The Varanasi Heritage Dossier/Harishcandra Ghat

Detailed description of each heritage Site - Prabhu Ghat to Kedara Ghat

Harishcandra Ghat

Location

25º 17.884’ North and 83º 00.446’ East (Ruru Bhairava at Karnataka Ghat).

Exact location on a map

Karnataka and Harishcandra Ghats

Area

0.29 ha

Historical/cultural/natural significance

The Harishcandra Ghat has been named after a great mythological king of the same name On Wikipedia ⇒ Harishchandra .

According to ancient tales, he once worked the cremation ground here for the preservation of truth and charity, but in the end, the gods rewarded him and restored his lost throne and his dead son to him (cf. Matya Purana, 8). This is one of the two cremation ghats, sometimes called Adi Manikarnika (“the original cremation ground”, cf. KKm 2.25-26), and Adi Manikarnika Tirtha still exists. This is also the seat of the old Harampapa water-tirtha. This Ghat was not described in the ancient mythologies; for the first time, Prinsep (1822) and Sherring (1868) mentioned this as Shmashana Ghat. It is speculated that when the city expanded towards the south in abbreviated form, the cremation ghat was also replicated, which is evident by the Sati images of the 15th-16th century scattered near this Ghat. It can readily be accepted that during the 15th-16th century, there was already an active cremation ground, as also described in the Kedara Amtaragriha Yatra (KKm). In ca 1741, Narayana Dikshita, a religious guru of the Peshvas, renovated this Ghat and made it partly pucca. In a mid-18th century painting preserved in Savai Mansingh-II Museum (Jaipur, Rajasthan), this Ghat was referred to as Shamashana Ghat.

In the upper part of the shrines, there are images of Harishcandreshvara, Rohiteshvara, Adi Manikarnikeshvara, and Vriddha Kedara. At the bank of the open tower is a linga of Shmasaneshvara. In 1988, an electric crematorium was opened; however, side-by-side funerals on wood fire are continuing; of course, the electric crematorium rarely functions due to a shortage of power supply.

Present state of conservation

Except for the Karnataka State Trust, which is directly taking care of the palace and Dharamshala, there are no specific action plans, programmes, or strategies for the conservation and preservation of the ghats. The trust maintains its properties according to its own perspectives without specific plans.

Specific measures being taken for conserving the specific property

It is expected that by supporting active people participation, awareness to save the age-old rich heritage, and development under the Master Plan (and its judiciary control), the ghat heritage will be protected and conserved for the better benefit of the society.

Ownership

The respective temples, trusts, and residents own the specific properties along the Ghat, and the Municipal Corporation owns the Ghat area.

On Wikipedia

On Wikipedia ⇒ Harishchandra

On Google Map ⇒ Harishchandra Ghat Varanasi