History and Significance of Kashi

This is the city of Kashi. Its first name was

Anandvan.

Anandvan became Kashi.

Then Kashi became Varanasi.

Then Varanasi became Banaras. There is nothing like it

anywhere in the world. All the kings and

maharajas on the riverbanks came here to die.

There is a reward for dying here, for dying in Kashi. Why?

Because Lord Shankar himself resides here. Lord Shankar

himself resides here. This is a universal truth. Kashi

has what London and Paris have. You can find it here.

Wherever one goes in the world, one tells one's child, “Son,

when I die, cremate my body in Kashi.”

Why, why, why? Because on this earth,

everything has a pair. One life leaves at home, and

another life leaves at the cremation ground. When this universe

will split? When this universe splits, this life force

leaves.