Varanasi

yeh lekh Varanasi (banaaras) shahar ke liye hai. kaashi hetu dekhein kaashi

Varanasi
banaaras
Varanasi ke pramukh sthaanon ke chitr. baayein se dakshinaavart: ahilya ghaat, kaashi vishvanaath mandir, naya kaashi vishvanaath mandir, ganga nadi, Varanasi jankshan railway station, kaashi hindu vishvavidyaalaya ka praveshadvaar, beech mein banaarasi saadi (oopar), kaashi karvat-sindhiya ghaat, (neeche)
Varanasi
samay mandal: IST (UTC+5:30)
desh	Bhaarat
raajya	uttar pradesh
jila	Varanasi jila
mahaapaur	kaushalendr Singh
janasankhya • ghanatv	3147927 (jila)[1] (2001 tak [update]) • 1,995 /kimi2 (5,167 /varg meal)[2]
kshetrafal • ooainchaai (AMSL)	1,550 ki.mee² (598 varg meal) • 80.71 meter (265 fee॰)
vibhinn code • pinkod • 221 001 (daak pata) • doorabhaash • +0542
paad-tippaniyaaain Bhaarat ka pavitratam shahar

nirdeshaank: 25°a16′a55″aN 82°a57′a23″aE / 25.282°aN 82.9563°aE / 25.282; 82.9563

Varanasi ke munshi ghaat ka ek drushya

Varanasi (angreji: Vāarāaṇaasī, hindustaani uchchaaran: [ʋaaaːaaˈaaɾaaaːaaɳaaəaasiː] ( sunein)) Bhaarat ke uttar pradesh raajya ka prasiddh nagar hai. ise 'banaaras' aur 'kaashi' bhi kehte hain. ise hindu dharm mein sarvaadhik pavitra nagaron mein se ek maana jaata hai aur ise avimukt kshetr kaha jaata hai. ^{[ch][chh][3][4][5][6]} iske alaava bauddh evam jain dharm mein bhi ise pavitra maana jaata hai. yeh sansaar ke praacheenatam base shaharon mein se ek aur Bhaarat ka praacheenatam basa shahar hai.^[7][8]

kaashi naresh (kaashi ke mahaaraaja) Varanasi shahar ke mukhya saanskrutik sanrakshak evam sabhi dhaarmik kriya-kalaapon ke abhinn ang hain.^[9] Varanasi ki sanskruti ka ganga nadi evam iske dhaarmik mahattv se atoot rishta hai. ye shahar sahasron varshon se Bhaarat ka, visheshakar uttar Bhaarat ka saanskrutik evam dhaarmik kendra raha hai. hindustaani shaastreeya sangeet ka banaaras gharaana Varanasi mein hi janma evam viksit hua hai. Bhaarat ke kai daarshanik, kavi, lekhak, sangeetajnya Varanasi mein rahe hain, jinmein kabeer, vallabhaachaarya, ravidaas, svaami raamaanand, trailang svaami, shivaanand Goswami, munshi premachand, jayashankar prasaad, aachaarya raamachandr shukl, pandit ravi shankar, girija devi, pandit hari prasaad chaurasiya evam ustaad bismillaah Khan aadi kuchh hain. Goswami tulaseedaas ne hindu dharm ka param-poojya granth raamacharitmaanas yaheen likha tha aur Gautam buddh ne apna pratham pravachan yaheen nikat hi saaranaath mein diya tha.^[10]

Varanasi mein chaar bade vishvavidyaalaya sthit hain: banaaras hindu vishvavidyaalaya, mahaatma Gandhi kaashi vidyaapeeth, central Institute of haaiyar tibetiyn stadeej aur sanpoornaanand sanskrut vishvavidyaalaya. yahaan ke nivaasi mukhyat: kaashika Bhojpuri bolte hain, jo hindi ki hi ek boli hai. Varanasi ko praay: 'mandiron ka shahar', 'Bhaarat ki dhaarmik rajdhani', 'Bhagwan Shiv ki nagari', 'deepon ka shahar', 'gyaan nagari' aadi visheshanon se sambodhit kiya jaata hai.^[11]

prasiddh Amreeki lekhak mark tven likhte hain: "banaaras itihaas se bhi puraatan hai, paranparaaon se puraana hai, kinvadantiyon (leejends) se bhi praacheen hai aur jab in sabko ekatr kar dein, to us sangrah se bhi doguna praacheen hai."^[12]

Varanasi naam^[13] ka udgam sanbhavat: yahaan ki do sthaaneeya nadiyon varuna nadi evam asi nadi ke naam se milkar bana hai. ye nadiyaaain ganga nadi mein kramash: uttar evam dakshin se aakar milti hain.^[14] naam ka ek anya vichaar varuna nadi ke naam se hi aata hai jise sanbhavat: praacheen kaal mein varanaasi hi kaha jaata hoga aur isi se shahar ko naam mila.^[15] iske samarthan mein shaayad kuchh aaranbhik paath upalabdh hon, kintu is doosare vichaar ko itihaasavetta sahi naheen maanate hain.^[16] lambe kaal se Varanasi ko avimukt kshetr, aanand-kaanan, mahaashmashaan, surandhan, brahmaavart, sudarshan, ramya, evam kaashi naam se bhi sambodhit kiya jaata raha hai.^[17] rigved mein shahar ko kaashi ya kaasi naam se bulaaya gaya hai. ise prkaashit shabd se liya gaya hai, jiska abhipraaya shahar ke aitihaasik star se hai, kyonki ye shahar sada se gyaan, shiksha evam sanskruti ka kendra raha hai.^[18] kaashi shabd sabse pehle atharvaved ki paippalaad shaakha se aaya hai aur iske baad shatapath mein bhi ullekh hai. lekin yeh sambhav hai ki nagar ka naam janapad mein puraana ho. skand puraan ke kaashi khand mein nagar ki mahima 15,000 shlokon mein kahi gayi hai. ek shlok mein Bhagwan Shiv kehte hain:

teenon lokon se samaahit ek shahar hai, jismein sthit mera nivaas praasaad hai kaashi^[19]

Varanasi ka ek anya sandarbh rishi ved vyaas ne ek anya gadya mein diya hai:

ganga tarang ramaneeya jaatakalaapanaam, Gauri nirantar vibhooshit vaamabhaagam.
naaraayanapriym anang madaapahaaram, vaaraanaseepur patim bhaj vishvanaatham

atharvaved^[20] mein varanaavati nadi ka naam aaya hai jo bahut sambhav hai ki aadhunik varuna nadi ke liye hi prayog kiya gaya ho. assi nadi ko puraanon mein asisanbhed teerth kaha hai. skand puraan ke kaashi khand mein kaha gaya hai ki sansaar ke sabhi teerth mil kar asisanbhed ke solahavein bhaag ke baraabar bhi naheen hote hain.^[21][22] agnipuraan mein asi nadi ko vyutpann kar naasi bhi kaha gaya hai. varanaasi ka padachhed karein to naasi naam ki nadi nikaali gayi hai, jo kaalaantar mein asi naam mein badal gayi. mahaabhaarat mein varuna ya aadhunik barana nadi ka praacheen naam varanaasi hone ki pushti hoti hai.^[23] at: vaaraanaasi shabd ke do nadiyon ke naam se banane ki baat baad mein banaayi gayi hai. padm puraan ke kaashi mahaatmya, khand-3 mein bhi shlok hai:

vaaraanaseeti vikhyaataan tanmaan nigdaami va: dakshinottarayornaghorvaranaasishch poorvat.

jaarivi pashchimeऽtraapi paashapaanirganeshvar:..^[24]

arthaat dakshin-uttar mein varuna aur assi nadi hai, poorv mein jaahnavi aur pashchim mein paashapaanignesh.

matsya puraan mein Shiv Varanasi ka varnan karte hue kehte hain -

vaaraanasyaan nadi pu siddhagandharvasevita.

pravishta triptha ganga tasmin kshetre mam priye.

arthaat- he priye, siddh gandharvon se sevit Varanasi mein jahaan punya nadi tripthaga ganga aata hai vah kshetr mujhe priya hai.^[16]

yahaan assi ka kaheen ullekh naheen hai. Varanasi kshetr ka vistaar bataate hue matsya puraan mein ek aur jagah kaha gaya hai-

varana ch nadi yaavadyaavachhushkanadi tatha.
bheeshmayandeekamaarambh parvateshvaramanti ke.^[16][25]

uparokt uddharanon se yahi gyaat hota hai ki vaastav mein nagar ka naamakaran varanaasi par basane se hua. assi aur varuna ke beech mein Varanasi ke basane ki kalpana us samay se udaya hui jab nagar ki dhaarmik mahima badhi aur uske saath-saath nagar ke dakshin mein aabaadi badhne se dakshin ka bhaag bhi usaki seema mein aa gaya. vaise varana shabd ek vruksh ka bhi naam hota hai. praacheenakaal mein vrukshon ke naam par bhi nagaron ke naam padte the jaise koshanb se kaushaanbi, roheet se roheetak ityaadi. at: yeh sambhav hai ki Varanasi aur varanaavati donon ka hi naam is vruksh vishesh ko lekar hi pada ho.

