isee hi

 

...........Varanasi: - Meet with your Soul...........

A place of religious importance for Hindus,Varanasi is visited by pilgrims all year round. A visit to Varanasi is your ticket to an understanding of Hindu culture and rituals. The Kashi Vishwanath temple is the most famous tourist attraction in Varanasi. There are close to 2000 temples here making Varanasi the spiritual capital of India.

Varanasi is also known as the place"where supreme light shine".

As Varanasi lies on the banks of the mighty river Ganga, the two have become synonymous. Varanasi's ghats are extremely popular all around the globe. The Assi Ghat is among the most famous ghats of India. Varanasi is also famous as one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.

If you are thinking that you can know Varanasi in one day, simply you can't, know why....

BECAUSE

"Varanasi is the place of god, spirituality, knowledge, place where you can find peace, place where life start and end, place with unique taste in food and culture, it is place where you can find your destiny".

You can start your day with Ganga when first ray touch river Ganga and end in the pleasant light of moon at same place.

.....So here is list of famous places and some fantastic way to know Varanasi.....

 1. Ganga Ghat: - River which give Life.

 Take a morning walk to the bank of river Ganga. You will find the spectacular view when first ray of sun touch the holy water of river Ganga. Roam all the Ghat from Manikanka Ghat to Assi Ghat.

People who possess passion of photography, this is best time and place.  "DON'T MISS IT"

2. Cup of Tea: - Refresh your self.......

Just drink a cup of tea on local shop around the street. It will refresh you and make you ready for journey of Banaras. Here is small advice 'don't take tea in steel glass or in any thing just take in "PURVA". You will be amazed by it taste. 

3. Kashi Vishwanath Temple: -Home of lord SHIVA

This is most famous, oldest and most spiritual temple in Varanasi. This is Temple of lord Rudra. Varanasi is also known as Shiv nagri (place of lord rudra). Shikhara (peak) of temple is coated with gold. Vishwanath temple is little far away from Ganga Ghat.

4. Ramnagar Fort: - king Palace of Varanasi.

Ramnagar is royal palace of Kashi Naresh (King of Varanasi). You can see it from Ganga Ghat.

If you want to take taste of royalty of Kashi Naresh, than don't think just go for it. It’s not far away from main city. And if you are interested in some antique things, cars, weapons, than it is best for you.

5. BHU: - Knowledge centre of modern Varanasi.

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is largest University in India. It provides Knowledge and Medical facility to Varanasi, India even all over world. If you want to see old and modern Varanasi  together than visit BHU.BHU is organised into 6 institutes and 14 faculties (streams) and more than 132 departments. Total student enrolment at the university exceeds 30000, and includes students from over 34 nations. It has over 75 dormitory hostels for resident students. Several of its colleges, including engineering (IIT-BHU), management (FMS-BHU), science, linguistics, journalism & mass communication, performing arts, law, agriculture (IAS-BHU), medicine (IMS-BHU) and Institute of Environment And Sustainable Development (IESD-BHU), are ranked among the best in India. The university is well known for hosting an IIT. The university's engineering institute was designated an IIT in June 2012.

·         New Sri Khashi Vishwanath Temple (BHU):-

Birla Temple is located in the BHU campus in Varanasi and it is known as the Birla Temple because it is built by the Birla Group of Industries. Temple is open to all the people of any castes and religions. There are nine temples in the BHU campus of Shiva Lingam, Nataraj ji, Mata Parvati ji, Ganesh ji, Panchmukhi  Mahadev, Hanuman ji, Mata Saraswati ji, and Nandi ji.

“Devotees used to say ‘Jai Bholenath’ or ‘Har Har Mahadeva’ while visiting the temple”.

Aarti timings are 4 am, 4.45 am, 10.30 am, 11.45 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 6.45 pm, 7.30 pm, 8 pm and 8.45 pm. On special occasions such as Shivratri, temple opens from 4 am to 12 pm midnight. Monday is a special day when devotees perform worship of the Lord Shiva in order to fulfill their wishes. On every Monday Rudrabhishek is performed from 7 am to 8 am.

