?Varanasi Uttar Pradesh • India
Varanasi
Coordinates: 25°16′55″N 82°57′23″E / 25.282, 82.9563
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	1,550 km² (598 sq mi) • 80. Uttar Pradesh (उत्तर प्रदेश اتر پردیش pronounced, Translation: Northern Province) referred to as '''U India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Indian Standard Time ( IST) is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka, with a Time offset of UTC+530. UTC+530 is the Timezone for Indian Standard Time Sri Lanka Time The geography of India is diverse with landscape ranging from snow-capped mountain ranges to deserts plains rainforests hills and plateaus The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here areas between 1000 km2 and 10000 km2 71 m (265 ft)
District(s)	Varanasi
Population • Density	3,147,927[1] (2001) • 1,995 /km² (5,167 /sq mi)[2]
Mayor	Kaushalendra Singh
Codes • Pincode • Telephone • Vehicle	• 221 0** (** is to area code) • +0542 • UP-65

Coordinates: 25°16′55″N 82°57′23″E / 25.282, 82.9563 Varanasi (Sanskrit: वाराणसी Vārāṇasī, pronunciation [ʋaːɾaːɳəsiː] (help·info)), also commonly known as Benares ([bə. A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Varanasi district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India with Varanasi town as the district headquarters In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. A Postal Index Number or PIN or Pincode is the post office numbering or Post code system used by India Post the Indian Postal For the past decade or so telecommunication activities have gained momentum in India KA-19-P-8488jpg|thumb|270px|Close up of a licence plate used in Mangalore, Karnataka. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical naː. rəs]) or Banaras (Hindi: बनारस, Urdu: بنارس, Banāras pronunciation [bənɑːɾəs] (info)) and Kashi (Hindi: काशी Kāśī [kaː.ʃiː] (info)), is a city situated on the left (west) bank of the river Ganga (Ganges) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, regarded as holy by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, and one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world^[3][4]. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent Uttar Pradesh (उत्तर प्रदेश اتر پردیش pronounced, Translation: Northern Province) referred to as '''U Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India.

The culture of Varanasi is closely associated with the river Ganges and the river's religious importance. The city has been a cultural and religious centre in northern India for several thousand years. Geography Northern India lies mainly on continental India and a very small part of it lies on the Indian peninsula A particular style of classical Hindustani music developed in Varanasi centuries ago, and many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians resided or reside in Varanasi, including Kabir, Ravi Das, Munshi Premchand, Jaishankar Prasad, Acharya Ram Chandra Shukla, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Ustad Bismillah Khan. Hindustani Classical Music ( Hindi: हिन्दुस्तानी शास्त्रीय संगीत Urdu: ہندوستانی شاستریے سنگیت This article is about the history of South Asia prior to the Partition of British India in 1947 Al-Kabir "the Great" is also one of the 99 names of God in Islam Jaishankar Prasad ( Hindi: जयशंकर प्रसाद) ( January 30, 1889 January 14, 1937) one of the most Ram Chandra Shukla better known as Acharya Shukla ( October 4 1882 - 1942 is regarded as the first codifier of the history of Hindi Literature A paṇḍit or pundit ( Devanagari: पण्डित is a scholar a teacher particularly one skilled in Sanskrit and Hindu Law, Religion Pandit Ravi Shankar ( রবি শংকর Devanagari: रविशंकर "Pandit" ( Sanskrit, "learned" is honorific born April Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (born July 1, 1938) is known internationally as a player of the Bansuri, the North Indian Bamboo Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib ( March 21, 1916 – August 21, 2006) was a Shehnai Maestro from India. Tulsidas wrote his Ramacharitamanas there, and Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath near Kashi. Gosvāmī Tulsīdās (1532-1623 Devanāgarī: तुलसीदास may be written as Tulasī Dāsa depending on if the name is transcribed Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder This article is about a place in India For H P Lovecraft 's fictitious city see The Doom That Came to Sarnath. Ayurveda is said to have originated at Varanasi. Ayurveda ( Devanāgarī: आयुर्वॆद the 'science of life' is a system of Traditional medicine native to India, and practiced in other

Varanasi is the home of Banaras Hindu University. Banaras Hindu University (BHU Hindi: काशी हिन्दू विश्वविद्यालय is a premier Central University and a world class educational Residents mainly speak Kashika Bhojpuri, which is closely related to the Hindi language. Bhojpuri ( is a regional language spoken in parts of north-central and eastern India. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is People often refer to Varanasi as "the city of temples", "the holy city of India", "the religious capital of India", "the city of light", "the city of learning" and the "culture capital of India". ^[5]

American writer Mark Twain wrote, "Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together. Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30 1835 – April 21 1910 better known by the Pen name Mark Twain, was an American Humorist, satirist "^[6]

Name

The name, Varanasi, has its origin possibly in the fact that the city lies where the Varuna River and the Assi River in its north and south, respectively, flow into the river Ganga. The Varuna River is a minor tributary of the Ganges River. It is named after the god Varuna. ^[7]Another speculation about the origin of the name is that the river Varuna itself was called Varanasi in the old times, and thus the city too got the same name. ^[8] This is generally disregarded by historians though there may be some earlier texts suggesting it to be so. ^[9]

The name, Varanasi, was written as Baranasi in the ancient Pali language, and in later times the name transformed into Banaras. Pali ( ISO 15919 / ALA-LC: Pāḷi is a Middle Indo-Aryan language or Prakrit of India. ^[10] Through the ages, Varanasi was variously known as Avimuktaka, Anandakanana, Mahasmasana, Surandhana, Brahma Vardha, Sudarsana, Ramya, and Kasi.