Varanasi naam ke uparokt kaaran se yeh anumaan kadaapi naheen lagaana chaahiye ki is nagar ke se ukt vivechan se yeh na samajh lena chaahiye ki kaashi raajya ke is rajdhani shahar ka keval ek hi naam tha. akele bauddh saahitya mein hi iske anek naam milte hain. udaya jaatak mein surroondhan (arthaat surakshit), sutasom jaatak mein sudarshan (arthaat darshaneeya), somadand jaatak mein brahmavarddhan, khandahaal jaatak mein pushpavati, yuvanjaya jaatak mein ramm nagar (yaani sundar nagar)^[26], shankh jaatak mein molino (mukulini)^[27] naam aate hain. ise kaasingar aur kaasipur ke naam se bhi jaana jaata tha^[28]. samraat ashok ke samay mein iski rajdhani ka naam potali tha^[29]. yeh nishchaya poorvak naheen kaha ja sakta hai ki ye sabhi naam ek hi shahar ke the, ya kaashi raajya ki alag-alag samay par raheen ek se adhik raajadhaaniyon ke naam the.

pauraanik kathaaon ke anusaar, kaashi nagar ki sthaapana hindu Bhagwan Shiv ne lagbhag 5000 varsh poorv ki thi,^[7] jis kaaran ye aaj ek mahattvapoorn teerth sthal hai. ye hinduon ki pavitra saptapuriyon mein se ek hai. skand puraan, raamaayan, mahaabhaarat evam praacheenatam ved rigved sahit kai hindu granthon mein is nagar ka ullekh aata hai. saamaanyataya Varanasi shahar ko lagbhag 3000 varsh praacheen maana jaata hai.^[30], parantu hindu paramparaaon ke anusaar kaashi ko isse bhi atyant praacheen maana jaata hai. nagar malamal aur reshami kapadon, itron, haathi daant aur shilp kala ke liye vyaapaarik evam audyogik kendra raha hai. Gautam buddh (janm 567 E.poo.) ke kaal mein, Varanasi kaashi raajya ki rajdhani hua karta tha. prasiddh cheeni yaatri hven tsaang ne nagar ko dhaarmik, shaikshanik evam kalaatmak gatividhiyon ka kendra bataaya hai aur iska vistaar ganga nadi ke kinaare 5 ki.mi. tak likha hai.

vibhootiyaaain

kaashi mein praacheen kaal se samay samay par anek mahaan vibhootiyon ka praadurbhaav ya vaas hota raha hain. inmein se kuchh is prakaar hain:

praacheen kaashi

atipraacheen

Varanasi (banaaras), 1922 E

ganga tat par basi kaashi badi puraani nagari hai. itne praacheen nagar sansaar mein bahut naheen hain. hajaaron varsh poorv kuchh naate kad ke saaainvale logon ne is nagar ki neenv daali thi. tabhi yahaaain kapde aur chaaaindi ka vyaapaar shuroo hua. kuchh samay uparaant pashchim se aaye ooainche kad ke gore logon ne unki nagari chheen li. ye bade ladaakoo the, unke ghar-dwaar na the, na hi achal sampatti thi. ve apne ko aarya yaani shreshth va mahaan kehte the. aaryon ki apni jaatiyaaain theen, apne kul gharaane the. unka ek raajagharaana tab kaashi mein bhi aa jama. kaashi ke paas hi ayodhya mein bhi tabhi unka raajakul basa. use raaja ikshvaaku ka kul kehte the, yaani sooryavansh.^[31] kaashi mein chandr vansh ki sthaapana hui. saikadon varsh kaashi nagar par bharat raajakul ke chandravanshi raaja raaj karte rahe. kaashi tab aaryon ke poorvi nagaron mein se thi, poorv mein unke raaj ki seema. usase pare poorv ka desh apavitr maana jaata tha.

mahaabhaarat kaal

mahaabhaarat kaal mein kaashi Bhaarat ke samruddh janapadon mein se ek tha. mahaabhaarat mein varnit ek katha ke anusaar ek svayanvar mein paandavon aur kauravon ke pitaamah bheeshm ne kaashi naresh ki teen putriyon anba, Ambika aur anbaalika ka apaharan kiya tha. is apaharan ke parinaamasvaroop kaashi aur hastinaapur ki shatruta ho gayi. karn ne bhi duryodhan ke liye kaashi Rajkumari ka balapoorvak apaharan kiya tha, jis kaaran kaashi naresh mahaabhaarat ke yuddh mein paandavon ki taraf se lade the. kaalaantar mein ganga ki baadh ne hastinaapur ko duba diya, tab paandavon ke vanshaj vartamaan Allahabad jile mein yamuna kinaare kaushaambi mein nai rajdhani banaakar bas gaye. unka raajya vats kahalaaya aur kaashi par vats ka adhikaar ho gaya.

banaaras ka tail chitr, 1890

uttar vaidik kaal

iske baad brahmadatt naam ke raajakul ka kaashi par adhikaar hua. us kul mein bade pandit shaasak hue aur mein gyaan aur panditaai braahmanon se kshatriyon ke paas pahunch gayi thi. inke samakaaleen Punjab mein kaikeya raajakul mein raaja ashvapati tha. tabhi ganga-yamuna ke doaab mein raaj karne vaale paanchaalon mein raaja pravahan jaibali ne bhi apne gyaan ka danka bajaaya tha. isi kaal mein janakapur, mithila mein videhon ke shaasak janak hue, jinke darbaar mein yaajnyaavalkya jaise gyaani maharshi aur gaargi jaisi pandita naariyaan shaastraarth karti theen. inke samakaaleen kaashi raajya ka raaja ajaatashatru hua.^[31] ye aatma aur paramaatma ke gyaan mein anupam tha. brahm aur jeevan ke sambandh par, janm aur mrutyu par, lok-paralok par tab desh mein vichaar ho rahe the. in vichaaron ko upanishd kehte hain. isi se yeh kaal bhi upanishd-kaal kahalaata hai.

mahaajanapad yug

yug badalne ke saath hi vaishaali aur mithila ke lichhaviyon mein saadhu vardhamaan mahaaveer hue, kapilvastu ke shaakyon mein Gautam buddh hue. unheen dinon kaashi ka raaja ashvasen hua. inke yahaan paarshvanaath hue jo jain dharm ke 23vein teerthankar hue. un dinon Bhaarat mein chaar raajya prabal the jo ek-doosare ko jeetne ke liye, aapas mein baraabar ladte rahate the. ye raahya the magadh, kosal, vats aur ujjayini. kabhi kaashi vatson ke haath mein jaati, kabhi magadh ke aur kabhi kosal ke. paarshvanaath ke baad aur buddh se kuchh pehle, kosal-shraavasti ke raaja kans ne kaashi ko jeetkar apne raaj mein mila liya. usi kul ke raaja mahaakoshal ne tab apni beti kosal devi ka magadh ke raaja bimbasaar se vivaah kar dahej ke roop mein kaashi ki vaarshik aamdani ek lakh mudra prativrsh dena aarambh kiya aur is prakaar kaashi magadh ke niyantran mein pahunch gayi.^[31] raaj ke lobh se magadh ke raaja bimbasaar ke bete ajaatashatru ne pita ko maarkar gaddi chheen li. tab vidhva bahan kosaladevi ke du:kh se du:khi uske bhaai kosal ke raaja prasenajit ne kaashi ki aamdani ajaatashatru ko dena band kar diya jiska parinaam magadh aur kosal samar hui. ismein kabhi kaashi kosal ke, kabhi magadh ke haath lagi. antat: ajaatashatru ki jeet hui aur kaashi uske badhte hue saamraajya mein sama gayi. baad mein magadh ki rajdhani raajagruh se paataliputr chali gayi aur fir kabhi kaashi par usaka aakraman naheen ho paaya.

kaashi naresh aur raamanagar

Varanasi 18veen shataabdi mein svatantr kaashi raajya ban gaya tha aur baad ke british shaasan ke adheen, ye pramukh vyaapaarik aur dhaarmik kendra raha. 1910 mein british prashaasan ne Varanasi ko ek naya bhaarateeya raajya banaaya aur raamanagar ko iska mukhyaalaya banaaya, kintu iska adhikaar kshetr kuchh naheen tha. kaashi naresh abhi bhi raamanagar kile mein rahate hain. ye kila Varanasi nagar ke poorv mein ganga ke tat par bana hua hai.^[32] raamanagar kile ka nirmaan kaashi naresh raaja balavant Singh ne uttam chunaar baluaa patthar ne 18veen shataabdi mein karavaaya tha.^[9] kila mugal sthaapatya shaili mein nakkaasheedaar chhajjon, khule praangan aur suramya gumbadadaar mandapon se susajjit bana hai.^[9] kaashi naresh ka ek anya mahal chait Singh mahal hai. ye shivaala ghaat ke nikat mahaaraaja chait Singh ne banavaaya tha.^[33]

raamanagar kila aur iska sangrahaalaya ab banaaras ke raajaaon ki aitihaasik dharohar roop mein sanrakshit hain aur 18veen shataabdi se kaashi naresh ka aadhikaarik aavaas rahe hain.^[9] aaj bhi kaashi naresh nagar ke logon mein sammaanit hain.^[9] ye nagar ke dhaarmik adhyaksh maane jaate hain aur yahaan ke log inhein Bhagwan Shiv ka avataar maanate hain.^[9] naresh nagar ke pramukh saanskrutik sanrakshak evam sabhi badi dhaarmik gatividhiyon ke abhinn ang rahe hain.^[9]

