New Growth Development ... raising the economic and spiritual standards of living

 

One of the most popular and often recounted myths of the Puranas (some of the later Hindu scriptures) is set in Varanasi. It tells of the first appearance of Shiva’s (god of destruction) linga (phallic symbol).   The story begins with Brahma (creator god) and Vishnu (sustainer god) arguing about which of them is the greatest. Brahma and Vishnu call in the personified Vedas (oldest Hindu scriptures) to settle their dispute. The Vedas, however, testify that neither Brahma nor Vishnu, but rather Shiva is supreme. 

 

As the two stood in disbelief, a huge column of fire, originating in Varanasi, splits the earth between them and blazes up through the sky, piercing the both the depths of hell and the highest heaven. Astounded, Brahma and Vishnu decide to determine the source and extent of this brilliant pillar of light. Vishnu transforms himself into a boar and burrows deep into the netherworlds. Brahma mounts his goose and flies as far up as the heavens reach. But even after thousands of years they cannot find the bottom or top of the column of light. 

 

Upon returning to Varanasi, Shiva suddenly emerges from the light of the column of fire. On seeing this, Vishnu honors Shiva, but Brahma slanders him. Shiva becomes angry, takes the form of Bhairava (god of annihilation) and cuts off one of Brahma’s five heads. However, the skull of Brahma, a tangible evidence of the worst of sins, killing a Brahmin, sticks to Bhairava’s hand and will not come loose. Even Shiva must pay for the sin of killing a Brahmin, so Bhairava wanders all over India, the skull clinging to his hand, until Vishnu directs him back to Varanasi where the skull drops off and Bhairava becomes free from that sin. 

 

Based on the pillar of fire from this myth, one of the early names of Varanasi was Kashi (the City of Light). 

 

It also became known as the City of Shiva, who claims he will never forsake his domicile. 

 

Because it was here that Bhairava was released from his sin, Varanasi is regarded as the place in which Hindus can have the sins of a lifetime washed away. 

 

Varanasi is also the place from which the linga of fire came which connected the three worlds (netherworlds, this world and the heavens). Thus it has become the pre-eminent tirtha (a place of contact between this world and eternity) in all of Hinduism, hosting millions of Hindu pilgrims each year.