·         Bharat Kala Bhavan:-

Bharat Kala Bhavan, located inside the BHU campus, is an art and architecture museum and houses a vast collection of paintings, Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and other materials of archeological importance. The Bharat Kala Bhavan was established in the year 1920 A.D. In the main hall of the Bharat Kala Bhawan, there is a figure of a man standing on one leg and one hand on his hip and lifting a mass of stone above his head, with one hand. The figure is said to be of Lord Krishna, lifting Mount Govardhana. Many images in the Bharat Kala Bhavan confirm to the existence of Krishna cult in Kashi in 15th and 16th century. Bharat Kala Bhavan also has a great collection of miniature paintings from the courts of Mughals and other Kingdoms and principalities. Some of the important sections in the Bharat Kala Bhavan are Mahamana Malaviya gallery, Nicholas Roerich gallery, Chhavi (Painting Gallery), sculpture gallery, Nidhi (Treasures) gallery, sculpture gallery, archaeological gallery, decorative art gallery and Banaras through ages gallery.

6. Sankat Mochan Temple:-

Sankat Mochan temple is one of the sacred temples of Varanasi. It is located in the southern part of Varanasi, near the Banaras Hindu University. It is dedicated to the Hindu God, Hanuman. The word "Sankat Mochan" means one who helps in removing sufferings i. e. Lord Hanuman. Tulsidas, the author of the famous Hindu epic Ramacharitamanasa, founded the Sankat Mochan temple. According to Hindu mythology, one who visits the Sankat Mochan temple regularly, his wishes get fulfilled. 

Every Tuesday and Saturday, thousands of devotees queue up in front of the Sankat Mochan temple to offer prayers to Lord Hanuman. According to Vedic Astrology, Hanuman protects human beings from the anger of planet Saturn and those who have ill placed Saturn in their horoscope visit the Sankat Mochan temple to get remedy. People put "Sindoor" on the statue and offer "laddoos" to Lord Hanuman. The "Sindoor", from the statue of Lord Hanuman is put on the foreheads of devotees.

7. Durga Temple:-

Durga temple, also known as the "monkey temple" is one of the important temples of Varanasi. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The Durga temple was built in the eighteenth century. A Bengali Maharani built the Durga temple in Nagara Style (the North Indian style of temple architecture). It is stained red with ochre and has a multi-tiered shikhara (spire). The Durga temple is situated on a rectangular tank, called the Durga Kund. According to the Puranas, Goddess Durga has kept this place for many centuries and protects the holy city, Varanasi, from the South. 

According to legends, the present statue of Goddess Durga was not made by man but appeared on its own in the temple. The Durga temple is also called Monkey temple because of the presence of large number of monkeys. In Hinduism, Durga is represented as the embodiment of shakti or female power, clad in red, riding a tiger and fully armed with Shiva's trident, Vishnu's discus and a sword. Non-Hindus can enter the courtyard of the Durga temple but not the inner sanctum. Thousands of Hindu devotees visit the Durga temple during Navratri and other auspicious occasions.

8. Tulsi Manas Temple:-

Tulsi Manas Mandir Temple is one of the famous temples of the Varanasi and also known as the Tulsi Birla Manas Mandir. It is located at Durgakund very close to the Durga Temple in the Varanasi city. It is made up of the white marble in the year 1964 and looks very attractive having beautiful garden. The temple is dedicated to the Lord Rama and constructed by the family of Banaras. The temple has beautiful images of the Ram, Sita, Lakshhman and Hanuman.

 It has become the point of the tourist attraction in the Kashi. It is considered that the temple is built at the same place where the famous and great Indian Epic Ramcharitamanasa written by the saint Goswami Tulsidas. The wall of the temple has various scenes from the Ramcharitamanasa.

9. Kaal Bhairav Temple:-

It is known as the most ancient temple of Varanasi located near the VishesharGanj. Kalbhairav temple is located at K-32/22 Bharonath, Vishweshwarganj, Varanasi. God KalBhairav is believed to be the “Kotwal of Sati pind”. Without his permission no one can even touch to the Sati pind.

10. Shri Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Mandir:-

Shri Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Mandir is one of the oldest temples in Varanasi, located near Bengal Tola Inter College and next to the famous weavers colony of Madanpura. It is said that, here, Tilbhandeshwar Shiva Lingam increases by a nominal length every year. Besides Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev, Vibhandeshwar, Maa Parvati, Bhairava, Lord Ayappan and other Hindu deities are visible here. This temple represents a unique combination of Malyali and Banarsi culture. Famous celebrations here include Mahashivratri, Makar Sankranti, Shravan, Navratri, Ayappan Puja etc. Maa Sharda also spent a few days in Varanasi at this temple.

