Manikarnika Ghat – Varanasi Claimed

Manikarnika; where death arrives in glory

Death, or the end of life seems too dastardly to most. Even simple thoughts of death can be scary to most of us. But it is not as diabolical as we think of it. Even death can be relaxing if the dead get to reach ‘Manikarnika’ for one last time. The Ghat of Manikarnika is one out of the many features of Varanasi which makes it an exquisitely intriguing city. Yes, it is where the death arrives in full glory. Manikarnika Ghat is also known as Chakra Pushkarni Manikarnika Teerth.

Too many dead bodies burning one after the other and many more waiting in the queue. This is something that proves the popularity of Manikarnika among those nearing the end of lives. But what is that something, which makes Manikarnika a cradle of soothing death? But what is different? Death seems a joyful pursuit here.

Where is Manikarnika?

Manikarnika is Located on the ghats of holy river Ganga in one of the oldest cities of the world Varanasi, is Manikarnika Ghat. It is the place meant to soothe the burning agonies of life with the pyre of freedom that sets the dead free off the dungeon of rebirth and death.

Many people also spend the last days of their life on the ghat, understanding the relation between life and death and becoming more composed and prepared for death.

Out of the 84 ghats of Varanasi, Manikarnika is open 24*7 but photography is prohibited here. On the ghat, there is a godess temple, which said to be built by the ruler of Magadh long ago.

Around 200 to 300 dead bodies are cremated on the ghat every day and the pyres keep burning.

 Why is Manikarnika so important?

People believe that those who get cremated on the ghats of Manikarnika will attain ‘Moksha’ or freedom from the cycle of birth and death. This is the reason why the relatives of those cremated on this ghat seem not even a bit sad for the death of their dear ones. They know that the person they loved so dearly will now move to a higher level of conscience, ahead of taking birth and dying.

Named after the queen of Jhansi, Rani Laxmi Bai, ‘Manikarnika’ is a place where dead are burnt. Still it is a popular pilgrimage site among the believers of Hinduism. It witnesses a heavy footfall of people seeking the peace of mind and wisdom of life. Even those who are curious to know about the eerily soothing process of death come here in huge numbers.

Manikarnika is one of the oldest ghats in Varanasi. The ghat has been mentioned in the inscriptions of the Gupta empire which are as old as 5th century. Manikarnika is regarded as a very pious and revered ghat. You can also visit famous ghat of Varanasi dashas

Relevance in Hindu mythology

Another mention in the Hindu literature about the ghat is found when ‘Sati’ had self immolated her body after her father ‘Daksh Prajapati’ insulted her husband ‘Shiva’ by not inviting him for a holy Yajna. Shiva then took her body and mourned his wife’s death in the Himalayas.

When Vishnu saw the unending sorrow of Shiva, he sent his ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ and cut the body of Sati into numerous pieces. It is believed that here at Manikarnika, Sati’s ear along with the ornament had fallen here. This is how the name ‘Manikarnika’ came to existence. Mani means gem and karnika means something related to ear, so Manikarnika means the gem of ear.

Later on, the cremation process of Sati was carried out by Shiva on the Ghat of Manikarnika.

In the ‘Shaktism’ sect of Hinduism, Manikarnika holds a lot of importance. It is also one of the ‘Siddh Shaktipeethas’ of Devi Sati. The well located on the ghat is said to be dug by Lord Vishnu.

Lord Vishnu still comes here to bath

As per the legend, there are stories of Lord Vishnu coming here every afternoon with several other gods. Mostly south Indians prefer to visit here and take bath on the same time.

Shamshan Nath Mahotsav

On the seventh day of ‘Chaitra Navratra’ (Saptami), ‘Nagar Vadhu’ or sex workers come to the ghat of Manikarnika and dance for the whole night. This dance is a form of worship to the ‘Natraja’. They dance here and pray to not be born as a ‘Nagar Vadhu’ in their next birth.

Folk tale associated with the Shamshan Nath Mahotsav comes from 1585. The ruler of Amer, Maan Singh built a temple on the ghat and invited various artists to perform at the ghat. But the artists refused as the ghat was a place of cremation. Maan singh then invited ‘Nagar Vadhus’ to perform and they accepted the invitation. It is believed that the Nagar Vadhus began dance from then onwards.

Here at Manikarnika, ‘eerie’ simply means strange and not scary. It is strange because there is nothing like agony or sadness seen on the faces of people coming in or going out. And there is nothing scary, because it is never lonely, not even at night. Not lonely, still very calm.

 Raja Harishchandra paid tax to cremate his son

It is believed that in his difficult times, when Harishchandra’s son died. He took the body of his son to be cremated at Manikarnika. At the ghat, there was a rule of compulsory taxation for the cremation of dead bodies. But Harishchandra had nothing to give. His wife then tore a piece of her saree and gave it as tax to get the body of their son cremated.

The ghat of Manikarnika is said to have been blessed by Shiva with a state of endless peace. So next time you want to feel the bliss of death, come to Manikarnika. And we bet you will love the experience.

Yet this is not the only place in Varanasi that would pull you towards itself. There are several other places in the culturally rich city which will make you feel the magnetic charisma. After all, this is the reason why people from around the globe find solace in this city.

Shared by an young writer while interview