Varanasi – A replica of cosmic curiosity

Kashi, the ancient and original name of Varanasi, has always been regarded as a cosmogram, a sacred womb for cosmos to generate light constantly. Since it is impregnated with feminine principle eternally, it invigorates and resuscitates. Since this cosmic feminine principle is not traditionally repetitive, it offers us to learn and feel Kashi through soul only and express that feeling symbolically. Kashi, the term is derived from a Sanskrit name Kash, meaning spiritual LIGHT, anthropologically from a tribe Kasis, used to live here in Mahajanapad period before Buddha, like the tribe Ajivika. Nature’s feminine principle, Shakti is prominent here in Kashi that gives life beauty, Shiva, otherwise, Siva is here Shava. Thus it is proverbially said that Kashi is situated at the Trishul, the trident of Shiva. The trident symbolizes threefold aspects of power, i.e. the power of will, the power of knowledge and the power of action. One can achieve salvation only by dint of these three aspects of power; even can get anything to accomplish life. Hence to attain the Light, this constantly moving feminine principle, the ever-creative force, the trident, the companion of Shiva is required in this cosmogram.

Apparently, one can find pleasure and pain simultaneously in this ancient city, cannot be transformed into a cosmopolitan. One finds manifold pleasure, the pleasure to walk around the temples, the sunrise, and sunset at the ghat, the labyrinth of interesting narrow lanes, colossal sense of leisure to eat, drink and gossip. Likewise, one faces multidimensional pain, the pain of lack in properly standardized life, insincere words, nonsensical traffic arrogance resulted in nothing, curiosity to indulge in all neighboring lives, the inseparable togetherness of traditional Sanskrit and habitual abuse, and abnormal living condition inside and outside relentlessly.

This is Banaras, unlike Kashi. Earlier, Kashi was a state of various kings after the end of Mahajanapad system. In the medieval period, specifically in Gurjar Pratihar and Gahadwad periods, Varanasi had been the capital of Kashi, the state of a king, say, for example, king Chandradeva of Gahadwad with a large area encircling Kannauj to Gorakhpur. Therefore one finds pleasure and pain in Banaras whereas feeling joy in Kashi, Kashi is beyond or behind Banaras metaphorically. Kashi is palpable. One cannot understand. To feel Kashi, the space of Light, one has to put aside one’s bundle of thoughts, rather than leave one’s subconscious garbage of conditional mindset.

The moment one gets rid of civic mindset, one is with a cosmic curiosity, with deeper feelings of one’s own natural space of very soul, intrinsically one with its Light-aspect, ever free, breathing tranquillity at the ghat of the serene flow of the same river Ganga.

Now life flows in another order of consciousness, rests in a white shadow. This curiosity begins and flowers in the smiling rise of another sun, the real one with the dawn of true Kashi.