11. Street food:-

Varanasi is also very famous for it steet food. You can find every type of food while roaming on the street varying from Indian to western food. Some famous foods are:-

·         Varanasi paan

·         Gool gappa and chaat

·         Jalebi

·         Samosa

·         Sabji and puri etc.

·         Thandai

·         Lassi

12. Gift & Speciality Shops :-

 If you are shopping addict than you will love varanasi specially if you want to wear varansi style.  varanasi sharee is world wide famous.

13. Sarnath: - Buddha first sermon…… 

Buddhists worldwide look upon India as the land of the Buddha and a visit to this country means a pilgrimage to those places sacred to the memory of the Enlightened One. After the Bouddha attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya he came to Sarnath. Here in the Deer Park, he delivered his first sermon, or in religious language, set in motion the wheel of Law (maha- Dharmachakra Pravartan). On the day before his death Buddha included Sarnath along with Lumbini, Bodh Gaya and Kushinagar as the four places he thought to be sacred to his followers. The Emperor Ashoka, who spread the Buddha’s message of love and compassion throughout his vast empire, visited Sarnath around 234BC,and erected a stupa here. Several Buddhist structures were raised at Sarnath between the 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD, and today it presents the most expansive ruins amongst places on the Buddhist trail. Sarnath is 10 km from the holy city of Varanasi, and is an exceedingly tranquil place. The ruins, the museum and temple are all within walking distance.

·         Chaukandi Stupa:-

Chaukhandi is the first monument one encounters as one enters Sanath. It is a lofty mound of brick –work whose square endifice is surrounded by a octagonal tower. Originally said to built by Emperor Ashoka. DHAMEK STUPA The most remarkable structure at Sarnath, is the cylindrical Dhamek Stupa, 28 mts in diameter at the base and 43.6 mts in height, built partly of stone and partly of brick. The stone facing the lower part is adorned with delicate floral carvings of Gupta origin.

·         Dhamekh Stupa:-

 It is the place where Lord Buddha had given his first conversation of Dharma. It is made up of brick in a solid and cylindrical shape of height 43.6 m and diameter of 28 m. It was founded by the king Ashoka in the 249 BCE. It was rebuilt during 5th century when modifications were added. It is also called as the Dharma Chakra Stupa. This stupa contains 8 niches having images of Lord Buddha.

·         Archaeological Museum:-

There is a famous Archaeological Museum at the Sarnath built for placing and protecting the historical things very safely as an ancient antique. It is located near to the archaeological ruins across the road. It has various ancient objects from the Buddhist arts, images of Hindu Gods and etc. It consists of the five galleries and two varandah. It is strictly prohibited to have photography inside museum to keep secret the historical things. It opens at 10.00 am in the morning till 5.00 pm in the evening from Saturday to Thursday.

·         Ashoka Pillar:-

Ashoka Pillar is the great thing to see at Sarnath, located amidst the ruins. It is structured representing broken stone cylinders. Actually these are considered as the remnants of the real Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath. Ashoka was a great Mauryan emperor who had constructed various pillars after his name all over the India. Originally these are having height of 12.25 m and diameter of 0.71 m base, 0.56 m top having Lion Capital (four back to back lions). Each of the Ashoka Pillars has Ashoka Chakra at the top which was broken by the Turk invasions. Broken Ashoka Pillars and fragments of the Ashoka Chakra were founded in 1904 during mining and digging at the Sarnath. The Lion Capital is still kept safely for the exhibition purpose at the Sarnath Archaeological Museum.

·         Mulagandhakuti Vihara Buddhist temple:-

The Mulagandhakuti Vihara Buddhist temple at Sarnath is one of the temples built by the Sri Lankan Mahabodhi Society in 1931. It is the place where Lord Buddha had spent his first rainy season. It has religious and significant historical objects from Buddha time found in Taxila, exhibited annually on the Karthik Purnima celebration. The walls of this temple have beautiful frescoes depicting the life of the Buddha.

