KASHI Much of What Forms Kashi Today Is Majorly from the 18Th
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KASHI Much of what forms Kashi today is majorly from the 18th century which is when the destruction of culture and earth by foreign rulers stopped. Invaded and raided at least 5 times by Turks then Mughals combined with the religious epicenters as their prime targets. All these mercenary attacks and the beating of time has rendered the blueprint of this transcendental locus fractured. Which has made its ability to burst you into an extreme state of realization thus ecstasy through its flash of energy or vibes ,tainted. Though there's enough left for the devout. Kashi was meant to be the mesocosm which linked the micro and the macro-cosm, i.e. it was a medium for the human to experience, know and cultivate the divine within. The city had 72,000 Shakti sthalas (energy centers) representing the nadis in the human body, there are 108 shrines here representing the workable chakras. This is because it is a huge pranic (energy) body which radiates positive conscious altering vibrations. The land here has been witness to a lot now its time for you to rock on a boat to lock your eyes on these dockyards or Ghats and see the architecture from 16th century onwards absorbing the serenity on a ground which survived all the partial annihilations for the past 4.2 bn years! Ghats of Kashi There are 84 Ghats from Assi till Adi-kesava which is the ghat next to Raj Ghat. Much like the city these Ghats go as far as 16th century in its erupted structures. Most of the shrines here are a recreation/replication of an already revered temple. Innumerable shiv lingas are established by people of power and even poor devotees. Assi Ghat North to the confluence of Ganga and Assi river. This is the southern most ghat on this string of banks on succession. This is the most celebrated ghat always filled with crowd and events. This ghat was purchased by Rani Dulhin Radha Dulari Kunwar of Sursand in 1902. She built the Lakshmi Narayan Temple here and a little palace now know as Hotel Ganga View. The white marble temple here is Assi-sangam-eshvar. 4 more Ghats came out of this ghat after the 19th century. Mythic Tale : Assi’s birth Goddess Kali after decapitating Shumbha and Nishumbh, two demon brothers threw her khadag (sword) into the ground near by . Which made the earth give in and out poured from its womb Assi. Ganga Mahal Ghat Built in the 1830 by Narayan Dynasty for the Maharaja of Banaras with 16th century Rajput and local architecture . The palace here is now utilized for Learning purposes . First floor by the World Literacy Program of Canada , while the floors above by Indo-Swedish Study Center. Rewan Ghat Constructed by Royal Purohit Lala Mishr of Maharaja Ranjit Singh from Punjab. Purchased later by Maharaja Rewan in 1879. Maharaja Rewan donated the building to B.H.U. Tulsi Ghat Named after the Great saintly poet Tulsidas who sitting over here had compiled Ramcharitramanas vernacular form of Valmiki’s Ramayan in Sanskrit, and many more works. This helped regular people know the epic . It has a lolark kund above it which is known to grant a son if you take a dip here in the month of Kartika, even leprosy is warded off. In 1941, Baldeodas Birla paved this ghat. Bhadaini Ghat Named ages ago after an immense dense forest called BhadraVan. It serves as a water pumping station since 1907. Janaki Ghat Earlier called Nagamber Ghat known for Hayagriva Keshva Temple above it. Maharani Kunwar of Sursand purchased this ghat in 1870 from Rai Girdhar Lal who in 1860 had erupted a structure here. Maharani built a shrine here for Janaki (Sita, wife of Lord Ram). Anandmayi Ghat Paved by Rai Baldeo Sahai in 1942 then bought by a well accomplished ascetic Mata Anandmayi in 1944. Has an Ashram with Shiva And Annapurna as it’s deity, And a residential school for girls to learn occult, spiritual and general teachings called Anandmayi Kanyapith. Vacchraj Ghat Paved in the late 18th century by a merchant with the same name. It has 3 niches of Shiva , Ganesha and Ganga. 