History of Varanasi
HISTORY OF VARANASI
Varanasi, often referred to as Benares, is one of the oldest living cities in the world. According to Mark Twain, "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together".We first read about the kingdom of Kashi (Varanasi) in the Vedas, sacred Hindu texts and some of the earliest religious writings in the world. It seems likely from these writings that Varanasi was a significant city during and after the Aryan invasion of northern India (about 1500 BC). It is mentioned numerous times in the Sanskrit epic stories, the Mahabharata and Ramayana which were compiled in 400 BC, but could date back as far as 1000 BC. In the Buddhist Jatakas (600 BC) Varanasi is called “the chief city in all India.”
Dating the city in a Biblical context, in 1868, British missionary, M.A. Sherring describes it as follows:
Benares is a city of no mean antiquity. Twenty-five centuries ago, at least, it was famous. When Babylon was struggling with Ninevah for supremacy, when Tyre was planting her colonies, when Athens was growing in strength, before Rome had become known, or Greece had contended with Persia, or Cyprus had added luster to the Persian monarchy, or Nebuchadnezzar had captured Jerusalem, and the inhabitants of Judaea had been carried into captivity, she had already risen to greatness, if not to glory. Nay, she may have heard of the fame of Solomon, and have sent her ivory, her apes and her peacocks to adorn his palaces. Not only is Benares remark
able for her venerable age, but also for her vitality and her vigour which, so far as we know, she has always exhibited. While many cities and nations have fallen into decay and perished, her sun has never gone down; on the contrary, for long ages past it has shone with almost meridian splendour. Her illustrious name has descended from generation to generation and has ever been a household word, venerated and beloved by the vast Hindu family.
able for her venerable age, but also for her vitality and her vigour which, so far as we know, she has always exhibited. While many cities and nations have fallen into decay and perished, her sun has never gone down; on the contrary, for long ages past it has shone with almost meridian splendour. Her illustrious name has descended from generation to generation and has ever been a household word, venerated and beloved by the vast Hindu family.In the early sixth century BC, Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) found enlightenment under a tree in Gaya. He immediately set off for Varanasi – a renowned academic centre, and preached his first sermon in Sarnath, a park about 4 miles north of the city. He and his disciples frequently returned to Varanasi during their travels. The whole area around Varanasi was much influenced by this Hindu renewal movement. In the early seventh century AD, Hsuan Tang (a Chinese pilgrim) recorded thirty Buddhist monasteries within the area.
Buddhist thought never supplanted the main Shivaite culture of Benares, and by later in the seventh century it began to wane significantly, in part due persecution from the Brahmin priests.
In 1033 AD
a Muslim invading army looted Varanasi. In 1194 the city was sacked by the Muslims and remained under Muslim rule for more than 500 years. Temples were destroyed (and quickly rebuilt) in Varanasi at least four separate times during these years. The sixth Muslim emperor, Aurangazeb (1700 AD) cruelly suppressed Hindu worship and even changed the name of the city briefly to Muhammadabad, but was unsuccessful at stopping the linga worship in Varanasi.
a Muslim invading army looted Varanasi. In 1194 the city was sacked by the Muslims and remained under Muslim rule for more than 500 years. Temples were destroyed (and quickly rebuilt) in Varanasi at least four separate times during these years. The sixth Muslim emperor, Aurangazeb (1700 AD) cruelly suppressed Hindu worship and even changed the name of the city briefly to Muhammadabad, but was unsuccessful at stopping the linga worship in Varanasi.After Aurangazeb’s death most of India was ruled by a confederacy of pro-Hindu kings. Much of modern Varanasi was built during this time by the Rajput and Maratha kings. The kings continued to be important through much of the British rule (1775 – 1947 AD), including the maharaja of Benares, or Kashi Naresh. The kingdom of Benares was given official status by the Mughals in 1737, and continued as a dynasty governed area up until Indian independence in 1947, during the reign of Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh. Benares was ceded to the Union of India on 15th of Oct 1948. After the death of Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh in 2000, his son Anant Narayan Singh became the figurehead king of Benares, responsible for upholding the traditional duties of a Kashi Naresh.