Varanasi shahar ka bada ansh atipraacheenakaal se kaashi kaha jaata hai. ise hindu maanyata mein sabse bada teerth maana jaata hai, kintu teerth ke rup mein Varanasi ka sabse puraana ullekh mahaabhaarat me milta hai.^{[k][kh][34][35]} mahaabhaarat-poorv ke kisi saahitya mein kisi bhi teerth aadi ke baare mein koi ullekh naheen hai. aaj ke teerthasthal tab adhiktar van pradesh mein the aur manushyon se rahit the. kaheen-kaheen aadivaasiyon ka vaas raha hoga. kaalaantar mein teerthon ke baare mein kahi gayi kathaaen astittv mein aayeen aur teerth badhte gaye, jinke aaspaas nagar aur shahar bhi base. bhaaratabhoomi mein aaryon ke prasaar ke dvaara teerthon ke astitv tatha maahaatmaya ka pata chala. mahaabhaarat mein ullekh hai pruthvi ke kuchh sthaan punyaprad tatha pavitra hote hai. inmein se koi to sthaan ki vichitrata ke kaaran koi janm ke prabhaav aur koi riashi-muniyon ke sampark se pavitra ho gaya hai.^[g][36] yajurvedeeya jaabaal upanishd mein kaashi ke vishay mein mahatvapoorn varnan aata hai, parantu is upanishd ko aadhunik vidvaan utana praacheen naheen maanate hain.^[gh][37]

jaabaal-upanishd khand-2 mein maharshi atri ne maharshi yaajnyaavalkya se avyakt aur anant paramaatma ko jaanane ka tareeka poochha. tab yaajnyaavalkya ne kaha ki us avyakt aur anant aatma ki upaasana avimukt kshetr mein ho sakti hai, kyonki vah vaheen pratishthit hai. aur atri ke avimukt ki sthiti poochhane par. yaajnyaavalkya ne uttar diya ki vah varana tatha naashi nadiyon ke madhya mein hai. vah varana kya hai aur vah naashi kya hai, yeh poochhane par uttar mila ki indriya-krut sabhi doshon ka nivaaran karne waali varana hai aur indriya-krut sabhi paapon ka naash karne waali naashi hai. vah avimukt kshetr devataaon ka Dave sthaan aur sabhi praaniyon ka brahm sadan hai. vahaaain hi praaniyon ke praan-prayaan ke samay mein Bhagwan rudr taarak mantr ka upadesh dete hai jiske prabhaav se vah amruti hokar moksh praapt karta hai. at ev avimukt mein sadaiv nivaas karna chaahiye. usako kabhi na chhode, aisa yaajnyaavalkya ne kaha hai.

jaabaalopinshad ke alaava anek smrutiyon jaise likhitsmruti, shrrungeesmruti tatha paaraasharasmruti, braahmeesanhita tatha sanatkumaarasanhita mein bhi kaashi ka maahaatmya bataaya hai. praay: sabhi puraanon mein kaashi ka maahaatmya kaha gaya hai. brahmavaivart puraan mein to kaashi kshetr par kaashi-rahasya naam se poora granth hi hai, jise usaka khil bhaag kehte hain. padm puraan mein kaashi-mahaatmya aur anya sthaanon par bhi kaashi ka ullekh aata hai. praacheen ling puraan mein solah adhyaaya kaashi ki teerthon ke sambandh mein the. varttamaan lingapuraan mein bhi ek adhyaaya hai. skand puraan ka kaasheekhand to kaashi ke teerth-svarup ka vivechan tatha vistrut varnan karta hi hai. is prakaar puraan-saahitya mein kaashi ke dhaarmik mahaatmya par saamagri hai. iske atirikt, sanskrut-vaadmaya, dashakumaaracharit, naishadh, raajatarangini aur kuttaneepatam mein bhi kaashi ka varnan aata hai. 12veen shataabdi isavi tak praapt hone vaale ling puraan mein teesare se atthaarahavein adhyaaya tak kaashi ke devaayatanon tatha teerthein ka vistrut varnan tha. tristhaleesetu granth ki rachana (san 1580 E.) mein lingapuraan vaisa hi raha tha.

lainङagodapi truteeyaadhyaayaatshoऽshaantan linङagaanyuktavoktam^[38]

arthaat lingapuraan mein bhi teesare se solahavein adhyaaya tak lingo ka varnan kiya hai. vartamaan ling puraan mein keval ek hi adhyaaya kaashi ke vishay mein hai, jismein keval 144 shlok hain. is prakaar mahaabhaarat ke alaava yadi sabhi puraanon ke ullekh dekhein, to kaashi ke teerth roop ke ullekh ki soochi bahut lambi banti hai. shabdakalpadrum me 264 teerthon ka ullekh hai, parantu mahima ke vichaar se Bhaarat ke teerthon mein chaar dhaam aur saptapuriyon ke naam sheershasth maane jaate hai. prayaag, gaya aur gangaasaagar tak ke naam inmein naheen aate. at: ise nakaara bhi ja sakta hai.

Varanasi kshetr ke vistaar ke anek pauraanik uddharan upalabdh hain.^[39] krutyakalpataru mein diye teerth-vivechan va anya praacheen granthon ke anusaar^[40]:

• brahm puraan mein Bhagwan Shiv paarvati se kehte hain ki- he suravallabhe, varana aur asi in donon nadiyon ke beech mein hi Varanasi kshetr hai, uske baahar kisi ko naheen basana chaahiye.
• matsya puraan^[41] mein iski lambaai-chaudaai adhik spasht rup se varnit hai. poorv-pashchim dhaai (2½) yojan bheeshmachandi se parvateshvar tak, uttar-dakshin aadha (¹/₂) yojan, shesh bhaag varuna aur assi ke beech. uske beech mein madhyameshvar naamak svayanbhoo ling hai. yahaan se bhi ek-ek kos chaaron or kshetr ka vistaar hai. yahi Varanasi ki vaastavik seema hai. uske baahar vihaar naheen karna chaahiye.^[40]
• agni puraan^[42] ke anusaar varana aur asi nadiyon ke beech basi hui Varanasi ka vistaar poorv mein do yojan aur doosari jagah aadha yojan bhaag faila tha aur dakshin mein yeh kshetr varana se ganga tak aadha yojan faila hua tha. matsya puraan mein hi anyatr nagar ka vistaar batalaate hue kaha gaya hai- poorv se pashchim tak is kshetr ka vistaar do yojan hai aur dakshin mein aadha yojan nagar bheeshmachandi se lekar parvateshvar tak faila hua tha.^[40]
• brahm puraan ke anusaar is kshetr ka pramaan paanch kos ka tha usamein uttaramukhi ganga hai^[43] jisse kshetr ka mahaatmya badh gaya. uttar ki or ganga do yojan tak shahar ke saath-saath bahti thi.
• skand puraan ke anusaar us kshetr ka vistaar chaaron or chaar kos tha.
• ling puraan mein is kshetr ka vistaar krutivaas se aarambh hokar yeh kshetr ek-ek kos chaaron or faila hua hai. uske beech mein madhyameshvar naamak svayanbhoo ling hai. yahaan se bhi ek-ek kos chaaron or kshetr ka vistaar hai. yahi Varanasi ki vaastavik seema hai. uske baahar vihaar na karna chaahiye.^[40]

uparokt uddharanon se gyaat hota hai ki praacheen Varanasi ka vistaar kaafi door tak tha. varuna ke pashchim mein raajaghaat ka kila jahaan praacheen Varanasi ke base hone mein koi sandeh naheen hai, ek meal lamba aur 400 gaj chauda hai. ganga nadi uske dakshin-poorv mukh ki raksha karti hai aur varuna nadi uttar aur uttar-poorv mukhon ki raksha ek chhichhli khaai ke rup mein karti hai, pashchim ki or ek khaali naala hai jismein se hokar kisi samay varuna nadi bahti thi. raksha ke is praakrutik saadhanon ko dekhte hue hi shaayad praacheen kaal mein Varanasi nagar ke liye yeh sthaan chuna gaya. san 1857 E. ke pratham bhaarateeya svatantrata sangraam ke samay angrejon ne bhi nagar raksha ke liye varuna ke peechhe oonchi jameen par kachchi mitti ki deevaarein uthaakar kilebandi ki thi. puraanon mein aayi Varanasi ki seema raajaghaat ki ukt lambaai-chaudaai se kaheen adhik hai. un varnanon se lagta hai ki vahaan keval nagar ki seema hi naheen varnit hai, balki poore kshetr ko sammilit kar liya gaya hai.^[40] varuna ke us paar tak praacheen basaavaton ke avashesh kaafi door tak milte hain. at: sambhav hai ki puraanon mein mile varnan ve sab bhaag bhi aa gaye hon. is kshetr ko yadi nagar mein juda hua maanein, to puraanon mein varnit nagar ki lambaai-chaudaai lagbhag sahi hi bataayi gayi hai.

