Manikrarnika Ghat is one of the prime cremation ghats (demarcated place on the bank of a river) in Varanasi, the holiest city as per Hindu mythology. Manikarnika Ghat is considered to be one of the most sacred ghats in this holy Indian city. Lot of Hindu mythological stories and emotional beliefs are attached to this sacred ghat. The ghat lies at the center of five tirthas (sacred Hindu places having mythological importance). Let us explore the famous Manikarnika Ghat and the city of Varanasi, where the ghat lies.

Manikarnika Ghat – legends and beliefs

According to the Hindu mythology, if a person is cremated in the Manikarnika Ghat, he/she gets instant nirvana or liberation from the cycle of births and rebirths.

According to a legend, Lord Vishnu dug a pit or kund at the time of the world’s creation here. The kund was dug with the Lord’s Chakra and was filled by his sweat while he was performing penances. During this time, Lord Shiva was watching Lord Vishnu. Suddenly, the latter’s earring (or manikarnika) fell into the kund. As the kund was associated with both Lord Vishnu (the creator) and Lord Shiva (the slayer), it is considered to be a sacred place of creation and destruction.

There is another legend associated with the Manikarnika Ghat. Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, wanted to keep the Lord beside her as much as possible. She didn’t want Lord Shiva to move around with his devotees and played a trick. She hid her earrings and asked Lord Shiva to fetch them, claiming they have been lost in the banks of the river Ganga. By this little trick, Goddess Parvati wanted to keep Lord Shiva in front of her eyes forever. According to this legend, whenever a dead person is cremated in the Manikarnika Ghat, Lord Shiva asks the soul whether it has seen the earring somewhere.

It is interesting to know that cremation ghats are generally located outside the periphery of a town, as they are considered to be inauspicious. However for Varanasi, the scene is different. Manikarnika Ghat is very much in the midst of the town. This is because, the holy city of Varanasi is itself considered to be the greatest cremation ground in the world.

If you ever visit the Manikarnika Ghat, you will find it overcrowded with funeral pyres. There are umpteen shops selling stuff required for cremation – ghee, wood, offerings to deities, and clothes. You will also find priests performing last rites. The actual cremation operation is performed by a sect of people called “Dom”. Please note that photographing an in-progress cremation is strictly prohibited.

The Manikarnika Ghat is also associated with Manikarnika Devi, a goddess worshipped by millions of pilgrims round the year. There is a small shrine of Lord Vishnu here too, containing the Lord’s sacred footprints. There is a holy Shiva Lingam in the place too.

The Manikarnika Ghat has long been admired as the world’s first pilgrimage place and will remain the ultimate place to attain “moksha” (spiritual liberation) for the Hindus.

Varanasi – the holiest city of the Hindus

Varanasi is also known as Benaras or Kashi. This holy city is located on the west bank of the river Ganga in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is considered to be holy not only by the Hindus, but also by the followers of Buddhism and Jainism.

For several thousand years, the holy city had been regarded with awe as the epitome of Hindu culture and religious activities. Life in Varanasi is closely associated with the river Ganga. The city has several mythological legends attached to it. According to one legend, Lord Shiva founded Varanasi around 5000 years ago. This has turned the city to the holiest pilgrimage of the Hindus. The city has been mentioned multiple times in the Hindu scriptures of Rigveda, Purana, Ramayana, and Mahabharata.

Religion apart, Varanasi is famous for muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, and handicraft items. The celebrated Chinese traveler of ancient times – Xuanzang described Varanasi as a bustling center of religious, educational and cultural activities.

The city is characterized by its narrow by-lanes, roadside shops and umpteen Hindu temples.  The city has nearly a hundred ghats – some are used for bathing purposes, while others are used for cremation.