7th Jain Tirthankara Suparshavnath was born to King Pratishtha and Queen Prithvi nearby this ghat. Hence , this ghat is close to the Jain community. Jain Ghat Paved by the Jain community , came into existence in 1931. Earlier a part of Vacchraj Ghat. Nishad Ghat Part of Prabhu Ghat till first half of the 20th century. Has a Nishad Raj temple built by the fishermen community living here. Prabhu Ghat Built in the turn of the 20th century by Nirmal Kumar Of Bengal. Occupied by boatmen and washer men. Panchkota Ghat Built by the King of Panchkota (Bengal) in the later half of 19th century. Chet Singh Ghat Built by and for Raja Chet Singh of Banaras around 1770. This Shivala Palace was home to Raja Chet Singh In 1781 when he rebelled against the British and lost to the troops of Warren Hastings. It was later gifted back to Maharaja Prabhu Narayan Singh of Narayan dynasty against his non participation in the revolt of 1857. Ghat has three Shiva temples from the 18th century. A seven day Bhudwa Mangal festival was organized here in the past but due to reunification it got dangerous to be around and that practice stopped. Rejuvenated in 1958 by the State Government. The next 3 Ghats were in the palace compound but donated later by the Narayan Dynasty. Niranjani Ghat There is an Niranjani Akhara (monastery) here built in 1897 by the Naga Saints. There is a temple dedicated to Kartikeya here the only one in Kashi. Maha-Nirvani Ghat Paved by king of Panchkota in 1915 to build an Akhara by the name Maha-Nirvani for the Naga sect. King of Nepal built 4 Shiva temples here. Lore has it that sage Kapil was here Legend has it that Lord Buddha took a dip in the Ganga here. Shivala Ghat King of Nepal built the beautiful Nepali Kothi or Suryauday Haveli here in ’s during his exile. Gularia Ghat Named after a huge Indian fig tree which used to be there. Paved by Lalooji Aggarwal Dandi Ghat Pre dominated by stick carrying Dandi Ascetics. Has a hanuman and Dandi temple. Paved by Lalooji Aggarwal. Hanuman Ghat + Prachin Hanuman Ghat A shrine of Hanuman was built atop this ghat by Tulsidas. Bhakti saint Vallabha who laid the philosophy for Krishna Bhakti is affiliated to this place. Paved by Mahanth Hariharanth in 1825. Comes under the Juna Akhara compound atop it. Which has 8 shrines from 18th century. Some auxiliary shrines were built in 19th century. Myth: Lord Ram built this Ghat Lord Ram built the Rameshvara temple here as a representation to the Rameshvar Jyotirling of Tamil Nadu which he established before going to war with Ravan. Karnataka Ghat Built by the State of Mysore in 1910. Has an old Ruru Bhairav shrine. Harishchandra Ghat One of the 2 crematory Ghats. In 1740 Narayan Dixit religious guru of Bajirao Pesava renovated this ghat. Mythic Tale: Satyawadi Harishchandra Raja Harishchandra is a mythic King known for only speaking the truth. He once had to sell his wife and kid to a Brahmin (priest) and himself to a chandal (cremator) to appease sage Vishwamitr whom he had angered by disturbing his meditation for which he gave up his kingdom too. He worked as a tax collector at Manikarnika Ghat. Years passed and upon a time his kid had died from a bite of a snake. When his wife brought the son to be cremated at Manikarnika he bound by his duty asked for tax for the funeral for which she was about to tear half her sari and pay. That’s when Vishnu Brahma and the sage appeared and breathed life into their son and restored the kingdom as a reward for being righteous. Lali Ghat Paved by Raja Chet Singh In 1778. Vijaynagram Ghat Paved in 1840 by Vijaynagram state of South India. Kedar Ghat At its top exist the temple of Kedareahvar, patron deity of southern segment. Has a gauri kund (sacred well) as a representation of Gauri Kund in Kedarnath. Chaoki Ghat Built in 1790 Has a huge pipal tree which shelters stone carved snakes. Here at some distance lies the naga kupa (snake pit) Especial devotional ceremony takes place here on Naga Panchmi. Ksemesvar/Somesvar/Shameshvar Ghat Built in 18th century. Kumaraswami’s followers built a monastery here in 1962. Mansarovar Ghat There is a sacred pond atop this ghat representing the Mansarovar Lake of Kailash. Built in 1585 by Raja Man Singh Of Jaipur. Narad Ghat Built in 1788 by Dattatreya Swami A monastery chief Raja Ghat Formerly known as Amrita Rao Ghat named after who rebuilt the ghat with stone slabs in 1780 after its construction by Bajirao Pesva in 1720. Khori Ghat A.K.A. Ganga Mahal Ghat II Paved in late 19th century by Narayan Singh Of Narayan Dynasty. Pandey Ghat Built in honor of famous wrestler Babua Pandey along with an wrestling pit Akhara in 1805. Saresvar Ghat Built under the patronage of Mathura Pandey in late 18th century. Digpatia Ghat Built in 1830 by Raja of Digpatia (Bengal). Chausathi Ghat Dedicated to kali’s forms the yoginis, the ghat has yoginis rest are at different locations. In 1670 king of Udaipur renovated this ghat. Holi rituals are performed here. Mythic Tale: Devodas Devodas was the King of Kashi who wanted Shiva out of Kashi as he was depreciated as a king by his presence.