Gautam buddh ke janm poorv mahaajanapad yug mein Varanasi kaashi janapad ki rajdhani thi.^[40] kintu praacheen kaashi janapad ke vistaar ke baare mein yathaarth aadi se anumaan lagaana kathin hai. jaatakon mein^[44] kaashi ka vistaar 300 yojan diya gaya hai. kaashi janapad ke uttar mein kosal janapad, poorv mein magadh janapad aur pashchim mein vats tha.^[45] itihaasavetta dau॰ oltekar ke mataanusaar kaashi janapad ka vistaar uttar-pashchim ki or 250 meal tak tha, kyonki iska poorv ka padosi janapad magadh aur uttar-pashchim ka padosi janapad uttar paanchaal tha. jaatak (151) ke anusaar kaashi aur kosal ki seemaaen mili hui thi. kaashi ki dakshin seema ka sahi varnan upalabdh naheen hai, shaayad isaliye ki vah vindhya shrrunkhala tak gayi hui thi va aage koi aabaadi naheen thi. jaatakon ke aadhaar par kaashi ka vistaar vartamaan baliya se Kanpur tak faila raha hoga.^[46] yahaan shri Rahul saankrutyaayan kehte hain, ki aadhunik banaaras kamishnari hi praacheen kaashi janapad raha tha. sambhav hai ki aadhunik Gorakhpur kamishnari ka bhi kuchh bhaag kaashi janapad mein shaamil raha ho.

puru kul ke raaja divodaas dvaara doosari Varanasi ki sthaapana ka ullekh mahaabhaarat aur anya granthon mein aata hai. is nagari ke bairaant mein hone ki sambhaavana bhi hai. is baare mein pandit kuberanaath sukul ke anusaar^[47] bairaat khandahar baan ganga ke dakshin (daaen) kinaare par hai vaam (baaen) par naheen. is prakaar gomati aur bairaant ke beech ganga ki dhaara baadhak ho jaati hai. ganga ke raaste badalne, baan ganga mein ganga ke bahne aur ganga-gomati sangam saidapur ke paas hone ke baare mein aage sukulaji ne mahaabhaarat ke havaale se^[48] bataaya hai ki ganga-gomati sangam par maarkandeya teerth tha, jo vartamaan mein kaithi ke sameep sthit hai. at: ye kah sakte hain ki yadi ganga-gomati sangam saidapur ke paas tha to yeh mahaabhaarat-poorv ho sakta hai, na ki truteeya shataabdi isavi ke baad ka.

maarkandeyasya raajendrateerthamaasaadya dulabham.

gomateegaङagayoshchaiv saङagamein lokavishrute..mahaabhaarat

bhoogol

Varanasi ka ganga nadi aur iske tat par base asankhya mandiron se atoot sambandh hai.

Varanasi shahar uttari Bhaarat ki madhya ganga ghaati mein, bhaarateeya raajya uttar pradesh ke poorvi chhor par ganga nadi ke baayeen or ke vakraakaar tat par sthit hai. yahaan Varanasi jile ka mukhyaalaya bhi sthit hai. Varanasi shahari kshetr — saat shahari up-ikaaiyon ka samooh hai aur ye 112.26 varg ki॰mee॰ (lagbhag 43 varg meal) ke kshetr faila hua hai.^[49] shahari kshetr ka vistaar (82°aa56' poorv) - (83°aa03' poorv) evam (25°aa14' uttar) - (25°aa23.5' uttar) ke beech hai.^[49] uttari Bhaarat ke gaangeya maidaan mein base is kshetr ki bhoomi puraane samay mein ganga nadi mein aati raheen baadh ke kaaran upatyaka rahi hai.

khaas Varanasi shahar ganga aur varuna nadiyon ke beech ek oonche pathaar par basa hai. nagar ki ausat oonchaai samudra tat se 80.71 mi. hai.^[50] yahaan kisi sahaayak nadi ya nahar ke abhaav mein mukhya bhoomi lagaataar shushk bani rahi hai. praacheen kaal se hi yahaan ki bhaugolik sthiti basaavat ke liye anukool rahi hai. kintu nagar ki mool sthiti ka anumaan vartamaan se lagaana mushkil hai, kyonki aaj ki sthiti kuchh praacheen granthon mein varnit sthiti se bhinn hai.

nadiyaaain

Varanasi ya kaashi ka vistaar praay: ganga nadi ke do sangamon: ek varuna nadi se aur doosra asi nadi se sangam ke beech bataaya jaata hai. in sangamon ke beech ki doori lagbhag 2.5 meal hai. is doori ki parikrama (donon or ki yaatra) hinduon mein panchakosi yaatra ya panchakosi parikrama kahalaati hai. isak yaatra ka samaapan saakshi vinaayak mandir mein kiya jaata hai. Varanasi kshetr mein anek chhoti badi nadiyaan bahti hain. inmein sabse pramukh nadi to ganga hi hai, kintu iske alaava anya bahut nadiyaan hain jaise ganga, baanaganga, varuna, gomati, karamanaasa, gadi, chandraprabha, aadi. banaaras jile ki nadiyon ke vistaar se adhyayan karne par yeh gyaat hota hai ki banaaras mein to prasraavak nadiyaan hai lekin chandauli mein naheen hai jisse us jile mein jheelein aur daladal hain, adhik barasaat hone par gaanv paani se bhar jaate hain tatha fasal ko kaafi nuksaan pahunchata hai. nadiyon ke bahaav aur jameen ki ke kaaran jo haani-laabh hota hai isse praacheen aarya anbhigya naheen the aur isliye sabse pehle aabaadi banaaras mein hui.^[51]

jalavaayu

Varanasi mein aardr ardh-katibndheeya jalavaayu (koppan jalavaayu vargeekaran Cwa ke anusaar) hai jiske sang yahaan greeshm ritu aur sheet ritu rituon ke taapamaan mein bade antar hain. greeshm kaal April ke aarambh se October tak lambe hote hain, jis beech mein hi varsha ritu mein monsoon ki varshaaen bhi hoti hain. himaalaya kshetr se aane waali sheet lahar se yahaan ka taapamaan December se February ke beech sheetakaal mein gir jaata hai. yahaan ka taapamaan 32° se. – 46°aC (90° fai. – 115°aafai.) greeshm kaal mein, evam 5°aase. – 15°aase. (41°aafai. – 59°aafai.) sheetakaal mein rahata hai.^[50] ausat vaarshik varsha 1110 mi.mi. (44 inch) tak hoti hai.^[52] thand ke mausam mein kuhara saamaanya hota hai aur garmi ke mausam mein loo chalana saamaanya hota hai.

yahaan nirantar badhte jal pradooshan aur nirmaan hue baandhon ke kaaran sthaaneeya taapamaan mein vruddhi darj hui hai. ganga ka jalastar puraane samay se achha khaasa gir gaya hai aur is kaaran nadi ke beech kuchh chhote dweep bhi prakat ho gaye hain. is praacheen shahar mein paani ka jalastar itna gir gaya hai ki India mark-2 jaise haindapanp bhi kai baar chalaane ke baad bhi paani ki ek boond bhi naheen nikaal paate. Varanasi mein ganga ka jalastar kam hona bhi ek badi samasya hai. ganga ke jal mein pradooshan hona sabhi ke liye chinta ka vishay tha, lekin ab iska pravaah bhi kam hota ja raha hai, jiske kaaran uttaraakhand se lekar Bengal ki khaadi tak chinta jataayi ja rahi hai.^[53]

Varanasi ke liye mausam ke ausat
maheene	January	fravari	March	April	May	June	July	August	sitmbar	October	November	December	varsh
ausat uchcha°aC (°aF)	23.2 (74)	26.8 (80)	33.1 (92)	38.8 (102)	41.2 (106)	38.9 (102)	33.5 (92)	32.5 (91)	32.7 (91)	32.5 (91)	29.2 (85)	24.5 (76)	32.2 (90)
ausat nimn °aC (°aF)	8.5 (47)	11.0 (52)	16.3 (61)	22.1 (72)	26.4 (80)	28.1 (83)	26.3 (79)	25.9 (79)	25.0 (77)	20.7 (69)	13.7 (57)	9.3 (49)	19.4 (67)
varsha mm (inch)	19.3 (0.76)	13.5 (0.53)	10.4 (0.41)	5.4 (0.21)	9.0 (0.35)	100.0 (3.94)	320.6 (12.62)	260.4 (10.25)	231.6 (9.12)	38.3 (1.51)	12.9 (0.51)	4.0 (0.16)	1,025.4 (40.37)
srot: [54] 35 March 2010

Varanasi mein vibhinn kuteer udyog kaaryarat hain, jinmein banaarasi reshami saadi, kapda udyog, kaaleen udyog evam hastashilp pramukh hain. banaarasi paan vishvaprasiddh hai aur iske saath hi yahaan ka kalaakand bhi mashahoor hai. Varanasi mein baal-shramikon ka kaam joron par hai.^[55]

banaarasi resham vishv bhar mein apni maheenata evam mulaayamapan ke liye prasiddh hai. banaarasi reshami saadiyon par baareek dijaain aur jri ka kaam chaar chaand lagaate hain aur saadi ki shobha badhaate hain. is kaaran hi ye saadiyaan varshon se sabhi paaramparik utsavon evam vivaah aadi samaarohon mein pahani jaati rahi hain. kuchh samay poorv tak jri mein shuddh sone ka kaam hua karta tha.

