According to ancient mythology, Lord Brahma performed Das (ten) Ashwamedh sacrifices here and a bath here confers the benefits of ten Ashwamedh. Of all the Ghats along the Bank of the Ganges, this is the most popular Ghat and is the hub of pilgrims morning and evening. It is also know as “Brahma Dwar” (Door Step of Brahma) and its old name is Rudrasarovar or Ghoraghat and is one of the five ‘Panchteerthas’ of Kashi. After coming of the Ganges the Rudrasarovar disappeared and this site continued to be regarded as the prominent place of pilgrimage in Kashi and come to be know as Prayag Rajghat. Among the Ghats of Varanasi there are three which are very prominent and of these three Dashashwamdh Ghat is of the prime importance. The Karmas done here not destroyed and remain forever (akshya). The present ghat was built in 1748 by Peshwa Balaji Bajirao. Ganga Aarti is performed daily at Morning and in the evening.

(Source: Uttar Pradesh tourism)

प्राचीन पौराणिक कथाओं के अनुसार, भगवान ब्रह्मा ने यहां दस (दस) अश्वमेध यज्ञ किए थे और यहां स्नान करने से दस अश्वमेधों का फल मिलता है। गंगा के किनारे के सभी घाटों में से, यह सबसे लोकप्रिय घाट है और सुबह और शाम तीर्थयात्रियों का केंद्र है। इसे “ब्रह्म द्वार” (ब्रह्मा का द्वार) के नाम से भी जाना जाता है और इसका पुराना नाम रुद्रसरोवर या घोड़ाघाट है और यह काशी के पांच ‘पंचतीर्थों’ में से एक है। गंगा के आने के बाद रुद्रसरोवर लुप्त हो गया और यह स्थान काशी में प्रमुख तीर्थस्थल माना जाता रहा और प्रयाग राजघाट के नाम से जाना जाने लगा। वाराणसी के घाटों में तीन घाट बहुत प्रमुख हैं और इन तीनों में से दशाश्वमध घाट का सर्वाधिक महत्व है। यहां किये गये कर्म नष्ट नहीं होते और सदैव अक्षय रहते हैं। वर्तमान घाट का निर्माण 1748 में पेशवा बालाजी बाजीराव ने करवाया था। गंगा आरती प्रतिदिन सुबह और शाम को की जाती है।

(English to Hindi translation by Google Translate)

Click to learn more about Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Ganges adorns Mother Earth, Tortoise clean Ganga immensely.

Ecological Importance of Tortoise – This photo was taken near Varuna Ganga Sangam in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).

Lord Bholenath had sent all the deities including Ganesh ji to Kashi with the desire to get Kashi from King Divodas, but his wish to get Kashi could not be fulfilled because all the deities became residents of Kashi and did not return to Bholenath. In the end, Shiv ji sent Lord Vishnu to Kashi. After getting his permission, Lord Vishnu along with Lakshmi, riding on Garuda, circumambulating Shivji, and bowing him again and again, left for Kashi from Mandarachal mountain. At the confluence of Ganga-Varuna in Kashi, Lord Vishnu washed his hands and feet with a pure heart and took a holy bath, since then this pilgrimage is known as Vishnu Padodak.

For those who take a bath in this Padodak pilgrimage, their old sins accumulated in seven births will be destroyed. Whoever performs Shraddha and Tarpan with sesame water here, will save 21 men of his clan and as the ancestors are satisfied by performing Shraddha in Gaya, the same satisfaction is found in the Vishnu Padodak pilgrimage of Kashi. If Vishnu’s Charanamrit is taken at the Padodak Tirtha of Vishnu ji, then it should be considered as nectar.

Lord Vishnu ji, after taking bath at the Ganga-Varuna confluence, established this Trilokya Vyapini idol of black stone here with his own hands, since then this place is known as Adi Keshaw and Lord Vishnu himself said:

Those who worship my Adi Keshaw form in the immortal form of immortality (Kashi), in the end, attain the immortal position after being free from all sorrows.

Aadi Keshaw Vishnu Temple is an 11th-century temple as per priest Shree Vinay Kumar Tripathi.

We started our walk from Dashashwamedh Ghat and reached Malviya Bridge. Kashi Railway Station is nearby on the left-hand side. After crossing the Malviya Bridge, we reached Besant College Road on the right side. And finally, the very first ghat of Varanasi – Rajghat. Nearby is Varuna-Ganga Sangam.

Varanasi has 80 ghats. Varuna and Assi (The last ghat) if combined are known as Varanasi.

Aghan Purnima is the day devotees start town parikrama from Manikarnika Ghat to reach Varuna Ganga Sangam. The next day i.e., the first day of the Pausha (पौष) month as per the Hindu calendar i.e., almost in the last week of December as per English calendar, Atargiri Mela (festival) is held at Varuna Ganga Sangam. Devotees gather in large numbers to worship the Varuna and Ganga rivers and then by boat they sail towards Manikarnika Ghat to complete the journey.

Knowledge enhanced. Thanks to Lachchu, Bablu of Sarai Mohana village, and many many thanks to Shree Vinay Kumar Tripathi – priest of Aadi Keshaw Vishnu temple for sharing knowledge.

We started our walk from Dashashwamedh Ghat and reached Malviya Bridge. After crossing the bridge, we reached Besant College Road. First, we visited ‘Varuna-Ganga Sangam‘ and visited the nearby Lord Vishnu temple. While coming back, we stopped at Rajkamal’s shop to have some snacks as we were very hungry. There we saw other than snacks traditional sweets such as Lai ke Laddu (puffed rice balls), Groundnut Chikki, Ramdana Patti, Chini ka Patta, etc., etc. We requested ten rupees Besan ki Papdi which is my personal favorite namkeen. It was very tasty.

If you roam around Varanasi, you will find numerous shops selling traditional sweets and snacks.

Lotus Flowers – This photo was taken at Phool Bazar, Bansphatak in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).

Rs. 5/- per Lotus Flower. It is offered to Lord Shiva, Goddess Saraswati, and Lord Hanuman.

Madar (Calotropis gigantea) ki Mala – This photo was taken at Phool Bazar, Bansphatak in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).

Rs. 5/- per Madar (मदार) garland. Upon query, I was told by the shopkeeper it is offered to Lord Shankar.

Knowledge enhanced.