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Ancient Indya -» North India Tourism -» Varanasi India Tourism

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Varanasi India Tourism

The name Varanasi is found in the Mahabharata, and explained as derived from a dvandva compound of varana and asi, the Varuna River, to the north, and the Assi River, to the south, both tributaries of the Ganges. The name Varanasi is spelt as "baranasi" in Pali, which eventually led to the form "banaras". "Banaras" is the Prakrit form of the Sanskrit "Varanasi". "Benares" and "Benaras" are variant spellings of Banaras used during the British rule in India. "Banaras" for Varanasi is still widely used.

Another theory about the origin of the name suggests that the river Varuna itself was called Varanasi in the old times, thus the name of the city. This is generally disregarded by historians though there may be some earlier texts suggesting it to be so.

Varanasi is referred to as Kashi ("the luminous"), an allusion perhaps to the city's age-old reputation as a center of learning. It is also referred to as "city of temples", "holy city of India", "religious capital of India", "center of learning", and "cultural capital of India".

The information as to how and from whom the city was founded is still unknown. According to legend, the city was founded by the Hindu deity Shiva. The "jyotirlinga" named Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha is the presiding deity of Varanasi, making Varanasi one of the eight most sacred places of pilgrimage for the Hindus.

Many references to the city of Varanasi are found in many ancient texts, leading to more mystery. It has been suggested that the city is as old as 5000 years old[citation needed], though other claims may push the date further into history. Some believe that Varanasi is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world.

Varanasi was a commercial and industrial centre famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture. During the time of Gautama Buddha (born circa 567 BCE), Varanasi was the capital of the kingdom of Kashi. Buddha gave his first sermon at the nearby town of Sarnath. The city remained a centre of religious, educational, and artistic activities as attested by the celebrated Chinese traveler Xuanzang, who also said that the city extended for about 5 km along the western bank of the Ganges.

After the Muslim occupation, Varanasi subsequently declined during the following centuries. A symbol of Hinduism, the city was pillaged and destroyed several times by the Muslims, first by the hordes of Mahmud of Ghazni in 1033 CE, all Hindu temples being destroyed. The material was used to build mosques. Although some relief was brought by Mughal emperor Akbar in the start of 16th century CE, another destruction was led by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in end of the 16th century CE, who renamed the city Mohammadâbâd. In these years of Muslim rule, learned scholars fled to other parts of the country. Later the Marathas came to rescue the city[citation needed].

Varanasi became an independent kingdom in the 18th century CE, and under subsequent British rule it remained a commercial and religious centre. In 1910 CE the British made Varanasi a new Indian state, with Ramnagar as headquarters but with no jurisdiction over the city of Varanasi. Kashi Naresh (Maharaja of Kashi) still resides in the fort of Ramnagar.

Varanasi (Benares) in 1922.It is also said that Ayurveda was originated at Varanasi. References to Varanasi can be found in age-old Indian scriptures and hymns. One such reference is found in one of the hymns written by Sri Veda Vyasa:

Ganga-taranga-ramaneeya-jataakalaapam,
Gauri-nirantara-vibhushita- vaamabhaagam.
Narayanapriyam-Ananga-madaapahaaram,
Varanasi -pura-patim bhaja Vishwanatham.
Famous American writer Mark Twain once wrote, "Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together!"



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