bhaarateeya rel ka diesel engine nirmaan hetu diesel rel engine kaarkhaana bhi Varanasi mein sthit hai. Varanasi aur Kanpur ka pratham bhaarateeya vyaapaar gharaana nihaalachand kishoreelaal 1857 mein desh ke chauthe okseejan sanyantr ki sthaapana se aarambh hua tha. iska naam indiyn air gaisej li. tha. Lord makaule ke anusaar, Varanasi vah nagar tha, jismein samruddhi, dhan-sanpada, janasankhya, garima evam pavitrata Asia mein sarvochch shikhar par thi. yahaan ke vyaapaarik mahattv ki upama mein usane kaha tha: " banaaras ki khaddiyon se maheenatam resham niklata hai, jo seint James aur varsels ke mandapon ki shobha badhaata hai".^[19][56]

Varanasi ke prashaasan mein kai sansthaaen sanlagn hain, jinmein se pramukh hai Varanasi nagar nigam evam Varanasi vikaas praadhikran jo Varanasi shahar ki master yojana ke liye uttaradaayi hai. yahaan ki jalaapoorti evam mal-nikaas vyavastha nagar nigam ke adheenasth jal nigam dvaara ki jaati hai. yahaan ki vidyut aapoorti uttar pradesh power corporation limited dvaara ki jaati hai. nagar se pratidin lagbhag 35 karod liter mal^[57] evam 425 tan kooda niklata hai.^[58] koode ka nishkaasan laind-fil sthalon par kiya jaata hai.^[59] badi maatra mein mal nikaas ganga nadi mein kiya jaata hai. shahar aur upanagareeya kshetr mein nagar nigam dvaara bas seva bhi sanchaalit ki jaati hai. nagar ki kaanoon vyavastha uttar pradesh police seva ki Varanasi mandal mein Varanasi kshetr ke adheen aati hai. nagar mein police ke uchchatam adhikaari police adheekshak hain.^[60] banaaras shahar Varanasi lok sabha nirvaachan kshetr mein aata hai. varsh 2014 mein hue aam chunaavon mein bhaarateeya janta party ke Narendra Modi yahaan se saansad chune gaye the.^[61] Varanasi jile mein paaainch vidhaan sabha nirvaachan kshetr aate hain. ye is prakaar se hain^[62]:

Varanasi un paanch shaharon mein se ek hai, jahaan ganga ekashan plaan ki shuruaat hui thi.

dekhein:ek nazar mein Varanasi

Varanasi ke uchchatar maadhyamik vidyaalaya Indian certificate of saikeindari education (I.si.S.E), kendreeya maadhyamik shiksha board (si.bi.S.E) ya uttar pradesh maadhyamik shiksha parishad (you.pi.board) se sahabaddh hain.

uchch shiksha

banaaras hindu vishvavidyaalaya ke praveshadvaar par par pandit madan mohan maalaveeya ki moorti

Varanasi mein teen saarvajanik evam ek maanit vishvavidyaalaya hain:

1. banaaras hindu vishvavidyaalaya jiski sthaapana 1916 mein pan.madan mohan maalaveeya ne eni beseint ke sahayog se ki thi. iska 1350 ekad (5.5 varg ki.mi.) mein faila parisar kaashi naresh dvaara daan ki gayi bhoomi par nirmit hai. is vishvavidyaalaya mein bhaarateeya praudyogiki sansthaan (I.I.ti-bi.H.you) evam aayurvigyaan sansthaan vishv ke sarvochch teen evam sabse bade aavaaseeya vishvavidyaalayon mein se ek hain. yahaan 128 se adhik svatantr shaikshanik vibhaag hain.^[63]
2. sanpoornaanand sanskrut vishvavidyaalaya: Bhaarat ke Governor general Lord kaurnavaalis ne is sanskrut mahaavidyaalaya ki sthaapana 1791 mein ki thi. ye Varanasi ka pratham mahaavidyaalaya tha. is mahaavidyaalaya ke pratham pradhaanaachaarya sanskrut praadhyaapak J myor, I.si.S the. inke baad J.aar.bailentiyn, aar.ti.H.grifith, dau॰aaji.thevo, dau॰aaaarthar venis, dau॰aagangaanaath jha aur gopeenaath kaviraaj hue. bhaarateeya svatantrata uparaant is mahaavidyaalaya ko vishvavidyaalaya banaakar vartamaan naam diya gaya.^[64]
3. mahaatma Gandhi kaashi vidyaapeeth ek maanit raajapatrit vishvavidyaalaya hai. iska naam Bhaarat ke raashtrapita mahaatma Gandhi ke naam par hai aur yahaan unke siddhaanton ka paalan kiya jaata hai.
4. kendreeya tibbati adhyayan vishvavidyaalaya saaranaath mein sthaapit ek maanit vishvavidyaalaya hai. yahaan paramparaagat tibbati pathan-paathan ko aadhunik shiksha ke saath vareeyata di jaati hai.^[65] udaya prataap kaulij, ek svaayatt mahaavidyaalaya hai jahaan aadhunik banaaras ke upanagareeya chhaatron hetu kreeda evam vigyaan ka kendra hai. Varanasi mein bahut se niji evam saarvajanik sansthaan hai, jahaan hindu dhaarmik shiksha ki vyavastha hai. praacheen kaal se hi log yahaan darshan shaastr, sanskrut, khagolashaastr, saamaajik gyaan evam dhaarmik shiksha aadi ke gyaan ke liye aate rahe hain. bhaarateeya parampara mein praay: Varanasi ko sarvavidya ki rajdhani kaha gaya hai.^[66] nagar mein ek jaamiya salaafiya bhi hai, jo salaafi islaami shiksha ka kendra hai.^[67]

in vishvavidyaalayon ke alaava shahar mein kai snaatakottar evam snaatak mahaavidyaalaya bhi hain, jaise agrasen digri kaulij, harishchandr digri kaulij, aarya mahila digri kaulij, evam school of management.

Varanasi mein laakhon hindu teerthayaatri prativrsh aate hain.

bhitti chitr, Varanasi, 1974

Varanasi ka puraana shahar, ganga teere ka lagbhag chauthaai bhaag hai, jo bheed-bhaad waali sankari galiyon aur kinaare sati hui chhoti-badi asankhya dukaanon va sainkadon hindu mandiron se pata hua hai. ye ghumaav aur modon se bhari galiyaan kisi ke liye sanbhram karne waali hain. ye sanskruti se paripoorn puraana shahar videshi paryatakon ke liye varshon se lokapriya aakarshan bana hua hai.^[68] Varanasi ke mukhya aavaaseeya kshetr (visheshakar madhyam evam uchch-madhyam vargeeya shreni ke liye) ghaaton se door sthit hain. ye vistrut, khule hue aur apekshaakrut kam pradooshan vaale hain.

raamanagar ki raamaleela

yahaan dashahara ka tyauhaar khoob raunak aur tamaashon se bhara hota hai. is avsar par reshami aur jri ke broked aadi se susajjit bhoosha mein kaashi naresh ki haathi par savaari niklati hai aur peechhe-peechhe lamba jaloos hota hai.^[9] fir naresh ek maah lambe chalne vaale raamanagar, Varanasi ki raamaleela ka udghaatan karte hain.^[9] raamaleela mein raamacharitmaanas ke anusaar Bhagwan shriRam ke jeevan ki leela ka manchan hota hai.^[9] ye manchan kaashi naresh dvaara praayojit hota hai ar poore 31 din tak pratyek shaam ko raamanagar mein aayojit hota hai.^[9] antim din ismein Bhagwan Ram raavan ka mardan kar yuddh samaapt karte hain aur ayodhya lautate hain.^[9] mahaaraaja udit Narayan Singh ne raamanagar mein is raamaleela ka aarambh 19veen shataabdi ke madhya se kiya tha.^[9]

banaaras gharaana

banaaras gharaana bhaarateeya tabala vaadan ke chh: prasiddh gharaanon mein se ek hai.^[69] ye gharaana 200 varshon se kuchh pehle khyaatipraapt pandit Ram sahaaya (1780-1826) ke prayaason se viksit hua tha. pandit Ram sahaaya ne apne pita ke sang paanch varsh ki aayu se hi tabala vaadan aarambh kiya tha. banaaras-baaj kehte hain. ye banaaras gharaane ki vishisht tabala vaadan shaili hai. inhonne tatkaaleen sanyojan praaroopon jaise jaise gat, tukada, paraan, aadi se bhi vibhinn sanyojan kiye, jinmein uthaan, banaarasi theka aur frd pramukh hain.