·         Bodhi Tree:-

It is located near to the Mulagandhakuti Vihara Buddhist temple, called as the holy Bodhi vriksha. It is the most holy place for the people of Buddhist religion as Lord Buddha had attained his enlightenment here beneath the tree. It is planted at the Sarnath by the founder of Maha Bodhi Society of India (Sri Devamitta Dhammapala) on 12th of November in 1931 by taking a branch from the real Sri Maha Bodhi tree of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

·         Ruins of Mulagandhakuti Vihara:-

It is the place where ruins of the Mulagandhakuti Vihara are found at Sarnath representing various ancient culture and tradition of Buddhism during 200 BCE. It is believed that during the Gupta period, around 3,000 monks were lived in these monasteries located closer to the Dhammeka Stupa.

·         Nichigai Suzan Horinji Temple/Japanese temple:-

     The Nichigai Suzan Horinji Temple is one of the Japanese temples located at Sarnath. This is a very nice temple of great importance to the Buddhism.

·         Migadawun Myanmar Temple:-

Migadawon Myanmar Temple is one of the earliest Buddhist Temples located at near to the Deer Park (means Migadava) at Saranath. It was built in the month of February in 1908. In February 2008 it had celebrated the Anniversary after completing 100 Years.

·         Buddha Statue:-

A big Buddha Statue is located at the Thai Buddha vihara of height 80 ft. It is considered as the tallest standing Buddha statue at Sarnath. It was built originally of stone over 14 years during the Indo-Thai joint effort.

·         Sri Digamber Jain Temple:-

Sri Digamber Jain Temple is located near to the Dhamekh Stupa. It is the most religious place for the Digambara monasticism which is a branch of the Jain Dharma.

·         Burmese Buddhist Temple:-

     The Burmese Buddhist Temple at Sarnath is a holy destination for the Buddhism, located at west side of Deer Park. It was built in the 1910 following the ancient Buddhist tradition, Theravada.

·         Deer park:-

Deer park is a very beautiful Park for the Deer at Sarnath. It has very clean, calm and peaceful environment to meditate or rest for long hours.

·         Sarang nath temple:- Sarang nath is devoted to lord Shiva. Name of sharnath is also kept upon name of sarang nath temple.

14. Ganga Ghat: -

Reach evening at Ganga Ghat again.This time you will see ghat totally different than morning. Almost opposite, you will see more hustle bustle in place of peaceful varanasi, more delicious street food with varanasian touch.

·         Boating:- If you want you can enjoy boating but one advice do it before 6:45 pm. I strongly recommend you to stop your boat just in front of "Dashasumed ghat" or "Sitla ghat" for the most spectacular view of evening of varanasi...."GANGA AARTI". 

·         Ganga arti:-

Gange aarti is performed daily in the evening by a group of priests at the Dashashwamedh ghat. Through the aarti, Agni Pooja is performed in which a commitment is made to the Lord Shiva, Mata Gange, Surya, Agni (Fire) as well as the whole universe made by the Lord Shiva. On some special occasions, religious festivals and second day of the week means Tuesdays, a particular type of aarti is held at this Ghat.

Gange aarti is the magnificent event during evening in the Varanasi that one must not miss to see it. It makes us to experience the great feelings while Gange aarti become in process. This beautiful ritual makes every moment of the evening period special and fills with the spiritual thoughts. It is performed by the brass lamps which accompanied with the mantra chant in the presence of the huge crowd.

All the priests who have to perform the aarti, wear same cloth, the dhoti and kurta which is tightly bind with a long towel. First they make preparation of the Gange aarti by making collection of the five elevated planks, a multi tiered oil lamp, an idol of the Goddess Ganga, flowers, incense sticks, a conch shell, a big and heavy brass lamp having a snake hood at the edge of the River Gange. A group of boats filled with devotees come around the place of aarti at the bank of River. They are very eager to see the event; some of them take live video, photos as well. Ritual of the Gange aarti is performed by the students of the Vedas and Upanishads which is lead by the head priest of the Gangotri Seva Samiti. The whole event takes around 45 minutes.

15. In Festival:-

Varanasi has religious and cultural importance by its pilgrims so it has become the great center for a variety of fairs and festivals of the whole year. 

