I was very blessed to visit Varanasi in the month of Nov 2010 for campus recruitment at Benares Hindu University. The journey started with a obstacle. We were supposed to fly in SpiceJet till Delhi and catch another flight to Varanasi. As usual SpiceJet canceled their flight to Delhi and we were stranded.. After arguing with the SpiceJet staff we were put in the next flight and landed at Varanasi in the evening.
Varanasi is the sacred abode of Lord Shiva. This place is also one of the 12 Jyothir Lingas and oldest city in the world. On the day we landed there was no time and so I decided to go for a site seeing next day early morning.
I visited the Dashashwamedh Ghat and went for a boat drive on the Ganges.. As you go in the boat you get a feeling of going back in time.. You can feel the holiness in the air.. At the time of the year the ganges was overflowing and I visited various ghats and the most important of them is Manikarnika ghat.
Manikarnika Ghat is the main cremation Ghat of Varanasi. Manikarnika Ghat is one of the oldest and most sacred Ghats in Benaras. According to the Hindu mythology, being burned here provides an instant gateway to liberation from the cycle of births and rebirths. Lying at the center of the five tirthas, Manikarnika Ghat symbolizes both creation and destruction. At Manikarnika Ghat, the mortal remains are consigned to flames with the prayers that the souls rest in eternal peace. There is a sacred well at the Manikarnika Ghat, called the Manikarnika Kund. Manikarnika Kund is said to be dug by Lord Vishnu at the time of creation while the hot ashes of the burnt bodies makes one remember the inevitable destruction of everything in the world.
I took bath in the ganges at Varanasi.. I know people wonder how you could path in that water that is not very clean. The boatmen took me to a place where the water was cleaner compared to other places..
But about all when you have faith, faith prevails over other things.. There is so much dirt inside us and we ignore that.. I was re-born on that day..
Then I visited the famous Kashi Viswanath and Visalakshi temple. In the evening visited the famous Sankat Vimochan mandir where Tulsidas has darshan of Hanuman.. This temple had very strong vibrations and you are peace in the temple premise.. A very beautiful temple and must visit place for all those going to Varanasi.
Very close to Manikarnika Ghat, I saw a sadhu who had died and was being dropped into the changes. At Varanasi they do not burn the bodies of the following people : 1. Newly born children 2. Pregnant women 3. Anyone who died due to snake bite 4. Sadhu. Instead their bodies are wrapped and dropped into ganges at the deepest point... When you look at these we wonder how transient our existence and wonder what we are chasing in our lives..
Overall a wonderful trip to Varanasi.. I felt very blessed..