History

Main article: Kasi Kingdom

Painting of Benares in 1890. Kasi (Kashi was an ancient kingdom with Varanasi as its capital on the banks of Ganges River.

According to legend, the city was founded by the Hindu deity, Shiva, around 5,000 years ago,^[3]. A legend ( Latin, legenda, "things to be read" is a Narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva thus making it one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the country. It is one of the seven sacred cities of Hindus. Many Hindu scriptures, including Rigveda, Skanda Purana, Ramayana, and Mahabharata, describe the city. The Rāmāyaṇa ( Devanāgarī: sa रामायण is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the Hindu sage ( Maharishi) Valmiki

Varanasi is generally believed to be about 3,000 years old. ^[11] Varanasi was a commercial and industrial center 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. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder Kingdom of Kashi was the erstwhile Brahmin kingdom of the Maharaja of Kashi (Varanasi, who is also known as the Kashi Naresh. The celebrated Chinese traveler, Xuanzang, attested that the city was a center of religious, educational, and artistic activities, and that it extended for about 5 km along the western bank of the Ganges. See also Xuanzang (fictional character Xuanzang ( pronounced Shwan-dzang) was a famous Chinese Buddhist Monk, scholar traveler

Varanasi (Benares) in 1922.

During successive invasions starting with the hordes of Mahmud of Ghazni in 1033 CE followed by Mohammed Ghori in 1193 CE, Muslims pillaged and destroyed several times Hindu temples (which were being continually rebuilt) in Varanasi, and used the temple material to build mosques. Mahmud of Ghazni (محمود غزنوی Maḥmūd-e Ghaznawī ( November 2, 971 - April 30, 1030) also known as Yāmīn Muhammad Shahab-ud-Din Ghori ( Persian, Pashto, Urdu: محمد شہاب الدین غوری also spelled Mohammad Ghauri, originally named Mu'izzuddin At the start of the seventeenth century, Mughal Emperor Akbar brought some relief in the destruction of Hindu temples, but near the end of that century, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb led another temple destruction and even renamed the city as Mohammadâbâd. Akbar redirects here For other uses see Akbar (disambiguation Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar ( Jalāl ud-Dīn Muhammad Akbar Aurangzeb ( (full title Al-Sultan al-Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abul Muzaffar Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb Bahadur Alamgir I Padshah Ghazi) ( November 4, In these years of Muslim rule, learned scholars in Varanasi fled to other parts of India.

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

On March 7, 2006, four bombs went off in an act of terrorism at Varanasi. The 2006 Varanasi bombings were a series of bombings that occurred across the Hindu holy city of Varanasi in India on 7 March 2006 Around 20 people were reported killed, and many were injured. One of the bombs was planted in the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, a shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman, while another was planted on a platform of the Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station, the main railway station in the city. Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is one of the sacred Temples of Hindu god Hanuman in the city of Hanuman (हनुमत् sa-Latn '''Hanumat''' nominative singular sa हनुमान् sa-Latn ''Hanumān'' known also as ' Anjaneya' (son of Anjana is one of the An Islamic group, Lashkar-e-Kahab, claimed responsibility for the terror attacks. ^[12] On November 23, 2007 Varanasi faced another bomb blast. The bomb was placed in the civil court of Varanasi. More than 20 people died and over 100 were injured. India TV news channel received an e-mail before 5 minutes of bomb blast saying that there will be bomb blast in different cities of Uttar Pradesh within next 5 minutes. The e-mail address was registered on Yahoo. France. A terrorist organization called HUJI took the responsibility of bomb blast. HUJI is run by a terrorist named Masood Azhar who was released by Indian government in the year 1999 after Air India flight IC 814 was hijacked by Taliban and demanded to release him.

Geography

Varanasi is closely associated with the Ganges and has many temples along its banks

The city of Varanasi is located in the middle Ganga valley of North India, in the Eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, along the left crescent-shaped bank of the Ganga river. The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent It has the headquarters of Varanasi district. Varanasi district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India with Varanasi town as the district headquarters The "Varanasi Urban Agglomeration" — an agglomeration of seven urban sub-units — covers an area of 112. 26 km² (approximately 43 mi²). Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. ^[13] The urban agglomeration is stretched between 82° 56’E - 83° 03’E and 25° 14’N - 25° 23. 5’N. ^[13] Being located in the Gangetic plains of North India, the land is very fertile because low level floods in the Ganges continually replenish the soil. The Indo-Gangetic Plain also known as the Northern plains and the North Indian River Plain is a large and fertile plain encompassing most of northern and eastern India, Geography Northern India lies mainly on continental India and a very small part of it lies on the Indian peninsula

On a local level, Varanasi is located on a higher ground between rivers Ganga and Varuna, the mean elevation being 80. 71 m. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International ^[14]As a result of absence of tributaries and canals, the main land is continuous and relatively dry. In ancient times, this geographic situation must have been highly favorable for forming settlements. But it is difficult to ascertain the original geography of Varanasi because the city's current location is not exactly the same as the one described in some old texts.