Shahid paravej Khan, banaaras gharaane ke anya bade mahaarathi pandit kishn mahaaraaj ke saath ek sabha mein.

aaj banaarasi tabala gharaana apne shaktishaali roop ke liye prasiddh hai, haalaanki banaaras gharaane ke vaadak halke aur komal svaron ke vaadan mein bhi saksham hain. gharaane ko poorvi baaj me vargeekrut kiya gaya hai, jismein Lucknow, farrukhaabaad aur banaaras gharaane aate hain. banaaras shaili tabale ke adhik anunaadik thaapon ka prayog karti hai, jaise ki na aur dhin. banaaras gharaane mein ekal vaadan bahut ikasit hua hai aur kai vaadak jaise pandit shaarada sahaaya, pandit kishn mahaaraaj^[70] aur pandit samata prasaad^[71], ekal tabala vaadan mein mahaarat aur prasiddhi praapt hain. gharaane ke naye yug ke tabala vaadakon mein pan॰ Kumar Bose, pan.samar saaha, pan.baalakrushn aiyar, pan.shashaank bakhshi, sandeep das, paarthasaarathi mukharji, sukhavindar Singh naamadhaari, vineet vyaas aur kai anya hain. banaarasi baaj mein 20 vibhinn sanyojan shailiyon aur anek prakaar ke mishran prayukt hote hain.

Varanasi ke ek ghaat par log hindu rivaaj karte hue.

Varanasi ya kaashi ko hindu dharm mein pavitratam nagar bataaya gaya hai. yahaan prativrsh 10 lakh se adhik teerth yaatri aate hain.^[72] yahaan ka pramukh aakarshan hai kaashi vishvanaath mandir, jismein Bhagwan Shiv ke baarah jyotirling mein se pramukh shivling yahaan sthaapit hai.^[jh][73][74]

hindu maanyata anusaar ganga nadi sabke paap maarjan karti hai aur kaashi mein mrutyu saubhaagya se hi milti hai aur yadi mil jaaye to aatma punarjanm ke chakr se mukt ho kar moksh paati hai. ikyaavan shaktipeeth mein se ek vishaalaakshi mandir yahaan sthit hai, jahaan bhagavati sati ki kaan ki manikrnika giri thi. vah sthaan manikrnika ghaat ke nikat sthit hai.^[19] hindu dharm mein shaakt mat ke log devi ganga ko bhi shakti ka hi avataar maanate hain. jagadguru aadi shankaraachaarya ne hindu dharm par apni teeka yaheen aakar likhi thi, jiske parinaamasvaroop hindu punarjaagaran hua. kaashi mein vaishnav aur shaiv sanpradaaya ke log sada hi dhaarmik sauhaard se rahate aaye hain.

Varanasi bauddh dharm ke pavitratam sthalon mein se ek hai aur Gautam buddh se sambandhit chaar teerth sthalon mein se ek hai. shesh teen kusheenagar, bodh gaya aur lunbini hain. Varanasi ke mukhya shahar se hatkar hi saaranaath hai, jahaan Bhagwan buddh ne apna pratham pravachan diya tha. ismein unhonne bauddh dharm ke moolabhoot siddaanton ka varnan kiya tha. ashok-poorv stoopon mein se kuchh hi shesh hain, jinmein se ek dhaamek stoop yaheen ab bhi khada hai, haalaanki ab uske maatr aadhaarashila ke avashesh hi shesh hain. iske alaava yahaan chaukhandi stoop bhi sthit hai, jahaan buddh apne pratham shishyon se (lagbhag 5veen shataabdi E.poo ya usase bhi pehle) mile the. vahaan ek ashtabhuji meenaar banavaayi gayi thi.

Varanasi hinduon evam bauddhon ke alaava jain dharm ke avalanbiyon ke liye bhi pavit teerth hai. ise 23vein teerthankar shri paarshvanaath ka janmasthaan maana jaata hai.^[75] Varanasi par islaam sanskruti ne bhi apna prabhaav daala hai. hindu-muslim samudaayon mein tanaav ki sthiti kuchh had tak bahut samay se bani hui hai.

ganga nadi

ganga Varanasi ki jeevanarekha.

Bhaarat ki sabse badi nadi ganga kareeb 2,525 kilometer ki doori tay kar gomukh se gangaasaagar tak jaati hai. is poore raaste mein ganga uttar se dakshin ki or yaani uttaravaahini bahti hai.^[72][76] keval Varanasi mein hi ganga nadi dakshin se uttar disha mein bahti hai. yahaan lagbhag 84 ghaat hain. ye ghaat lagbhag 6.5 kimi lan‍aabe tat par bane hue hain. in 84 ghaaton mein paanch ghaat bahut hi pavitra maane jaate hain. inhein saamoohik rup se 'panchateerthi' kaha jaata hai. ye hain assi ghaat, dashaashvamedh ghaat, aadikeshav ghaat, panchaganga ghaat tatha manikrnik ghaat. assi ‍aghaat sabse dakshin mein sthit hai jabki aadikeshavaghaat sabse uttar mein sthit hain.^[77]

ghaat

Varanasi mein 100 se adhik ghaat hain. shahar ke kai ghaat maraatha saamraajya ke adheenasth kaal mein banavaaye gaye the. vartamaan Varanasi ke sanrakshakon mein maraatha, shinde (sindhiya), holkar, bhonsale aur peshava parivaar rahe hain. adhiktar ghaat snaan-ghaat hain, kuchh ghaat antyeshti ghaat hain. kai ghaat kisi katha aadi se jude hue hain, jaise manikrnika ghaat, jabki kuchh ghaat niji svaamitv ke bhi hain. poorv kaashi naresh ka shivaala ghaat aur kaali ghaat niji sanpada hain. Varanasi mein assi ghaat se lekar varuna ghaat tak sabhi ghaaton ki dakshin ki or se kramavaar soochi^[76][78] is prakaar se hai:

^[76][79]

Varanasi mein ganga ke tat par kataarabaddh ghaaton ka vihangam drushya

pramukh ghaat

Varanasi mein dashaashvamedh ghaat par gangaaji ki aarti ka drushya

dashaashvamedh ghaat

kaashi vishvanaath mandir ke nikat hi sthit hai aur sabse shaanadaar ghaat hai.^[76] isse sambandhit do pauraanik kathaaen hain: ek ke anusaar brahma ji ne iska nirmaan Shiv ji ke svaagat hetu kiya tha. doosari katha ke anusaar brahmaaji ne yahaan das ashvamedh yagya kiye the. pratyek sandhya pujaariyon ka ek samooh yahaan agni-pooja karta hai jismein Bhagwan Shiv, ganga nadi, sooryadev, agnidev evam sampoorn brahmaand ko aahutiyaan samarpit ki jaati hain. yahaan devi ganga ki bhi bhavya aarti ki jaati hai.

manikrnika ghaat

is ghaat se judi bhi do kathaaen hain. ek ke anusaar Bhagwan vishnu ne Shiv ki tapasya karte hue apne sudarshan chakr se yahaan ek kund khoda tha. usamein tapasya ke samay aaya hua unka sved bhar gaya. jab Shiv vahaan prasann ho kar aaye tab vishnu ke kaan ki manikrnika us kund mein gir gayi thi.^[76] doosari katha ke anusaar bhagavaan Shiv ko apne bhakton se chhutti hi naheen mil paati thi. devi paarvati isse pareshaan huin aur shivji ko roke rakhane hetu apne kaan ki manikrnika vaheen chhupa di aur shivji se use dhoondhane ko kaha. shivji use dhoondh naheen paaye aur aaj tak jiski bhi antyeshti us ghaat par ki jaati hai, ve usase poochhate hain ki kya usane dekhi hai?^[76] praacheen granthon ke anusaar manikrnika ghaat ka svaami vahi chaandaal tha, jisne satyavaadi raaja harishchandr ko khareeda tha. usane raaja ko apna das bana kar us ghaat par antyeshti karne aane vaale logon se kar vasoolane ka kaam de diya tha.^[76] is ghaat ki visheshata ye hai, ki yahaan lagaataar hindu antyeshti hoti rahati hain va ghaat par chita ki agni lagaataar jalati hi rahati hai, kabhi bhi bujhane naheen paati.

sindhiya ghaat

sindhiya ghaat, jise shinde ghaat bhi kehte hain, manikrnika ghaat ke uttari or laga hua hai. yeh ghaat kaashi ke bade tatha sundar ghaaton mein se ek hai. is ghaat ka nirmaan 150 varsh poorv 1830 mein gvaaliyr ki mahaaraani baijaabaai sindhiya ne karaaya tha tatha aur isse laga hua Shiv mandir aanshik roop se nadi ke jal mein dooba hua hai. is ghaat ke oopar kaashi ke anekon prabhaavashaali logon dvaara banavaaye gaye mandir sthit hain. ye sankari ghumaavadaar galiyon mein siddh-kshetr mein sthit hain. maanyataanusaar agnidev ka janm yaheen hua tha. yahaan hindu log veeryeshvar ki archana karte hain aur putr kaamna karte hain. 1949 mein iska jeernoddhaar hua. yaheen par aatmaavireshvar tatha dattaatreya ke prasiddh mandir hain. sankatha ghaat par Baroda ke raaja ka mahal hai. iska nirmaan mahaanaabaai ne karaaya tha.^[76] yaheen sankatha devi ka prasiddh mandir hai. ghaat ke agal- bagal ke kshetr ko "devalok' kehte hain.

