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Varanasi:
its antiquity and historical significance

Varanasi, the sacred city of lord Shiva on the bank of river Ganga, is one of the living cities of the world. This land of deeds, knowledge, philosophy and culture, has its own supreme glorious past. Like a sacred grove of Indian culture, literature, and devotion, this small town has attained a zenith of philosophical acquisitions. The spectrums of vedas and literature are the testimony of unobstructed glories of Varanasi through ages. The incandescent rays of knowledge sprouted through this city have been awaking the world in vivid fields, science, religion, life-philosophy, culture, to name a few. This is the only living city having glorious and significant modern philosophy in the world.

In ancient times, Varanasi was known by the name 'Kashi'. According to Skandpurana, the term kasi is derived from the root Kas, which means 'light' - the light of knowledge on the path of ignorance. Also, where lord Siva is present with his indistructive flame of life. Varanasi has its usual names - Kasi, Anandvan, Avimukt, Mahasmasana, and Varanasi. The city is named after for it divine location between rivers Varuna and Assi. The name Anandvan is thus for its offered pleasure to the lord Siva. Later it was expressed by the name Avimukta because the city gave salvation to the dead persons, and in effect to this truth, people feel bestowed staying here in Avimukt. And during this Kasivas (people's stay at kasi as sanyasi for purification of their soul in want of attaining salvation), they come realise the eternal difference between life before and after death. The name Mahasamasan has also its important suitableness. On disjoining, sam means sav, the dead body, and san means sona, the gold. According to Purans, during the annihilation all the elements merge in Siva, the destroyer and therefore kasi is known as Mahasamasan.

Varanasi is the pious pilgrimage of Hindus. It is more significant because it is near the river Ganga, which originates from the Himalayan - the Gods' place. Because of its sanctity, Varanasi has always been an important centre of different religions. Janie's famous God Tirthankar Parsvanath born in Varanasi, so its also Janie's pilgrimage. Buddha the creator of Buddhism gave his first teachings known as Dharmchkrapravartan in Sarnath, Varanasi. Vaishnavism and saivism are the oldest religion in Varanasi. It is believed that this city is located on Siva's trident, so it is called peculiar in the three realms.

It is a popular saying that every piece of stone has divinity of Siva. This proverb clearly indicated a large number of shivlingams and people's strong belief to worship Siva as the patron deity of the city. It has been realised in ancient times that he was at the bottom of every thing that is moving, he was called Isvara. It is therefore the various forms of Siva, which are transposed in the city of Varanasi in the form of isvara (as suffix to the various form of Siva) and a lingam has been installed there to honour that form.
Varanasi, since ancient times has been a learning and devotional place of various believers and sages and even now it is a centre for those religious and believers whose old glimpses can be seen in Goddess worship, Yaksha worship & Nag worship. According to Purans, very division of kasi is filled with pilgrimage. The famous Chinese traveller Heun-sang reportedly told that there were one hundred temples in Varanasi in his times and none were less than hundred feet high.

The Dashashwamed Ghat of Varanasi is famous for centuries. according to a legend, Bharshiv Kings organised ten Ashwamedh Yagyas and performed the royal Bething function over here, so its named as Dashashwamedh.

Another Ghat Panchganga is imagined to be the meeting of the currents of five rivers. According to the Nardiya Puran, a person who takes a holy bath in panchganga, never regains his body made of 'panchatatva' (five elements) and gets emancipated.

In Varanasi, Gyanwapi and Bhaironath are also two important pilgrim points. In the Bhaironath temple, lord Bhaironath is said to be the police chief of Kasi or the portal of the castle, who protect the city from evil. The path of panchkrosi yatra in kasi is spread over about five miles on which hundreds of pilgrims points lie. In the context kasi becomes a vital pilgrim centre as well as a place for spiritual attainment.

Varanasi is one of the earliest heritage cities in the world and besides its religious aspects, it is also considered as the capital of knowledge. Kasi has a substantial contribution to the development of Sanskrit language, which is the root of the Indian philosophy. The learned and the wise persons, well known and world renowned in the knowledge of the supreme self and worldly wisdom, have always been an inclination of their souls and regular affection with this city. Not only this, but many learned lived most of their lives in Varanasi, created literature and made themselves contended. On the one hand, specialists like Ramanand, Chaitannya and Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya introduced new dimensions to the Indian Philosophy, and on the other, saints like Kabir and Tulsi gave up their personal allurement for salvation and enlightened the whole Hindu community with their own concern and saved the religion in the society.

The other literature those have contributed to elucidate Kasi, include, Charak Muni's 'Charaksahinta', Devodas Dhanvantari's 'Sushrut Sanghinta' and Shankracharya's 'Brahm Sutra'.

For the philosophical significance of Kasi, Mrs. Annie Besant Developed a branch of 'Theosophical Society' here and gave a helping hand in the foundation of Asia's biggest University in Varanasi, by Pandit Madan Mohan Malvia.

Apart from the philosophical, religious and Hindu literature, Kasi is also known for its contribution to the Ayurvedic Medical Science. On account of the founder of surgery, Kasi has its name in gold letters in history. Ayurvedas originality begins with God Dhanvatari in Kasi, which resulted in the present form of Modern Medical Science. Plastic surgery, Cataract and Calculus operations are the gifts of the God Dhanvantari. The great saint Maharshi Patanjali, the preceptor of Ayurveda and Yoga, had a closer affiliation with this city. The Patanjali well is still existing as his memorial in Varanasi.

Since the dawn of civilisation on Indian soil, Varanasi has always been the centre of hectic activities of Hindu religion, culture and trade, which is evident from Pali and Sanskrit literature.

Situated on the left bank of the Ganges, Varansi occupies a strategic position in the northern planes. It has long been an important controlling point for river traffic and commerce. Even now, it is the midpoint on the Grand Trunk Road, linking Kolkatta in the east and Peshawar in the west.

Varanasi being a place of pilgrimage for Hindus as well as Buddhists and Jains, always attracted a large number of visitors from various parts of India and rest of the world. It became an important centre of learning as well as of trade and commerce. In the early Buddhist sources, the merchants of Varanasi are reported to have sent cart loads of Pottery to cities as far west as Takshila and as far western south as Ujjain.

Varanasi was famous for its soft and thin muslin. It was not only valuable, but, was highly appreciated by the people of their country. The commentator of the 'Mahaparinibban Sutta' (Buddist Literate) informs us that the dead body of the Buddha was wrapped with the cloth made in Kasi, and that it was so thin and compact that even oil could not penetrate it.

The Romans were also fond of silks, did commerce through Varanasi. In jambuk Jataka (Buddhist Literature), there is a description about a woman, who wears a beautiful perfumed clothes to displease her husband who was going to release himself from worldly attachments.

Along with the cotton, woollen and silk clothes, Banarasi Sari is closely connected with cultural and traditional values of varanasi. Banarasi Kimkhab (embroidery) was made by real gold and silver threads and precious stones were set with Banarasi Brocade work, which were specially liked by the emperors.

The trade of Beads, Pendants and Ivory were very significant and played an active part in the economical development of the country during the Shun and Kushan periods. Its prosperity is testified by the coins, bearing the name of the Varanasi. Moreover, its glory is echoed by an encryption from Sarnath, belonging to the third regnal year of Kanishka, the Kushan ruler. It describes Varanasi as a place sanctified by the movements of the blessed ones.

....Shambhavi Agrawal