Varanasi is often said to be located between two confluences: one of Ganga and Varuna, and other of Ganga and Assi, (Assi having always been a rivulet rather than a river. ) The distance between these two confluences is around 2. 5 miles, and religious Hindus regard a round trip between these two places --a Pancha-kroshi Yatra (a five mile journey)-- ending with a visit to a Sakshi Vinayak Temple as a holy ritual. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical

Varanasi has a humid subtropical climate with large variations between summer and winter temperatures. Summers are long, from early April to October, with intervening monsoon seasons. Cold waves from the Himalayan region cause temperatures to dip across the city in the winter from December to February. The temperature ranges between 32°C – 46°C (90°F – 115°F) in the summers, and 5°C – 15°C (41°F – 59°F) in the winters. The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 ^[14] The average annual rainfall is 1110 mm (44 in). The Millimetre ( American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. ^[15]. Fog is common in the winters, while hot dry winds, called loo, blow in the summers. Loo is a strong hot and dry wind which blows over Northern and parts of Western India during the day time in summer

The city is relatively free from air pollution. Air pollution is the human introduction into the atmosphere of Chemicals Particulate matter, or Biological materials that cause harm or discomfort . Through a combination of water pollution, new constructions of upstream dams, and increase in the local temperature, the water level of the Ganges has recently gone down significantly, and small islands have become visible in the middle of the river.

Culture

Situated on the banks the river Ganges, Varanasi attracts thousands of Hindu piligrims every year.

Regions of Varanasi near the banks of Ganga are extremely crowded and have narrow winding lanes that are flanked by road-side shops and several Hindu temples. The main residential areas of Varanasi (especially for the middle and upper classes) are situated in regions far from the ghats; they are more spacious and less polluted. As used in many parts of South Asia, the term ghat ( Bengali: ঘাট ghaţ, Hindi: घाट " Steps quot refers to a

Varanasi has nearly 100 ghats. Many of the ghats were built when the city was under Maratha control. The Marāthās ( Marathi: mr मराठा also Mahrattas) form an Indo Aryan group of Hindu Warriors hailing mostly from the present-day Maratha Shindes (Scindias), Holkars, Bhosales, and Peshawe (Peshawas) stand out as patrons of present-day Varanasi. The Holkar were a prominent Dhangar family who ruled as Rajas and later Maharajas of Indaur (better known as Indore) in Central India

Many ghats are owned privately. The former Maharaja of Kashi (Kasi) owns Shivala or Kali ghat. The word Mahārāja (also spelled maharajah) is Sanskrit for "great king" or " High king " (a Karmadharaya from mahānt

Most of the ghats are bathing ghats, while others are used as cremation sites. Many ghats are associated with legends or mythologies.

Dashashwamedh Ghat is located close to "Vishwanath Temple", and is probably the most spectacular ghat. Two Hindu mythologies are associated with it: According to one, Lord Brahma created it to welcome Lord Shiva. According to another, Lord Brahma sacrificed ten horses in a yajna here. Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. In Hinduism, Yajna ( Devanagari यज्ञ IAST yajña; also anglicized as Yagna, Yagya or Yadnya 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 Ganga, the Sun, Agni (Fire), and the whole universe.

Two legends are associated with Manikarnik Ghat: According to one, it is believed to be the place where Lord Vishnu dug a pit with his Chakra and filled it with his perspiration while performing various penances. For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Chakra ( Pali: chakka Tibetan: khorlo Malay: cakera is a Sanskrit term meaning Circle or Wheel While Lord Shiva was watching Lord Vishnu at that time, the latter's earring ("manikarnik") fell into the pit. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific According to the second legend, in order to keep Lord Shiva from moving around with his devotees, his consort Goddess Parvati hid her earrings, and asked him to find them, saying that they had been lost on the banks of Ganga. Parvati ( Sanskrit: Pārvatī sa [[wiktपार्वती पार्वती]] sometimes spelled Parvathi or Parvathy, is a Hindu Goddess Parvati's idea behind the fib was that Lord Shiva would then stay around, searching forever for the lost earrings. In this legend, whenever a body gets cremated at the Manikarnik Ghat, Lord Shiva asks the soul whether it has seen the earrings.

According to mythology, the owner of Manikarnika bought King Harishchandra as a slave and made him work on the Manikarnika at Harishchandra Ghat. Hindu cremations customarily take place here, though a majority of dead bodies are taken for creation to the Manikarnik Ghat.

Picturesque Scindia (Shinde) Ghat borders Manikarnik to the north, with its Shiva temple lying partially submerged in the river as a result of excessive weight of the ghat’s construction about 150 years ago. Above the ghat, several of Kashi’s most influential shrines are located within the tight maze of alleyways of Siddha Kshetra (the Field of Fulfillment). According to mythology, Agni (the Lord of Fire) was born here. Hindu devotees propitiate at this place Vireshwara, the Lord of all heroes, for a son.

Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur built Mana-Mandir Ghat (in 1770 CE), and also his observatory equipped with ornate window casings here (along with observatories in Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, and Mathura). The situation on his accession When Jai Singh sat on the ancestral throne at Amber he had barely enough resources to pay for the support of 1000 cavalry—this abysmal situation Jaipur ( Hindi: जयपुर also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan state, India. The Yantra Mandir (commonly known as the Jantar Mantar) is an equinoctial dial consisting a gigantic triangular Gnomon with the Hypotenuse parallel There is a fine stone balcony in the northern part of the ghat. Devotees pay homage here to the lingam of Someswar, the Lord of the Moon. Man Singh of Amber built Mana-Sarowar Ghat. Raja Shri Man Singh Ji Saheb ( Man Singh I) (May 9 1540- July 61614 was the Kacchwaha Rajah Saheb of Amber, a state later known as Jaipur. Amber is Fossil tree Resin, which is appreciated for its color and beauty Maharaja of Darbhanga built Darbhanga Ghat. Darbhanga Raj also known as Raj Darbhanga and the Royal Family of Darbhanga trace their origin to Mahesh Thakur in beginning of sixteenth century

The late King of Nepal built Lalita Ghat in the northern region of Varanasi. The King of Nepal was traditionally known as the Mahārājdhirāja (श्री 5 महाराजधिराज his queen was known as the Badāmahārānī It is the site of Ganga Keshav Temple, a wooden temple built in typical Kathmandu style, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple also has an image of Pashupateshwar (a manifestation of Lord Shiva).

