#ManikarnikaGhat #Varanasi #coverdby #rohitsaah
Manikarnika Ghat: The Eternal Fire & The Gateway to Moksha
Manikarnika Ghat is not just a place where bodies turn to ash; it is where the veil of illusion (Maya) is lifted, revealing the ultimate truth—everything is temporary, except the soul.
Many travelers and storytellers, including Rohit Saah, have tried to capture its essence, but its depth is beyond words. His writings describe how time seems to stand still here, where life, death, and liberation coexist in an eternal dance.
1. The Eternal Flame: Burning Since Centuries
It is believed that the funeral pyres at Manikarnika Ghat have never stopped burning for thousands of years. This fire, maintained by the Dom community, represents the never-ending cycle of life and death. The Doms are the silent gatekeepers of moksha, performing their duty for generations, yet remaining unseen in history’s pages.
2. Shiva’s Whisper: The Final Liberation
Hindus believe that Lord Shiva himself whispers the Taraka Mantra (Liberation Chant) into the ears of those cremated here. Rohit Saah, in his exploration, describes how this belief makes the ghat a sacred dream for Hindus—the one place where death is not the end but the beginning of true freedom.
3. The Manikarnika Kund: A Well of Divinity
Legend says that Goddess Parvati lost her Manikarnika (earring) here, and Lord Vishnu created a holy well to search for it. This Manikarnika Kund is said to hold divine water, untouched by time, and those who bathe in it are cleansed of all sins. Rohit Saah notes in his writings that while thousands come here to cremate their loved ones, few know the untold legend hidden beneath the ashes.
4. The City Where Death is Celebrated
Unlike other places, where death brings mourning, Varanasi and Manikarnika Ghat embrace it with open arms. Death here is not feared but accepted, as it marks the soul’s journey towards salvation. Rohit Saah describes how the mix of burning pyres, chanting priests, and silent meditating sadhus creates an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the world—haunting yet peaceful, dark yet divine.
5. The Ghostly Midnight Aghori Rituals
Manikarnika is also the place where Aghoris, the mysterious sect of sadhus, perform rituals using ashes from the dead. Rohit Saah, in one of his writings, mentioned seeing an Aghori meditating near a burning pyre at midnight, covered in ashes, chanting mantras. These sadhus believe that there is no difference between life and death, and their practices challenge the very fears we hold about mortality.
6. The Dom Raja: The Hidden King of Kashi
The Dom Raja, the head of the Dom community, is considered the true keeper of Manikarnika. Despite their low social status, they hold immense power as they control the sacred fire that ensures salvation. Rohit Saah notes that the irony of life is visible here—those who control the passage to moksha are often overlooked by society.
7. A Place of Ultimate Realization
Many saints and spiritual seekers come here to witness death up close. Some even perform their own last rites while alive, symbolizing detachment from the material world. Rohit Saah reflects on how watching the flames consume the body reminds us that ego, wealth, and power hold no value beyond this life.Final Thought: Manikarnika Ghat – A Mirror of Truth
"At Manikarnika, everything dissolves—body, identity, and attachments. Only the truth remains. Rohit Saah, like many before him, walked through its smoke-filled pathways, witnessing the end of life and the beginning of eternity. He left with one realization—death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.
Comments