Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world. According to the historians, this city was founded almost ten centuries before the birth of Christ. Many Hindu scriptures, Buddhist text, travelogues from ancient travelers have significant references to this ancient city. Ancient sages like Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya and Vallabhacharya carried out philosophical disputations in Varanasi.
The City is names after the two rivers around it, the Varana to the north and the Asi to the south. Many refer to Varanasi as Kashi, translation of its Sanskrit meaning is 'City of Light', referring to the light of Shiva. Mythology and legend has it that Shiva never deserts this city, thus also named as 'Rudravasa' (place where Shiva-Rudra resides). Varanasi's associations with Shiva extends to the beginning of time, after his marriage to Parvati, Shiva left his Himalayan abode and came to reside in Kashi.
A Hindu beleive, to die in this city beside the river of eternal-life is a ticket to transcending the endless cycle of life-death-rebirth by gaining 'moksha'. This beleif has led many to Varanasi in their last days and thousands to-date bring ashes of the dead to immerse in the holy waters of Ganges in Varanasi.
The most sacred burning-ghat is Manikarnika, one of the 108 Shakti-Peeth where the ear-ring Devi Sati (avatar of adi-Shakti and consort of Lord Shiva) fell. When Sri Ramakrishna visited Varanasi, on a boat-ride of the city over the Ganges, while crossing over the Manikarnika Ghat, he had a divine vision. He saw, Lord Vishwanatha (another name of Shiva) whispering 'taraka' mantra in the ear of the 'jivas' from one side of the funeral pyre and on other side, Adi-Shakti removing bondages of the soul from cycle of transmigratory existence
Glory to Varanasi!
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