Local festivals including musical parties and games regularly take place at the beautiful Assi Ghat which is at the end of the continuous line of ghats. It is a favorite site of painters and photographers.

Devout Jains visit Bachraj Ghat in particular because it has three Jain temples near the river's banks.

Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas at Tulsi Ghat. Gosvāmī Tulsīdās (1532-1623 Devanāgarī: तुलसीदास may be written as Tulasī Dāsa depending on if the name is transcribed Śrī Rāmacaritamānas ( Devanāgarī: hi श्री राम चरित मानस ( Hindi / Avadhi) is an Epic poem composed by the

Holy City

People performing Hindu ceremony at one of the ghats of Varanasi

Varanasi is a holy city in Hinduism, being one of the most sacred pilgrimage places for Hindus of all denominations. In Religion and Spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or Search of great Moral significance Hinduism comprises numerous Sects or denominations The main divisions in current Hinduism are Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism More than 1,000,000 pilgrims visit the city each year. It has the holy shrine of Lord Kashi Vishwanath (a manifestation of Lord Shiva), and also one of the twelve revered Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva A Jyotirlinga or Jyotirling or Jyotirlingam is a shrine where Lord Shiva, an aspect of God in Hinduism is worshipped in the form According to mythology, Lord Shiva once in fact lived in Kashi (Varanasi).

Hindus believe that bathing in Ganga remits sins and that dying in Kashi ensures release of a person's soul from the cycle of its transmigrations. Hindus regard Kashi as one of the Shakti Peethas, and that Vishalakshi Temple stands on the spot where Goddess Sati's earrings fell. The Shakti Peethas ( holy places of cosmic power) are places of worship consecrated to the goddess ' Shakti ', the female principal of Hinduism The Vishalakshi Temple of Divine Mother Sati, wife of Lord Shiva stands at Meer Ghat just behind Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, India Satī (Devanagari सती the feminine of sat "true" or Dākshāyani is a Hindu goddess of marital felicity and longevity she is worshipped particularly ^[16]Hindus of the Shakti sect make a pilgrimage to the city because they regard river Ganga itself as Goddess Shakti. Shakti, meaning sacred force, power, or energy, is the Hindu concept or personification of the divine feminine aspect sometimes referred Adi Shankara wrote his commentaries on Hinduism here, leading to the great Hindu revival. Adi Shankara ( Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍ Devanāgarī: आदि शङ्कर Ādi Śaṅkara, aːd̪i ɕaŋkərə (see below Vaishnavism and Shaivism have always co-existed in Varanasi harmoniously. Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Shaivism, also spelled "Saivism" names the oldest of the four sects of Hinduism.

Varanasi is one of the holiest places in Buddhism too, being one of the four pilgrimage sites said to have been designated by Gautama Buddha himself, (the others being Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya, and Lumbini). WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Kushinagar or Kusinagar (26 WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bodh Gaya or Bodhgaya (Hindi बोधगया is a city in Gaya district in the Lumbini ( Sanskrit: sa लुम्बिनी "the lovely" is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Kapilavastu district of Nepal In the residential neighborhood of Varanasi lies Sarnath, the site of the deer park where Gautama Buddha is said to have given his first sermon about the basic principles of Buddhism. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The Dhamek Stupa is one of the few pre-Ashokan stupas still standing, though only its foundation remains. Dhamek Stupa (also spelled Dhamekh and Dhamekha) is a massive Stupa located at Sarnath, 13 km away from Varanasi in the state of Ashoka ( Devanāgarī: अशोकः IAST: Aśokaḥ, aɕoːkə(hə Prakrit Imperial title Devanampriya Priyadarsi A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist Also remaining is the Chaukhandi Stupa commemorating the spot where Buddha met his first disciples (in the 5th century or earlier, BC). Chaukhandi Stupa is an important Buddhist Stupa in Sarnath, located 13 kilometres from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. An octagonal tower was built later there.

Varanasi is a pilgrimage site for Jains along with Hindus and Buddhists. Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. It is believed to be the birthplace of Parshvanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankar. Parshvanath or Parshvanatha ( pārśvá-nātha, occasionally spelled Parshvanath or Parswanath) was the twenty-third Tirthankara In Jainism, a Tirthankar (" Fordmaker " (also Tirthankara or Jina) is a Human being who achieves enlightenment (perfect

Islamic culture has also had an influence on Varanasi.

There has been some degree of continuous tension between different religious communities in the city.

