References to Kashi appear in great epics. The Mahabharata praises it as one of the best places for pilgrimage, while the Jabala Upanishad and Ramayana also extol its greatness.How Did Kashi’s Well Get the Name “Gyanvapi”?

Over centuries, many revered figures have visited this sacred city. In the 6th century BCE, Gautama Buddha came to Kashi and delivered his first sermon at Sarnath, 6 miles away, in the Deer Park (Isipatana Mrigadava). This sermon became known as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta.

In the 7th century CE, the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang visited Varanasi. He recorded that the city had around 30 Buddhist monasteries housing over 30,000 monks, and he referred to the place as “Po-lo-ni-ss’e.” His accounts give a vivid description of Kashi in that era.Significance and Benefits of Observing Sankashti Chaturthi on Tuesday..!

Thus, Kashi is a divine, wondrous land of immense spiritual power. Countless pilgrims have come here and discovered the purpose of life and death. The ghats, like Manikarnika, profoundly reflect the meaning of mortality.