buddhists and Jains, and is the holiest place in the world in Hinduism [center of the Earth in Hindu cosmology.] It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and probably the oldest in India. Varanasi is home to four universities. <Walking tour of Varanasi>
The Kashi Naresh (Maharaja of Kashi) is the chief cultural patron of Varanasi and an essential part of all religious celebrations. The culture of Varanasi is closely associated with the River Ganges and the river's religious importance. Hindus believe that bathing in the Ganges removes sins and dying in Kashi (Varanasi ) ensures release of a person's soul from the cycle of its transmigrations The city has been a cultural and religious center in North India for several thousand years. The Benares Gharana form of Indian classical music developed in Varanasi, and many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians resided or reside in Varanasi. Tulsidas wrote Ramacharitamanas here and Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath located near Varanasi. People refer to Varanasi as "the city of temples," "the holy city of India," "the religious capital of India," "the city of lights," and "the city of learning." Note: Ghat refers to a series of steps leading down to a water body, usually a holy river.
Aarti is said to have descended from the Vedic concept of fire rituals, or homa. In the traditional Aarti ceremony, the flower represents the earth (solidity), the water and accompanying handkerchief correspond with the water element (liquidity), the lamp or candle represents the fire component (heat), the peacock fan conveys the precious quality of air (movement), and the yak-tail fan represents the subtle form of ether (space). The incense represents a purified state of mind, and one’s "intelligence" is offered through the adherence to rules of timing and order of offerings. Thus, one’s entire existence and all facets of material creation are symbolically offered to the Lord via the Aarti ceremony.
When aarti is performed, the performer faces deity of God and concentrates on the form of God by looking into the eyes of the deity (it is said that eyes are the windows to the soul) to get immersed. Aarti is waved in circular fashion, in clockwise manner around the deity. Looking at God while performing Aarti reminds the performer (and the attendees of the Aarti) to keep God at the center of all activities and reinforces the understanding that routine worldly activities are secondary in importance.
> Varanasi - Sunrise over the Ganges River
Sunrise temples - bathed in soft light we took a small boat cruise on Ganges - everyday life in holiest of cities, people arrive at ghats to take a ritual dip, perform yoga asanas, wash clothes and offer flowers and incense to the river. People perform their daily religious rites. To get closer to the people and to visit the holiest village in India we took a walking tour of Varanasi.
Sarnath is one of the holiest places associated with the life of Lord Buddha. This is where Buddha, after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya, preached his first sermon to his companions. In Buddhism this is known as Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana or the “Turning of the Wheel of Law.” The very first Buddhist Sangha was begun here by Lord Buddha. Sarnath is held equally holy by the Jainas as the place of the death of Sreyansanatha, the eleventh Tirthankara. Excavations at Sarnath have unearthed monasteries, stupas, temples, inscriptions, sculptures and other antiques dating from the third century B.C. to the twelfth century A.D. Among them are Chaukhandi Stupa, Dharmrajika Stupa, Dhamekh Stupa, <Mulgandha Kuti>, an asokan Pillar and the Lion Capital, and Dharm-Chakra Jin-Vihara. The Archaeological Survey of India maintains a site museum, with sculptures, inscriptions and other objects of interest, recovered from the excavations.
We returned to New Delhi to a beautiful hotel the <Vasant Continental> before starting out again for Jodhpur.
HOME
Our Travels
- Northern