Temples

Varanasi is known as the City of Temples

Varanasi is a city of temples. Almost every road crossing has a nearby temple. Such small temples form the basis of daily local prayers and other rituals. But there are many large temples too, erected at different times through out the history of Varanasi.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple, also called Golden Temple, which in its present shape was built in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, is located on the outskirts of the Ganga. Kashi Vishwanath temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and is in the holy city of Varanasi, India. Punyaslok Rajmata Ahilyadevi Holkar, called " Catherine the Great, Elizabeth, Margaret of India” (1725 - 1795 ruled 1767-1795 was a Holkar Indore ( Hindi: इंदौर/इन्दोर, Marathi - इंदूर, the largest city and the commercial capital of the central Indian state of This temple makes Varanasi a place of great religious importance to the Hindus, as Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha, the aforementioned Jyotirlinga of the Lord Shiva is enshrined here. It is said that a single view of Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga is considered to merit more than that of other jyotirlingas. A Naubatkhana was built up in front of the Temple by the collector Mohammed Ibrahim Khan at the instance of Governor General Warren Hastings in 1785. Naqqar khana or Naubat khana is a term for a drum house or orchestra pit during ceremonies Warren Hastings ( December 6 1732 - August 22 1818) was the first Governor-General of Bengal, from 1773 to 1785 In 1839, Punjab Kesari, the Jat-Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the ruler of Punjab donated gold to cover the two domes of the temple. Punjab ( ਪੰਜਾਬ پنجاب, पंजाब پنجاب also Panjab (پنجاب meaning "Land of the Five Rivers") (c On January 28, 1983 the Temple was taken over by the government of Uttar Pradesh and its management was transferred to a trust with Late Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh, then Kashi Naresh, as president and an executive committee with Divisional Commissioner as chairman. Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Uttar Pradesh (उत्तर प्रदेश اتر پردیش pronounced, Translation: Northern Province) referred to as '''U Pandit Dr Vibhuti Narayan Singh डॉ विभूति नारायण सिंह् (1927–2000 was the popular King of Benares, a holy city Kingdom of Kashi was the erstwhile Brahmin kingdom of the Maharaja of Kashi (Varanasi, who is also known as the Kashi Naresh. ^[17]. The official website of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple Kashi Vishwanath was launched on 23rd Jul 2007 and gives details about temple activities as well as facilities for online booking of various sevas and pujas.

The temple was once destroyed by the Muslim Emperor Aurangzeb who built a mosque over it. It was later resurrected at a location near the mosque, and is many times a cause of local strain among Hindus and Muslims. ^[18]

Durga Temple, also nicknamed "Monkey temple," was built at some point of time in 18th century by a Bengali Queen. The Bengali people are the ethnic community from Bengal (divided between Bangladesh and India) on the Indian subcontinent with a history dating The temple got the name 'Monkey temple' because of the presence of large number of monkeys in the temple. According to legends, the present statue of Goddess Durga was not made by man but appeared on its own in the temple. Thousands of Hindu devotees visit the Durga temple during Navratri and other auspicious occasions. In Hinduism, Durga ("the inaccessible" or "the invincible" or Maa Durga (Mother Durga is a form of Devi, the supreme Goddess Navratri ( Sanskrit: नवरात्रि is a Hindu Festival of worship and dance Non-Hindus can enter the courtyard of the Durga temple but not the inner sanctum.

The architecture is of Nagara Style, which is typical of North India. The temple is accompanied by a rectangular tank of water called Durga Kund. ("Kund" meaning a pond or pool. ) The temple has multi-tiered spires and is stained red with ochre, signifying the red colour of Durga. The Kund was earlier connected to the river itself thus refreshing the water. This channel was later closed, leading to locked water which is replenished only by rain or drainage from the Temple. Every year on the occasion of Nag panchami, the act of depicting Lord Vishnu reclining on the coiled-up mystical snake or "Shesha" is repeated in the Kund. 'Nāga Panchamī ( Sanskrit: नाग पंचमी is a Hindu festival celebrated by Hindus in most parts of India. For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific In Hindu ( Vedic) tradition Shesha (Śeṣa in IAST transliteration Devanagari: शेष is the king of all nagas, one of the primal

Sankat Mochan Temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is very popular with the local citizens. Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is one of the sacred Temples of Hindu god Hanuman in the city of Hanuman (हनुमत् sa-Latn '''Hanumat''' nominative singular sa हनुमान् sa-Latn ''Hanumān'' known also as ' Anjaneya' (son of Anjana is one of the It is a place for many yearly religious as well as cultural festivals. On March 7, 2006, one of the three explosions carried out by Islamic militants hit the temple, while the aarti, in which numerous worshippers and wedding attendees participated, was in progress.

The new Vishwanath Temple, called Birla Mandir, mainly funded by Raja Birla of the Birla family of industrialists, was built as a replica of the old Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The Birla family is one of the foremost business houses in India. ^[19] Planned by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the temple is part of the Banaras Hindu University, and stands for national revival. Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861-1946 was an Indian politician notable for his role in the freedom struggle and his espousal of Hindu nationalism. The temple is open to people of all castes and religions.

Arts and literature

Architecture of the Vishwanath Temple

A holy city, Varanasi does not take a backseat when it comes to fine arts and literature. Great Indian writers have lived in this city from Kabir, Ravi Das, Tulsidas who wrote much of his Ramayana here, Kulluka Bhatt who wrote the best known commentary of Manu here in 15th century ^[20] and Bharatendu Harishchandra, later writers have been Jayshankar Prasad, Acharya Ram Chandra Shukla, Munshi Premchand, Jagannath Prasad Ratnakar, Devaki Nandan Khatri, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Tegh Ali, Kshetresa Chandra Chattopadhyaya, Vagish Shastri, Baldev Upadhyaya, Vidya Niwas Mishra, Kashi Nath Singh, Namvar Singh, Rudra Kashikeya, Nirgun among many other notables. Al-Kabir "the Great" is also one of the 99 names of God in Islam Gosvāmī Tulsīdās (1532-1623 Devanāgarī: तुलसीदास may be written as Tulasī Dāsa depending on if the name is transcribed The Rāmāyaṇa ( Devanāgarī: sa रामायण is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the Hindu sage ( Maharishi) Valmiki Bharatendu Harishchandra (भारतेन्दु हरिश्चन्द्र Jaishankar Prasad ( Hindi: जयशंकर प्रसाद) ( January 30, 1889 January 14, 1937) one of the most Ram Chandra Shukla better known as Acharya Shukla ( October 4 1882 - 1942 is regarded as the first codifier of the history of Hindi Literature ' Acharya' Hazari Prasad Dwivedi (हजारी प्रसाद द्विवेदी ( August 19, 1907 1979 was a Hindi Novelist, literary Kshetresa Chandra Chattopadhyaya (1896–1974 क्षेत्रेश चंद्र चट्टोपाध्याय) was a distinguished scholar of Sanskrit from Vagish Shastri (also known as B P T Vagish Shastri is an international Sanskrit grammarian, eminent linguist, Tantric and Yogi. Pandit Baldev Upadhyaya (पण्डित बलदेव उपाध्याय 1899-1999 was a renowned Hindi, Sanskrit scholar literary Historian Vidya Niwas Mishra (1926-2005 was a scholar a noted Hindi-Sanskrit littérateur and a journalist

