Banaras left with me…

Kashi, Varanasi and Banaras…the city is known by these names in current times. It was known by 4 different names in older times one of them being Anandavan given by Ma Parvati as Shiv ji had built it for her post their marriage.

Other cities have museums in it to narrate the history, and this city is the Museum in itself!

Every nook and corner, narrow lanes, Lord Vishwanath’s temple, the Gyaanvaapi well, rivers flowing and 84 ghats have a story to tell. The food, culture, art and spirituality blends so well here that its confluence is called Life! They say you may leave Banaras but Banaras will never leave you…and it’s TRUE!

I’ll always remember this city as ‘the Land of Extremities’!
One of the oldest cities in the world teaching life lessons that are applicable in the modern times.
It has witnessed the love between Ma Parvati and Shiv ji and also the funerals. Love resonating attachment and funeral depicting detachment.

A city where both Life and Death are celebrated equally.
A place so populous yet so peaceful! It lets you find yourself among the crowd.

Morning Ganga aarti energizes you for the day ahead and the evening one lets you surrender the day’s burden to the flowing river.
A city filled with con(wo)men if you are not attentive enough at the same time it is filled with the purest souls if you decide to trust in them.
My most favourite thing about this city is that Lord Shiva himself is called after his wife’s name here!
A way of accepting and respecting the coexistence of Shakti and Shiv (Feminity and Masculinity)

ॐ नमः पार्वती पतये हर-हर महादेव 🙏🏻
~ Amruta Tamhne