Ghats of Varanasi
Varanasi or Kashi is older than traditions. Varanasi presents
a unique combination of physical, metaphysical and supernatural
elements. According to the Hindu mythology, Varanasi liberates
soul from human body to the ultimate. It is the Ganga
Ghats of Varanasi that complement the concept of divinity.
Ghats of Ganga are perhaps the holiest spots of Varanasi.
The Ganga Ghats at Varanasi are full of pilgrims who flock
to the place to take a dip in the holy Ganges, which is
believed to absolve one from all sins.
There are number of temples on the bank of the Ganga
river in Varanasi. It is believed that people are cleansed
physically, mentally and spiritually at Ganga Ghats.
It is at the Ganga Ghats where we see life and death
together. For thousands of years people have been thronging
these Ghats to offer their morning prayers to the rising
sun. There are more than 100 ghats along side Ganga
in Varanasi. Some of the prominent and popular Ghats
at Varanasi are the Dasaswamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat,
Harischandra Ghat, Kabir Ghat and Assi Ghat.
Assi Ghat
Situated at the confluence of Ganga and Asi rivers,
Assi Ghat is the southernmost Ghat in Varanasi, where
pilgrims bathe before paying their homage to Lord Shiva
in the form of huge lingam situated under a peepal tree.
Assi Ghat also constitutes the southern end of conventional
city. Another lingam worshipped here is the Asisangameshwar
lingam representing the lord of confluence of the Asi,
enshrined in a small marble temple near the Assi Ghat.
It was at the Assi Ghat where the famous Indian poet
saint, Tulsi Das had written the much-celebrated Ramcharitmanas.
Dasaswamedh Ghat
Dasaswamedh Ghat is one of the most important Ghats
of Varanasi. Dasaswamedh literally means the Ghat (river
front) of ten sacrificed horses. According to legends
ten horses were sacrificed by Lord Brahma to allow Lord
Shiva to return from a period of banishment. In spite
of the fact that Dasaswamedh is one of the oldest Ghats
of Varanasi, dating back to many thousand years, the
Ghat has remained unspoilt and clean.
Harish Chandra Ghat
Harish Chandra Ghat is one of the oldest Ghats of Varanasi.
Harish Chandra Ghat is name after a mythological King
Harish Chandra, who once worked at the cremation ground
here for the perseverance of truth and charity. It is
believed that the Gods rewarded him for his resolve,
charity and truthfulness and restored his lost throne
and his dead son to him. Harish Chandra Ghat is one
of the two cremation Ghats (the other being Manikarnika
Ghat) and is some times referred as Adi Manikarnika
(the original creation ground). Hindus from distant
places bring the dead bodies of their near and dear
ones to the Harish Chandra Ghat for cremation. In Hindu
mythology it is believed that if a person is cremated
at the Harish Chandra Ghat, that person gets salvation
or "moksha". The Harish Chandra Ghat was somewhat
modernized in late 1980's, when an electric crematorium
was opened here.
Manikarnika Ghat
Manikarnika Ghat is the main cremation Ghat of Varanasi.
Manikarnika Ghat is one of the oldest and most sacred
Ghats in Benaras. According to the Hindu mythology,
being burned here provides an instant gateway to liberation
from the cycle of births and rebirths. Lying at the
center of the five tirthas, Manikarnika Ghat symbolizes
both creation and destruction. At Manikarnika Ghat,
the mortal remains are consigned to flames with the
prayers that the souls rest in eternal peace. There
is a sacred well at the Manikarnika Ghat, called the
Manikarnika Kund. Manikarnika Kund is said to be dug
by Lord Vishnu at the time of creation while the hot
ashes of the burnt bodies makes one remember the inevitable
destruction of everything in the world.
Tulsi Ghat
Tulsi Ghat is another important Ghat of Varanasi. Tulsi
Ghat is named after the great Hindu poet of the 16th
century, Tulsidas. Tulsi Ghat is an important window
into the Hindu mythology. Tulsi Das composed the great
Indian epic, Ramcharitmanas at Varanasi. According to
mythology, when Tulsi's manuscript fell into the River
Ganga it did not sink and kept floating instead. It
is also believed that the Ramlila (story of Lord Rama's
life) was staged here for the first time. Perhaps, to
commemorate this a temple of Lord Ram was built on the
Tulsi Ghat. Many of the relics of Tulsi Das are preserved
at the Tulsi Ghat. The house in which Tulsidas died
has been preserved and his samadhi, wooden clogs, pillow
and the idol of Hanuman, which Tulsi worshipped, are
all still intact here.
|