Art lovers and historians like Rai Krishnadas, his son Prof. Anand Krishna, musicians like Pt. Rai Anand Krishna is an art historian and museologist who has not only helped in restoration and chronicling of Indian art but also created a breed of professional art researchers Omkarnath Thakur,P t. Ravi Shankar, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Girija Devi, Siddheshwari Devi, Dr. Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib ( March 21, 1916 – August 21, 2006) was a Shehnai Maestro from India. Girija Devi (b May 8, 1929, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India) is an Indian singer and represents the Banaras Gharana of Siddheshwari Devi (1907 - 1976 was a famous Hindustani singer from Varanasi, India lovingly known as Maa (mother Lalmani Misra and his son Dr. Dr Lalmani Misra ( August 11, 1924 - July 17, 1979) MA PhD D Mus Gopal Shankar Misra, Dr. Dr Gopal Shankar Misra (b 1957 Kanpur d Aug13 1999 Bhopal is an Indian musician and music teacher N. Rajam, Dr. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Rajam or Razam is a Census town, Municipality and Mandal headquarters Rajbhan Singh, Pt. Anokhelal, Pt. Samta Prasad, Kanthe Maharaj, Pt. M. V. Kalvint, Sitara Devi, Gopi Krishna, Pt. Kishan Maharaj, Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Mahadev Mishra and numerous others have kept the city alive to the spiritual aspect of fine arts apart from their ability to entertain. Numerous festivals are celebrated that preserve traditional styles of classical and folk culture. All night, open music concerts like ones organised at Sankat Mochan Temple, Hori, Kajri and Chaiti Mela, Budwa Mangal, are annual features that draw connoisseurs from all over. Kajari ( Hindi: कजरी derived from the Hindi word Kajra, or Kohl, is a genre of Hindustani classical music singing popular

Sushruta, the great surgeon and author of Sushruta Samhita, the Sanskrit text of surgery, also lived in Varanasi ^[21]. Sushruta was a surgeon and teacher of Ayurveda who flourished in the Indian city of Kashi by the 6th century BCE The Sushruta Samhita is a Sanskrit text on Surgery, attributed to Sushruta, (6th century BCE the "father of Surgery"

Economy

Varanasi has several small cottage industries, including Silk sari making, the production of textiles such as hand-woven carpets, and handicrafts. Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons for the town in Nepal see Sari Nepal A sari or saree or shari is a female garment in the Indian subcontinent The Banarasi Pan (betel leaves) and Banarasi Khoa (a milk product, somewhat similar to cheese) are popular, and the related small-scale industries employ many people. Indian Railways runs a major diesel locomotive factory in Varanasi, Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW). Indian Railways (भारतीय रेल Bhāratīya Rail) abbreviated as IR (hi भारे is a Department of the Government of India under the Ministry DLW redirects here For the DL&W railroad in the United States, see Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad. The first Indian business house of Varanasi and Kanpur was the firm NihalChand KishoriLal established in the year 1857 which set up the fourth Oxygen plant in the country here by the name of Indian Air Gases Ltd. According to Macaulay, Varanasi was the "city which, in wealth, population, dignity and sanctity was among the foremost in Asia". He described the commercial importance saying "from the looms of Benaras went forth the most delicate silks that adorned the halls of St. James and of Versailles. "^[16][22]

Demographics

The population of Varanasi urban agglomeration in 2001 was 1,371,749; the sex ratio was 879 females every 1000 males. ^[23] However, the area under Varanasi Municipal Corporation has a population of 1,100,748^[24] with the sex ratio being 883 females for every 1000 males. ^[24] The literacy rate in the urban agglomeration is 61. 5% while that in the municipal corporation area is 61%. ^[24] Approximately 138,000 people in the municipal area live in slums. ^[25] The crime rate in the city in 2004 was 128. 5 per 100,000 which is higher than Uttar Pradesh rate of 73. 2 but lower than the national rate of 168. 8. ^[26]

Transport

Auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are the most widely available public transport within Varanasi. An auto rickshaw or tuk tuk ( auto autorick or rickshaw in popular parlance is a Motor vehicle that is one of the chief The cycle rickshaw, being a small-scale local means of transport is also known by a variety of other names such as rickshaw, pedicab, bugbug, cyclo In outer regions of the city, mini-buses are common. Small boats and small steamers are used to cross the river Ganga. A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving a Propeller

Varanasi is well connected by air, rail and buses with all the main Indian cities. Its distance from Delhi is 776 km. Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population The Babatpur airport is about 25 km from the city center (about 45 minutes by taxi) and it is well connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Nepal. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand All the major domestic Indian carriers, including Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Indian, Spicejet, and Alliance Air operate from here.