maan mandir ghaat

Jaipur ke mahaaraaja jayasinh dviteeya ne ye ghaat 1770 mein banavaaya tha. ismein nakkaashi se alankrut jharokhe bane hain. iske saath hi unhonne Varanasi mein yantr mantra vedhashaala bhi banavaayi thi jo Delhi, Jaipur, ujjain, Mathura ke sang paanchaveen khagolashaastreeya vedhashaala hai. is ghaat ke uttari or ek sundar baaraja hai, jo someshvar ling ko arghya dene ke liye banavaaya gayi thi.

lalita ghaat

svargeeya Nepal naresh ne ye ghaat Varanasi mein uttari or banavaaya tha. yaheen unhonne ek nepaali kaathamaandu shaili ka pagoda aakaar ganga-keshav mandir bhi banavaaya tha, jismein Bhagwan vishnu pratishthit hain. is mandir mein pashupateshvar mahaadev ki bhi ek chhavi lagi hai.

asi ghaat

asi ghaat asi nadi ke sangam ke nikat sthit hai. is sundar ghaat par sthaaneeya utsav evam kreedaaon ke aayojan hote rahate hain. ye ghaaton ki kataar mein antim ghaat hai. ye chitrakaaron aur chhaayaachitrakaaron ka bhi priya sthal hai. yaheen svaami pranavaanand, Bhaarat sevaashram sangh ke pravartak ne siddhi paayi thi. unhonne yaheen apne gorakhanaath ke guru ganbheeraanand ke gurutv mein Bhagwan Shiv ki tapasya ki thi.

anya

aanber ke maan Singh ne maanasarovar ghaat ka nirmaan karavaaya tha. darabhanga ke mahaaraaja ne darabhanga ghaat banavaaya tha. Goswami tulaseedaas ne tulasi ghaat par hi raamacharitmaanas ki rachana ki thi. bacharaj ghaat par teen jain mandir bane hain aur ye jain mataavalanbiyon ka priya ghaat raha hai. 1795 mein Nagpur ke bhosala parivaar ne bhosala ghaat banavaaya. ghaat ke oopar lakshmi Narayan ka darshaneeya mandir hai. raajaghaat ka nirmaan lagbhag do sau varsh poorv Jaipur mahaaraaj ne karaaya.

mandir

raamanagar, Varanasi mein durga mandir

Varanasi mandiron ka nagar hai. lagbhag har ek chauraahe par ek mandir to mil hi jaayega. aise chhote mandir dainik sthaaneeya archana ke liye sahaayak hote hain. inke saath hi yahaan dheron bade mandir bhi hain, jo Varanasi ke itihaas mein samay samay par banavaaye gaye the. inmein kaashi vishvanaath mandir, annapoorna mandir, dhundhiraaj ganesh, kaal bhairav, durga ji ka mandir, sankatamochan, tulasi maanas mandir, naya vishvanaath mandir, bhaaratamaata mandir, sankatha devi mandir va vishaalaakshi mandir pramukh hain.^[80]

kaashi vishvanaath mandir, jise kai baar svarn mandir bhi kaha jaata hai,^[81] apne vartamaan roop mein 1780 mein Indore ki mahaaraani ahilya baai holkarad vaara banavaaya gaya tha. ye mandir ganga nadi ke dashaashvamedh ghaat ke nikat hi sthit hai. is mandir ki kaashi mein sarvochch mahima hai, kyonki yahaan vishveshvar ya vishvanaath jyotirling sthaapit hai. is jyotirling ka ek baar darshanamaatr kisi bhi anya jyotirling se kai guna faladaayi hota hai. 1785 mein tatkaaleen Governor general vaarran haastings ke aadesh par yahaan ke Governor mohammad Ibrahim Khan ne mandir ke saamane hi ek naubatakhaana banavaaya tha. 1839 mein Punjab ke shaasak Punjab kesari mahaaraaja ranajeet Singh is mandir ke donon shikharon ko svarn mandit karavaane hetu svarn daan kiya tha. 28 January 1983 ko mandir ka prashaasan uttar pradesh sarkaar nel liya aur tatkaaleen kaashi naresh dau॰aavibhooti Narayan Singh ki adhyakshata mein ek nyaas ko saunp diya. is nyaas mein ek kaaryapaalak samiti bhi thi, jiske Chairman mandaleeya aayukt hote hain.^[82]

is mandir ka dhvans muslim mugal shaasak aurangajeb ne karavaaya tha aur iske adhikaansh bhaag ko ek masjid mein badal diya. baad mein mandir ko ek niktasth sthaan par punarnirmaan karavaaya gaya.

durga mandir, jise manki tempal bhi kehte hain; 18veen shataabdi mein kisi samay bana tha. yahaan badi sankhya mein bandaron ki upasthiti ke kaaran ise manki tempal kaha jaata hai. maanyata anusaar vartamaan durga pratima maanav nirmit naheen balki mandir mein svat: hi prakat hui thi. navaraatri utsav ke samay yahaan hajaaron shraddhaaluon ki bheed hoti hai. is mandir mein ahinduon ka bheetar pravesh varjit hai.

iska sthaapatya uttar bhaarateeya hindu vaastu ki naagar shaili ka hai. mandir ke saath hi ek bada aayataakaar jal kund bhi hai, jise durga kund kehte hain. mandir ka bahumanjila shikhar hai^[81] aur vah geru se puta hua hai. iska laal rang shakti ka dyotak hai. kund pehle nadi se juda hua tha, jisse iska jal taaja rahata tha, kintu baad mein is srot nahar ko band kar diya gaya jisse ismein thahara hua jal rahata hai aur iska srot abav rshashaaa ya mandir ki nikaasi maatr hai. pratyek varsh naag panchami ke avsar par Bhagwan vishnu aur sheshanaag ki pooja ki jaati hai. yahaan sant bhaaskaparaanand ki samaadhi bhi hai. mangalvaar aur shanivaar ko durga mandir mein bhakton ki kaafi bheed rahati hai. isi ke paas hanumaan ji ka sankatamochan mandir hai. mahatta ki drushti se is mandir ka sthaagan kaashi vishvabhanaath aur annepoorna mandir ke baad aata hai.

sankat mochan mandir Ram bhakt hanumaan ko samarpait hai aur sthaaneeya logon mein lokapriya hai. yahaan bahut se dhaarmik evam saanskrutik aayojan vaarshik roop se hote hain. 7 March 2006 ko islaami aatankvaadiyon dvaara shahar mein hue teen visfoton mein se ek yahaan aarti ke samay hua tha. us samay mandir mein shraddhaaluon ki bheed thi. saath hi ek vivaah samaaroh bhi pragati par tha.^[83]

vyaas mandir, raamanagar prachalit pauraanik katha ke anusaar, ek baar jab ved vyaas ji ko nagar mein kaheen daan-dakshina naheen mil paayi, to unhonne poore nagar ko shraap dene lage.^[9] uske turant baad hi Bhagwan Shiv evam maata paarvateeek the pati roop mein ek ghar se nikle aur unhein bharpoor daan dakshina di. isse rishi mahodaya ateev prasann hue aur shraap ki baat bhool hi gaye.^[9] iske baad shivji ne vyaasaji ko kaashi nagari mein pravesh nishedh kar diya.^[9] is baat ke samaadhaan roop mein vyaasaji ne ganga ke doosari or aavaas kiya, jahaan raamanagar mein unka mandir abhi bhi milta hai.^[9]

banaaras hindu vishvavidyaalaya ke parisar mein naya vishvanaath mandir bana hai, jiska nirmaan Birla parivaar ke raaja Birla ne karavaaya tha.^[84] ye mandir sabhi dharmon aur jaati ke logon ke liye khula hai.

bi.H.you mein naye vishvanaath mandir ka sthaapatya

Varanasi ki sanskruti kala evam saahitya se paripoorn hai. is nagar mein mahaan bhaarateeya lekhak evam vichaarak hue hain, kabeer, ravidaas, tulaseedaas jinhonne yahaan raamacharitmaanas likhi, kulluka bhatt jinhonne 15veen shataabdi mein manusmruti par sarvashreshth gyaat teeka yahaan likhi^[85] evam bhaaratendu harishchandr aur aadhunik kaal ke jayashankar prasaad, aachaarya raamachandr shukl, munshi premachand, jagannaath prasaad ratnaakar, devaki nandan khatri, hajaari prasaad Dwivedi, teg Ali, kshetresh chandra chattopaadhyaaya, vaageesh shaastri, baladev upaadhyaaya, suman paandeya (dhoomil) evam vidya nivaas mishr aur anya bahut.

