VARANASI, Uttar Pradesh

Main Attraction: Ghats of Ganga

Ghats of Ganga are perhaps the holiest spots of 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. Varanasi has at least 84 ghats. Some of the prominent and popular Ghats are the Dasaswamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Panchganga Ghat, Harischandra Ghat, Kabir Ghat and Assi Ghat. The Ganga Ghats of Varanasi that complement the concept of divinity

In Hindu traditions, cremation is one of the rites of passage and the Ghats of Varanasi are considered one of the auspicious locations for this ritual. At the time of the cremation or "last rites," a "Puja" (prayer) is performed. Hymns and mantras are recited during cremation to mark the ritual. The Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats are dedicated to the cremation ritual. Ganges Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat is very popular. A group of priests daily perform in the evening at this ghat "Agni Pooja" (Worship to Fire) wherein a dedication is made to Lord Shiva, River Ganges, Surya (Sun), Agni (Fire), and the whole universe.

Brief History

Varanasi one of the ancient cities and seat of learning in India is located on the left bank of the most sacred river Ganga. Varuna and Assi are the two streams bounding it from north and south. The city seems to have acquired its name from the combination of the names of these two streams and the district has been named after it. In medieval times, this name was corrupted to Banaras and it remained as such till May 1956, when it was changed to Varanasi. Being a great religious centre of Hindus, it is visited by millions of people every year and so is the reason that it finds a mention in several ancient sacred texts like Purans, Mahabharat and Ramayana. 

Besides Hinduism, Buddha and Jain dharma have also flourished on this sacred place. Sarnath, hardly 12 kms, from the city is the place where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon revealing the eight fold path that leads to the attainment of inner piece enlightenment and ultimate Nirvana. The district was originally a part of Kashi kingdom Pururavas Alia, the grandson of Manu, is said to be the founder of the earliest dynasty that ruled over this district. It acquired the ancient name Kashi, after the name of the seventh king of this dynasty, the Kasha. A few generations later there ruled a king named Dhanvantari who has been identified in Yayu Puran as the founder of Ayurveda, the indigenous system of medical treatment (the Pancham Veda).

According to Hindu mythology, in Satyug, the king Satya Harish Chandra with his wife sold himself to Dom Raja at Kashi, to pay the Dhakshina to Rajarshi Vishwamitra . In Dwaper,in Mahabharat, it is stated the Bhisma Pitamah took forcibly the three daughters of Kashi Naresh to wed their step brothers, but one of them known as Shikhandi denied and after sometimes she became the cause of death of Bhisma Pitamah during Mahabharat war.

At the end of Maunas kingdom the Banaras kingdom came into power, which was one of the sixteen Mahajanpadas of Bharatvarsha. Before the birth of Lord Buddha, nearly about in 6th century B.C. its capital was Varanasi, which is situated between Varuna and Assi. In the reign of Ajatshatru, it was merged with Magadh empire. Kashi Naresh participated in Mahabharat war. Varanasi city is the holy and oldest city among the ancient towns of world. It has been a centre of learning since long time. Its name is found in Puana, Mahabharata and Ramayana. It is a sacred place of Hindu as well as of Bouddh and Jain.

Kashi kingdom was however dominated by Barhadratha dynasty of Magadh during the century preceding the war but Post-Mahabhartha period saw the rise of Brahmdatta dynasty. About hundred kings of this generation are said to have had their supremacy over this region. Some of these rulers have amassed so much of power that they aspired to become Chakravorty Emperor. King Manoja of Kashi brought the kingdom of Kaushala, Anga and Magadh in his possession and annexed their territories to his empire. In Jain scriptures have described the greatness of Ashva Sena, a king, of Kashi whom they recognized as the father of Tirthankara Parshwa. Subsequently, in the ninth century BC, the Brahmadatta dynasty was subdued by the Nagas. 

Gradually, during the eighth and seventh centuries BC, the kingdom of Kashi had completely lost its vigour and power and consequently it was tossed between Kaushala and Magadh in this duration. However, in the midst of such a situation, Varanasi attained a new importance in the cultural history of India when Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after achieving enlightenment at Gaya. It was the place where is the first Sangha of sixty monks was founded who were later on sent in different direction for propagation of Buddha Dharma.

Bimbhsara of Magadh conquered Kaushala at about the third quarter of Sixth century BC but it came into more prominence at the time of the great emperor Ashoka the third in this line. In Sarnath, Ashoka built a hundred feet high Dharma Rajjika Stupa, probably on the spot where Buddha preached his first sermon. The famous Dharma Chakra pillar surmounted by a lion capital of great beauty was also created by him. This emblem has now been adopted by the government of India as the national emblem. 

Later on Kushans, Nagas Nand, Vansha and Mauryas also held their supremacy over this region before the advent of Gupta Empire which ruled over this region nearly two centuries (320-540 AD). It was the Gupta period, when this region was most prosperous and the glory of the state spread far and wide and innumerable images depicting a glimpse of fine art and sculpture were made during these days. In the first half of the seventh century Kashi formed an integral part of Harshvardhana reign.

Following the death of Harshvardhana in the latter half of the seventh century, there was a chaos in whole of the northern India. Consequently from the middle of ninth century till 1027 A D it remained under the control of Gurjaras and Pratihars before they were thrown away by Mahmud of Gazani. Consequently effect of this episode led to anarchism in the region which was later on put to an end by Gahadawal dynasty. The rule of independent Hindu dynasty in Varanasi had virtually come to an end during 1194-1195 AD, when it fell into the hands of Mohammad Ghauri after the defeat of Jaichandra of Gahadaval dynasty. 

In l322 Varanasi was governed from Zafarabad in Jaunpur during the region of Mohammed Bin Tughlaque. Then for a short while this region became a centre of reformists activities in religion and social spheres. In 1526 Ibrahim Lodhi was defeated in the battle of Panipat and Humaun the son of Babar occupied this region. Humaun was, however, defeated in the battle of Chausa by Sher Khan. Akbar the great Mughal Emperor is said to have reached Varanasi in 1556 and conferred the three Sirkars of Baranas, Jaunpur and Ghazipur on Munim Khan after taking them away from Ali Quli Khan. The area continued to be administered by various governor appointed by Mughal Emperor. 

In 1738 Mansaram, a Gautam Bhumihar and Jamindar was given the administration of Sirkars of Varanasi, Jaunpur and Chunar by Sadat Khan – Subedar of Avadh. The administration passed on to his son Balwant Singh after his death. In 1775 the Kashi kingdom had come under the influence of British Empire. Later he had on confrontation with Warren Hastings, the Governor General who installed Mahip Narain Singh, son of Balwant Singh’s daughter as successor to Chit Singh. The last king of this generation was Vibhuti Narain Singh who ruled for about eight years till the country attained its independence when Banaras state was merged with India. On 25-05-1997, eastern part of Varanasi district, comprising the three tahsils Sakaldiha, Chandauli and Chakia, was cut off from it and a new district named Chandauli was creatied. 

In 1911, Banaras got the status of state. After independence when all the states of India merged with Union of India, Banaras state was also merged in it. During the period of Maharaja Udit Narain Singh, Gyanpur was a pargana of Mirzapur district and before 1911 Bhadohi was made district of Banaras state.