2. Name and Origin
One of the oldest cities of the world and
the oldest city of India
Have several names: Varanasi, Banares,
Kashi
A place between Varuna and Assi is
called VARANASI.
Holy place for Hindus, Buddhists and
Jains.
Significance of the Ganga River
3. History
Varanasi was founded by the god Shiva.
The Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata
are also stated to have visit the city in search of Shiva
These archaeological remains suggest that the Varanasi
area was populated by Vedic people.
However, the oldest known text referencing the city, the
Atharvaveda, which dates to approximately the same
Kabir period, suggests that the area was populated by
indigenous tribes.
4. Ancient period
Varanasi grew as an important industrial
centre, famous for its muslin and silk fabrics,
perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture.
During the time of Gautama Buddha,
Varanasi was the capital of the Kingdom of
Kashi.
The Buddha is believed to have founded
Buddhism here around 528 BC at nearby
Sarnath..
.
5. Middle period
Chandradeva, founder of the Gahadvala dynasty made Banaras a second
capital in 1090.
During the Mauryan Empire period, Varanasi was connected by a road
starting from Taxila and ending at Pataliputra.
"In 1194, Muslim rule under the Turkic king Qutbuddin Aibak, who
ordered the destruction of approximately 1,000 temples in the city.
Feroz Shah ordered the further destruction of Hindu temples in the
Varanasi area in 1376.
The Afghan ruler Sikander Lodi continued the suppression of Hinduism
in the city and destroyed most of the remaining older temples in 1496.
Despite the Muslim rule, Varanasi remained the centre of activity for
intellectuals and theologians during the Middle Ages,
Several major figures of the Bhakti movement were born in Varanasi,
including Kabir das and Sant Ravidas,
6. ModernHistory(1500 –present)
• Guru Nanak Dev visited Varanasi for
Shivratri in 1507, a trip that played a
large role in the founding of Sikhism.
• Varanasi experienced a Hindu cultural
revival in the 16th century under the
Muslim Mughal emperor Akbar, who
invested in the city and built two large
temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu.
• The Raja of Pune established the
Annapurna Mandir and Akbari Bridge
18. •This temple was built from the
time when Goswami Tulsidas had
a vision of the Hanuman.
• The temple was established by
the great saint Goswami Tulsidas .
19. Dev Deepawali
• The Dev Deepavali is the festival of light
• It falls on the full moon of the Hindu month of
• Kartika (November December) and takes place fifteen
• days after Diwali.
28. GHATS
Varanasi have more than 100 ghats….some famous are
DASASWAMEDH GHAT
ASSI GHAT
MANIKRNIKA GHAT
RAJENDRAPRASHAD GHAT
HARISHCHANDRA GHAT
TULSIDAS GHAT
31. It is one of the oldest ghats in Varanasi.
When Mata Sati sacrificed her life. Lord Shiva took her burning
body to the Himalaya..
Lord Shiva established Shakti Peeth wherever Sati's body had
fallen.
At Manikarnika ghat, Mata Sati's Ear's ornament had fallen.
There are 51 Shakti Peeth linking to the 51 alphabets in Sanskrit.
32. Banarasi Sari
Known in India for its special features
Weavers mostly Muslim but customers Hindu that
represent composite culture of Varanasi.
The city also produces carpets and handicrafts.
33.
34. SARNATH
One of the most famous place in Varanasi. That is related
to lord Buddha.