yahaan ke kalaapremiyon aur itihaasavettaaon mein rai krushnadaas, unke putr aanand Krishna, sangeetajnya jaise onkaaranaath thaakur^[86], ravi shankar, bismillaah Khan, girija devi, siddeshvari devi, laalamani mishr evam unke putr gopaal shankar mishr, N raajam, raajabhaan Singh, anokhelaal,^[87] samata prasaad^[88], kaanthe mahaaraaj, M.vi.kalvint, sitaara devi, gopi Krishna, Krishna mahaaraaj, raajan evam saajan mishr, mahaadev mishr evam bahut se anya logon ne nagar ko apni lalit kalaaon ke kaushal se jeevant banaae rakha. nagar ki praacheen aur lok sanskruti ki paaramparik shaili ko sanrakshit kiye dheron utsav aur tyauhaar yahaan manaaye jaate hain. raatrikaaleen, sangeet sabhaaen aadi sankatamochan mandir, hori, kajari, chaiti mela, budhva mangal yahaan ke anek parvon mein se kuchh hain jo vaarshik roop se sabhi jagahon se paryatak evam shaukeenon ko aakarshit karte hain.

mahaan shalya chikitsak sushrut, jinhonne shalya-kriya ka sanskrut granth sushrut sanhita likha tha; Varanasi mein hi aavaas karte the.^[89]

sarasvati bhavan

raamanagar kile mein sthit sarasvati bhavan mein durlabh paandulipiyon, visheshakar dhaarmik granthon ka durlabh sangrah surakshit hai. yahaan Goswami tulaseedaas ki ek paandulipi ki mool prati bhi rakhi hai.^[9] yahaan mugal miniyechar shaili mein bahut si pustakein rakhi hain, jinke sundar aavaran prushth hain.^[9]

Varanasi shahari kshetr ki 2001 ke anusaar janasankhya 13,71,749 thi; aur ling anupaat 879 striyaan prati 1000 purush tha.^[90] Varanasi nagar nigam ke adheenasth kshetr ki janasankhya 11,00,748^[91] jiska ling anupaat 883 striyaan prati 1000 purush tha.^[91] shahari kshetr mein saaksharata dar 77% aur nigam kshetr mein 78% thi.^[91] nigam kshetr ke lagbhag 1,38,000 log jhuggi-jhonpadiyon mein rahate hain.^[92] varsh 2004 ki aparaadh dar 128.5 prati 1 lakh thi; jo raajya ki dar 73.2 se adhik hai, kintu raashtreeya aparaadh dar 168.8 se kaheen kam hai.^[93]

Varanasi Bhaarat ke mukhya bade shaharon jaise nai Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Indore, Bhopal, gvaaliyr, jabalapur, ujjain aur Jaipur aadi se vaayu, sadak evam rel yaataayaat dvaara bhali-bhaanti juda hua hai. ye Delhi se 776 ki.mi doori par hai. Varanasi ki adhikaansh shaharon se doori mein astittv ka pramukh kaaran iska in shaharon ke beech ek yaataayaat kendra ke roop mein juda hona hai. praacheen samay se hi shahar takshila, gaajeepur, paataliputr, vaishaali, ayodhya, Gorakhpur evam Agra aadi se juda raha hai.

vaayu

Varanasi vimaanakshetr ke baahar ka ek drushya

baabatapur vimaanakshetr (laal bahaadur shaastri vimaanakshetr) shahar ke kendra se 25 ki॰mee॰ ki doori par sthit hai aur chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, khajuraaho, baingakauk, bangaluru, Colombo evam kaathamaandu aadi desheeya aur antarraashtreeya shaharon se vaayu maarg dvaara juda hua hai. adhikaansh pramukh desheeya vimaan sevaaon mein Indian airlines, jet eyaravej, Kingfisher airlines, air India, spaaisajet evam elaains air dvaara vaayu sevaaeain yahaan se sanchaalit hoti hai.

rel

Varanasi jankshan ke baahar ka drushya

banaaras ki pratham railway line December, 1862 mein East India railway company ne Kolkata se banavaayi thi.^[94]

uttar railway ke adheen Varanasi jankshan evam poorv madhya railway ke adheen mugalasaraaya jankshan nagar ki seema ke bheetar do pramukh railway station hain. inke alaava nagar mein 16 anya chhote-bade railway station hain.

sadak

maurya saamraajya kaal mein Varanasi takshila shahar se ikalauti sadak dvaara juda hua tha. baad mein is sadak ka punaroddhaar hua aur sherashaah soori ne 16veen shataabdi mein ise vistrut kar Kabul se rangoon tak badhaaya, jise grand trank road kaha jaata hai. N.H.-2 Delhi-Kolkata raajamaarg Varanasi nagar se niklata hai. iske alaava N.H.-7, jo Bhaarat ka sabse lamba raajamaarg hai, Varanasi ko jabalapur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, bangaluru, madurai aur kanyaakumaari se jodta hai.

saarvajanik yaataayaat

auto riksha evam cycle riksha Varanasi shahar ke sthaaneeya prachalit yaataayaat saadhan hain. baahari kshetron mein nagar-bas seva mein mini-basein chalti hain. chhoti naavein aur chhote steemar ganga nadi paar karne hetu upalabdh rahate hain.

sanbhavat: apni anupam aur adviteeya sanskruti ke kaaran Varanasi sansaar bhar mein paryatakon ka aakarshan bana hua hai. shahar mein anek 3, 4 aur 5 sitaara hotel hain. iske alaava pashchimi chhaatron aur shodhakartaaon ke liye paryaapt aur daksh rahan sahan vyavastha hai. yahaan ke sthaaneeya khaanapaan ke alaava lagbhag sabhi prakaar ki khaanapaan vyavastha shahar mein upalabdh hai. shahar ke logon ka svbhaav bhi satkaar se paripoorn hai. Varanasi banaarasi resham ki saadiyon aur peetal ke saamaan ke liye bhi prasiddh hai. iske alaava uchch koti ke reshami vastr, kaaleen, kaashth shilp, bhitti sajja evam pradeepan aadi ke saamaan ke saath-saath bauddh evam hindu devi-devataaon ke mukhaute vishesh: aakarshan rahe hain. mukhya khareedaari baajaaron mein chauk, godauliya, vishvanaath gali, lahuraabeer evam thatheri baajaar hain.^[19] assi ghaat shahar ke daaunataaun ilaake godauliya aur yuva sanskruti se otaprot bi.H.you ke beech ek madhyasth sthaan hai, jahaan yuva, videshi aur aavadhik log aavaas karte hain.

banaaras – A mistik love story (2006), Varanasi ke itihaas aur uske bhaarateeya paranparaaon mein sthaan par aadhaarit hindi chalachitr hai.

• chalachitr banaaras – A mistik love story (2006), Varanasi ke itihaas aur uske bhaarateeya paranparaaon mein sthaan par aadhaarit hindi chalachitr hai.
• bibhootibhooshan bandhopaadhyaaya ke baangla upanyaas aparaajito mein, banaaras ke aanshik drushya hain, jinhein baad mein satyajit rai dvaara apni film the apu traailauji mein bhi dikhaaya gaya hai. is film ke kuchh bhaag banaaras mein hi shoot kiye gaye hain.
• aayan maikadonaald ke upanyaas rivr of gauds ki prushthabhoomi ke kuchh ansh banaaras ke hain.
• satyajit rai ki fil joi Baba felunaath lagbhag saari banaaras mein shoot hui thi.
• 1978 ki superhit hindi chalachitr Don ka gaana khaike paan banaaras wala Amitabh Bachchan ke saath banaarasi paan ki prashansa mein gaaya gaya tha aur bahut lokapriya hua tha.
• pandit vikaas mahaaraaj ke sanyojan "ganga" par bani daukyumeintri film holeevautar yaheen bani thi.
• Krishna das dvaara gaaya gaya geet "kaashi vishvanaath gange" seedi braith of the heart mein nikla tha^[95]
• jeyauf daayar ki 2009 mein nikli pustak: jaif in venis, death in Varanasi aadhi banaaras par likhi hai.
• vijay Singh ke upanyaas jaya ganga, in sarch of the rivr gaudes evam klaasikl chalachitr jaya ganga aanshik roop sae banaaras par bani hain. ismein yahaan ke ghaaton ke achhe drushya hain.

• madan mohan maalaveeya, banaaras hindu vishvavidyaalaya ke sansthaapak
• laal bahaadur shaastri, Bhaarat ke poorv pradhaan mantri
• bismillaah Khan, shahanaaivaadak, Bhaarat ratn
• Krishna mahaaraaj, tabala vaadak, padm vibhooshan
• ravi shankar, sitaaravaadak, Bhaarat ratn
• siddheshvari devi, khayaalagaayika
• vikaash mahaaraaj, sarod ke mahaarathi
• naina devi, khayaal gaayika
• Bhagwan das, Bhaarat ratn
• samata prasaad (gudai mahaaraaj) tabala vaadak, padmashri
• jaya shankar prasaad - hindi saahityakaar)
• premachand - hindi saahityakaar
• bhaarateindu harishchandr - hindi saahityakaar

vikimeediya kaumans par Varanasi se sambandhit media hai.

• Varanasi jila - aadhikaarik jaalasthal
• Varanasi vaibhav
• mukhaprushth vikiyaatra se Varanasi hetu yaatra guide.

• Varanasi ke chitr
• uttar pradesh paryatan jaalasthal
• holeevautar – Varanasi
• sadguru praakatya dhaam, kabeer baag, laharataara, Varanasi
• Varanasi maanachitr sabhi mukhya mandir evam ghaat chihnit
• vijay Singh ki feature film 'jaya ganga' se shauts