One of the major factors in Varanasi's sustained existence as an inhabited city is its role as an established transportation hub between different cities. Dating to ancient times, the city was connected to cities like Taxila, Gazipur, Pataliputra, Vaishali, Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Agra etc. For the Genus of metalmark butterflies, see Taxila (butterfly. Gazipur may refer to Gazipur Barisal Division, Bangladesh Gazipur Chittagong Division, Bangladesh Gazipur Dhaka Division Paṭnā ( Hindi: पटना is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited Ayodhya (अयोध्या IAST Ayodhyā) is an ancient city of India, the old capital of Awadh, in the Faizabad district Gorakhpur ( Hindi: गोरखपुर Urdu: گۋڙکھ پور is a city in the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, near Agra ( pronounced) (आगरा آگرا is a city on the banks of the Yamuna River in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh,

The city was connected by a single road from Taxila going through Pataliputra during the Mauryan empire. The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military This road was later renovated and extended by Sher Shah Suri during the 16th century and later came to be known as the famous Grand Trunk Road. Sher Shah Suri (1486 Sasaram &ndash May 22, 1545 Kalinjar) ( - Šīr Šāh Sūrī) also known as Farid Khan or The Grand Trunk Road (commonly abbreviated to GT Road is one of South Asia 's oldest and longest major roads (source needed)

The traffic is slow inside the city.

Civic administration and utility services

Varanasi is governed by a number of bodies, the prime being the Varanasi Nagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation) and Varanasi Development Authority, which is responsible for the master planning of the city. Varanasi Nagar Nigam is the municipal corporation of the city of Varanasi in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Water supply and sewage system is maintained by Jal Nigam, a subsidiary of Nagar Nigam. Power supply is by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited. The city produces about 350 million litres per day^[27] of sewer and 425 tonnes per day of solid waste. ^[28] The solid wastes are disposed in one landfill site. ^[29] A huge amount of sewer flows into the river Ganga daily. Nagar Nigam also runs a bus service in the city and suburban areas. The city is within the Varanasi range of Varanasi zone of Uttar Pradesh Police. Unit/Wings The various units/wings of the UP Police are 1 Training Directorate 2 A Special Superintendent of Police is the highest ranking police officer in the city. Superintendent ( Supt) often shortened to "Super" is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations ^[30] The city constitutes one parliamentary constituency. Indian National Congress won the constituency in Indian general election, 2004. Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. Legislative elections were held in India, the world's largest Democracy, in four phases between April 20 and May 10, 2004.

Varanasi was one the five cities where Ganga Action Plan was launched. Ganga Action Plan or GAP was a program launched by Government of India in April 1985 in order to reduce the pollution load on the river Ganga.

Education

Main article: Education in India

Banaras Hindu University is a major university in Varanasi

University education

Varanasi is the site of three public universities. Structure There are broadly four stages of school education in India namely primary upper primary secondary and higher secondary (or High school) Banaras Hindu University (BHU Hindi: काशी हिन्दू विश्वविद्यालय is a premier Central University and a world class educational Banaras Hindu University, which includes Institute of Technology and Institute of Medical Sciences, is among the top 3 largest residential universities in the world having more than 128 independent teaching departments. Banaras Hindu University (BHU Hindi: काशी हिन्दू विश्वविद्यालय is a premier Central University and a world class educational The Institute of Technology or IT-BHU is the engineering school of Banaras Hindu University (BHU in Varanasi. ^[31] Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth University and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University are the other two universities. Sampurnanand Sanskrit University is an institution of higher learning in oriental learning Sanskrit allied areas etc

Banaras Hindu University (1916) was founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya with the cooperation of Dr Annie Besant. Banaras Hindu University (BHU Hindi: काशी हिन्दू विश्वविद्यालय is a premier Central University and a world class educational Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861-1946 was an Indian politician notable for his role in the freedom struggle and his espousal of Hindu nationalism. Annie Wood Besant (ˈbɛsənt Clapham London October 1 1847 &ndash September 20 1933 in Adyar, India) was a prominent Theosophist, Its 1350 acre (5. 5 km²) campus was built on land donated by the Maharaja of Kashi. Kingdom of Kashi was the erstwhile Brahmin kingdom of the Maharaja of Kashi (Varanasi, who is also known as the Kashi Naresh.

Governor General Lord Cornwallis establish the Sanskrit College (1791), which was the first college in Varanasi. Charles Cornwallis 1st Marquess Cornwallis ( 31 December 1738 &ndash 5 October 1805) was a British military commander and colonial The first principal of Sanskrit College was Sanskrit Professor J. Myor, ICS followed by Dr. J. R. Ballentien, RTH Griffith, Dr. G. Thevo, Dr. Aurthor Venice, Dr. Ganganath Jha, and Gopinath Kaviraj among others. After independence this college turned to in Sampurnanand Sanskrit University. Sampurnanand Sanskrit University is an institution of higher learning in oriental learning Sanskrit allied areas etc ^[32]

The Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarnath is a deemed university with a preference for the traditional Tibetan method of teaching within a framework of modern universities. This article is about a place in India For H P Lovecraft 's fictitious city see The Doom That Came to Sarnath. Deemed university is a status of autonomy granted to high performing institutes and departments of various universities in India. Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European ^[33] Uday Pratap College, another rdeemed university, is the center of sports and science study for the suburban students of modern Benares. Varanasi is also noted for many private and public institutes that provide Hindu religious teaching. Since ancient times people have been coming to Varanasi to learn philosophy, Sanskrit, astrology, social science and religious teachings. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems In Indian tradition, Varanasi is often called "Sarva Vidya Ki Rajdhani" (capital of knowledge). ^[34] The city also has the Jamiah Salafiah, a Salafi Islamic institution. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. ^[35]

Basic and special education

The schools are affiliated with the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), or the U. P. Board. The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education ( ICSE) examination is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations for Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad ((उत्तर प्रदेश माध्यमिक शिक्षा परिशद् or Uttar Pradesh Board of High School Under the 10+2 plan, after completing their secondary education, students typically enroll in a 2 year junior college (also known as a pre-university) or in schools with a higher secondary facility. The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries Students usually choose from one of three streams — liberal arts, commerce, or science, though vocational streams are also available. The term liberal arts refers to a particular type of educational Curriculum broadly defined as a Classical education. Commerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding Upon completing the required coursework, students may enroll in general or professional degree programs.

