Why are people eager to perform last rites in Varanasi?
मुख्य बातें
- •Varanasi is a major hub for performing final rituals.
- •Performing the last rites in Varanasi is considered the best way for the soul to attain *moksha*.
- •Manikarnika Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat are the most famous cremation grounds.
- •It is believed that performing these rituals liberates the soul from the cycle of rebirth.
Varanasi, a city in Uttar Pradesh that houses the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, holds a prime position among the sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus. In particular, people from across the globe flock to this city to perform the last rites and final rituals for the deceased. But why has this practice gained such immense significance?
The importance of Varanasi is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and Vedic texts. Performing the last rites of the deceased in Varanasi is believed to be the most auspicious way for their souls to attain *moksha* (liberation). Additionally, since the city is considered the abode of Lord Shiva, it is also believed that the souls of the departed find peace and receive the blessings of the deity.
Those who come to Varanasi to perform these rituals begin by taking a holy dip in the Ganga River. The body of the deceased is then wrapped in a yellow cloth, placed on a wooden bier, and taken to the cremation grounds along the riverbank. There, the final rites are performed with specific rituals. It is believed that by doing so, the soul of the departed is liberated and does not have to undergo rebirth again.
