Tales from the Island of Serendip 4 4

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It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth.

 

 

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"Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together."

Mark Twain

 

 

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It is probably the most extraordinary place I have ever visited.

 

 

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It was founded around 1200 B.C - though excavations at Ramnagar suggest the area was inhabited by tribal peoples from as early as 1800 BC.

 

 

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The name Kashi may be translated as "City of Light".

 

 

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It is the holiest of the seven Hindu sacred cities, the earthly home of the Hindu deity Shiva. In a sense it exists both on earth and in Heaven at one and the same time. Therefore to enter the city is to enter Heaven.

 

 

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Sadhus - holy men who have forsaken all worldly possessions and have taken to the open road - travel to Benares from all over India.

 

 

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About ten percent of sadhus are women, called sadhvis.

 

 

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One sadhvi wrote:

 

Riding the blue sapphire mountains

wearing moonstone for slippers

blowing long horns...

O Lord White as Jasmine

when do I join you

stripped of body’s shame

and heart’s modesty?

Mahadevi Akka Yakka

 

 

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Buddhism was founded near here around 528 BC when Buddha gave his first sermon after he attained enlightenment, "Turning the Wheel of Law", in a deer park close by at Sarnath.

 

 

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The main topic of this sermon is the Four Noble Truths, which are the central teachings of Buddhism. They provide a unifying theme, or conceptual framework, for all of Buddhist thought. In essence, they explain how to transcend earthly suffering, dukkha which comes from craving and desire. Or as the Buddha put it, from thirst.

 

 

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The vibrant quarter near the banks of the Ganges (Ganga), is known as the "Old City".

 

 

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The narrow lanes team with life.

 

 

 

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The walls are festooned with traditional paintings.

 

 

 

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