Tourism

Probably due to its unique culture, Varanasi is a major tourist destination for foreign tourists in India. A number of 3, 4 and 5 star hotels are present in the city. Stars are often used as symbols for classification purposes They are used by reviewers for ranking things such as movies TV shows restaurants and hotels All sort of cuisines are available mostly as street food due to rich and hospitable culture of Varanasi.

Varanasi is a noted centre for silk weaving and brassware. Fine silks and brocaded fabrics, exquisite saris, brassware, jewellery, woodcraft, carpets, wall hangings, lamp shades and masks of Hindu and Buddhist deities are some of Varanasi's shopping attractions. The main shopping areas include the Chowk, Godaulia, Vishwanath Lane, Lahurabir and Thatheri Bazaar. ^[16]

In popular culture

In the Rigveda, the city was referred to as Kasi or Kashi, "the luminous one" as an allusion to the city's historical status as a center of learning, literature, and culture. The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" ^[36] Kasikanda described the glory of the city in 15,000 verses in the Skanda Purana. Skanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text is the largest Purana and is devoted mainly to the life and deed of Kartikeya In one verse, God Shiva says,

The three worlds form one city of mine, and Kasi is my royal palace therein. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva ^[16]

Another reference to Varanasi is found in a hymn by Sri Veda Vyasa:

Ganga-taranga-ramaneeya-jataakalaapam,
Gauri-nirantara-vibhushita-vaamabhaagam. Vyāsa ( Devanāgarī: व्यास is a central and revered figure in the majority of Hindu traditions
Narayanapriyam-Ananga-madaapahaaram,
Varanasi-pura-patim bhaja Vishwanatham.

• The film Banaras - A Mystic Love Story (2006), is based on Varanasi's history, and it's role in Indian tradition. Banaras - A Mystic Love Story is the name of an Indian Bollywood film directed by Pankuj Parashar released in 2006.
• In Kurt Weill's "Benares Song" from the opera Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny. WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section --> Kurt Julian Weill ( March 2, 1900 &ndash April 3, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny is a political-satirical Opera composed by Kurt Weill to a
• Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay's seminal Bengali novel Aparajito was partly set in Benaras. Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay (বিভূতিভূষণ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় Bibhutibhushon Bôndopaddhae; last name also rendered as Banerjee It was further immortalized by Satyajit Ray in his Apu Trilogy. Satyajit Ray (সত্যজিত রায় or সত্যজিৎ রায়) (2 May 1921–23 April 1992 was a Bengali Indian Filmmaker. The Apu trilogy is a series of three movies directed by Satyajit Ray: Pather Panchali ( Song Of The Little Road) Aparajito A part of the film was shot in Varanasi.
• In Dan Simmons' Hyperion Cantos the barge, transporting the pilgrims to the Sea of Grass, was called Benares. Dan Simmons (born April 4, 1948 in Peoria, Illinois) is an American Author most widely known for his Hugo Award The Hyperion Cantos form a Tetralogy of Science fiction Novels by Dan Simmons.
• Ian McDonald's novel River of Gods is partly set in Varanasi. Ian McDonald may refer to Ian McDonald (cricketer (born 1923 Australian first-class cricketer Ian McDonald (musician (born 1946 member River of Gods is a Science fiction Novel by Ian McDonald. It is one of the first works in popular fiction to imagine a futuristic India
• In a song by Krishna Das entitled "Kashi Vishwanath Gange" on the CD Breath of the heart. Krishna Das may refer to Krishna Das (singer Krishna Das (archer, Arjuna Award winner 1981 ^[37]
• In a song by Waterjuice entitled "Varanasi Space Station" on the CD World Fusion.
• Many Hindu's believe that Varanasi is the 'Center of Universe', and it is called Universal Capital Banaras.

See also

This article contains Indic text. The Brahmic family is a family of syllabaries (writing systems used in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Central Asia and East Asia, Without rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes or other symbols instead of Indic characters; or irregular vowel positioning and a lack of conjuncts. Mojibake is the happenstance of incorrect unreadable characters (garbage characters shown when Computer software fails to render a text correctly according to its associated

• Varanasi District
• Most Holy Place
• Vishnu Sarma, the author of Panchatantra
• Ganges River
• Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
• Kashi Mutt
• Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath
• Chaukhandi Stupa at Sarnath
• Central Hindu School

Notes

References

• Singh, Rana P. B. Varanasi as Heritage City (India) on the scale the UNESCO World Heritage List: From Contestation to Conservation. Swedish South Asian Studies Network.

External links

• District Varanasi Official Website - Official website of Varanasi District and City
• Varanasi at the Open Directory Project
• Varanasi travel guide from Wikitravel
• WanderingScapes: A traveler's blog entry on Varanasi with comprehensive city information
• Gallery of photos from Varanasi

gallery of photos in http://www.manuelolivares.it