·        Dev Diwali:-

Dev Diwali is one of the famous festivals of Hindu which is celebrated in Benares on the occasion of Kartik Poornima:-

 It is started by the holy Vedic mantras (chanted by priests to please and welcome the God), sparkling fire crackers and lighting a bunch of Diyas at the ghats.

·         Buddha Purnima: - Buddha Purnima festival is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Buddha. Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is celebrated with traditional religious fervor. Buddha Purnima falls on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Vaisakh (April/May). Lord Buddha was born on the Full Moon day in the month of Vaisakh in 563 BC. Here, it is interesting to note that Buddha achieved enlightenment and nirvana (salvation) on the same day (the Full Moon day). Thus, Buddha Purnima also marks the death anniversary of Gautam Buddha. Sarnath holds an important place in Buddhism as Gautam Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath. On the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, a large fair is held at Sarnath and the relics of the Buddha are taken out for public display in a procession.

      Besides Sarnath, the Buddha Purnima is also celebrated with religious fervor at Gaya and Kushinagar and other parts of India and the world. The Buddha Purnima celebrations at Sarnath attract large Buddhist crowds as Buddhists offer prayers in different Buddhist temples at Sarnath on this day. Prayers, sermons, recitation of Buddhist scriptures are other important religious activities performed by the Buddhists at Sarnath. Monks and devotees meditate and worship the statue of Gautam Buddha. The Buddhist devotees also offer fruits, flowers, candles etc to statues of Lord Buddha.

·         Hanuman Jayanti:- Hanuman Jayanti is an important festival of Hindus (at Varanasi) and is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman. Hanuman Jayanti falls on Chaitra Shukla Purnima (the March-April full moon day). In Hinduism, Lord Hanuman is seen as the symbol of strength and energy. Hanuman was a zealous devotee of Rama, and is worshipped for his unwavering devotion to Lord Rama. Like all other Hindu Gods, Lord Hanuman is also very popular among Hindus.  The Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated with great fanfare and feast at Varanasi. The main Janmotsava or bithday celebration of Lord Hanuman is held at Sankat Mochan Temple (Varanasi) for five days with cultural and musical programmes by reputed artistes from all over India. The devotees flock the Hanuman temples all over Varanasi and apply Sindhoor Tilak on their foreheads from statues of Hanuman. Laddoos (sweets) are also offered to Lord Hanuman and distributed among poor people and other devotees.

     Mahashivratri in Varanasi:-

    Since Varanasi is considered the city of Lord Shiva, Mahashivaratri festival holds immense importance here. Mahashivaratri (the great night of Shiva) falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna (February/March) and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Mahashivaratri festival is purely religious in nature and observed by all Hindus. On the occasion of Mahashivaratri, all Shiva temples of Varanasi are tastefully decorated. On the day Of Mahashivaratri, a marriage procession of Lord Shiva is taken out starting from Mahamrityunjaya Temple, Daranagar to Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

     In Varanasi, people visit nearby temples of Shiva and offer prayers in large numbers. The prayers and worship continue late into the night. On Mahashivaratri, devotees offer milk, Bhang, Dhatura, flowers, coconut, fruits etc to Shiva statues and Shiva Lingams and sing bhajans in honor of Shiva. They also recite shlokas (verses) from scriptures, offer prayers in the morning and evening and many devotees observe fasting throughout the day. On the day of Mahashivaratri, the main center of religious activity and worship at Varanasi is the Kashi Vishvanath temple, where devotees throng in large numbers to offer prayers to the residing deity of Varanasi, Lord Shiva.

     In Hindu mythology, there are many popular stories regarding the origin of Mahashivaratri. One legend traces the origin of Mahashivaratri festival to the churning of the Ocean of Milk by Devas (Gods) and Asuras (demons). According to it, when both Gods and demons were churning the Ocean of Milk to obtain amrita (water of immortal life), they came across many unusual substances, including the deadly poison. The moment they touched the poison, it exploded into poisonous fumes that threatened to envelope the entire universe by darkness. Seeing the destruction of the universe inevitable, the Gods went to Brahma and Vishnu, but none was able to help and as a last resort they went to Lord Shiva, who condensed the fumes by his trident. To save the Universe from destruction, Lord Shiva swallowed the poison, which left a dark blue mark on Shiva's throat.

Other will be updated further........