Varanasi - the oldest continuously inhabited city of the world has millions of layers of history, myth and anecdotes up it's sleeves.
Sitting by the river Ganges which is the lifeline of the city it feels at first that the whole city must be all about it. All roads leading to some or the other ghats, which eventually are the connection between the river and the people.
Just by mentioning the ghats we open up the first thing which apart from Ganges the city is about. Ghats make the river accessible to all. They control its force up to a great extent and are yet the places that exist because the river exists.
Next we see the existence of Shiva in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The temple complex is the epicenter of the whole city. According to the Hindu Scriptures Ganges took a northwards turn towards Varanasi just to flow by the Vishwanath Temple. The crescent bank of Varanasi and a Northwards flow are very unique for its whole course.
The name Varanasi comes from the land between - Varuna and Assi rivers. So, we know that even in the name of the city, there is no role of the Ganges. However, Kashi is a much bigger area than Varanasi according to some scriptures and it the older name of the city. Thus reducing the claim of the tributaries to a minuscule level.
Going further, we see that the city has a temple of all the deities we can think of in Hinduism. A complete cosmos of names and characters from Hindu Scriptures. These temples an shrines make the city such an important pilgrimage. There is Ganges flowing through many cities which also have a Shiva Temple, however the sheer number of other temples in Varanasi just outclasses all of them.
It is said that a city is made by its people. Structures are just the testimony of the people that live or have lived in them. You will know you are in Varanasi when you see the smiling people all around you. It seems that they have all the time in this world. They are just there to be the mere puppets at god's hands and yet they work really hard to earn their bread. Also it is one of the first cosmopolitan cities of India. People form all over the sub-continent have made it their home for generations. Some who came for religion and some who came because of the growing economy, whereas some came for the knowledge that has always prevailed over millennium.
Stories of the city and about it induces a level of romance for the visitor. But what Varanasi is know for is a tough fact to digest. A place to die. Yes, Varanasi is the chosen one, a place to die and breathe your last. A belief that if one dies in Varanasi he would be freed from the cycle of birth and death. 'Yama' the god of death is not allowed to enter Varanasi. It is Shiva who is the ultimate destroyer in his Rudra form ensures that all the departed souls meet their ends and are not caught up with Yama.
Food is an eternal part of any city's life and culture and for Varanasi this is deeply rooted in everything anyone does. Although a by-product of the people who live there, it is very much to the merit of the city's lifestyle that food has a separate mention. Summer and winter delicacies are different. Some things are perennially available. But the thing that scores above the rest is the "Benarsi Pan". This is one thing that is related to the identity of the people of the city.
After listing all the above, we know that we have opened up an avenue for discussion of Varanasi's identity. Reading this, the city might feel like having an identity crisis. But when we close our eyes and imagine about Varanasi the first thing that comes to our minds is - Ganges.
Not even the almighty Shiva, who is also the God for Ganges scored over her in Varanasi.
But we the team of Vedic Walks, want you to know that Varanasi's identity is Ganges, but there is so much more to it which can only bee seen and understood in our Walking Tours.
Join us and explore beyond the written records and spoken word. Since a walking tour is all about experiencing it too.
Not even the almighty Shiva, who is also the God for Ganges scored over her in Varanasi.
But we the team of Vedic Walks, want you to know that Varanasi's identity is Ganges, but there is so much more to it which can only bee seen and understood in our Walking Tours.
Join us and explore beyond the written records and spoken word. Since a walking tour is all about experiencing it too.
