Definitions for Varanasi
vəˈrɑ nə sivaranasi

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 3 votes

1. Varanasinoun

   A large city in India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Varanasi

   Varanasi (Vārāṇasī, pronounced [ʋaːˈraːɳəsi]), also known by its former names of Banaras or Benares (Banāras, pronounced [bəˈnaːrəs] (listen)) and Kashi, is a city on the left bank of the Ganges river in southeastern Uttar Pradesh state of northern India, located 692 kilometres (430 mi) southeast of India's capital New Delhi and 320 kilometres (200 mi) east of the state capital Lucknow. It is the holiest city in Hinduism, as well as having a syncretic tradition of Muslim artisanship that underpins its religious tourism. The city also lies 121 kilometres (75 mi) downstream of Allahabad (officially Prayagraj), where the confluence with the Yamuna river is another Hindu holy city. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities. Kashi, its ancient name, was associated with a kingdom of the same name of 2,500 years ago. The Lion capital of Ashoka at nearby Sarnath has been interpreted to be a commemoration of the Buddha's first sermon there in the fifth century BCE. In the 8th century, Adi Shankara established the worship of Shiva as an official sect of Varanasi. Since ancient times, the city has been an important centre of Hindu devotion, pilgrimage, mysticism and poetry contributing to its cultural importance. Tulsidas wrote his Awadhi language epic, the Ramcharitmanas, a Bhakti movement reworking of the Sanskrit Ramayana, in Varanasi. Several other major figures of the Bhakti movement were born in Varanasi, including Kabir and Ravidas. In the 16th century, Rajput nobles in the service of the courts and armies of the Mughal emperor Akbar, sponsored the building or further enhancement of the major Shiva temple in the city; they also built other temples, all displaying an empire-wide architectural style. Under the Treaty of Faizabad, the East India Company acquired Benares in 1775, the city later successively becoming a part of the Benares Division in the Ceded and Conquered Provinces, the North-Western Provinces, and the United Provinces, and after India's independence of Uttar Pradesh.Silk weaving, carpets and crafts and tourism employ a significant number of the local population, as do the Banaras Locomotive Works and Bharat Heavy Electricals. Varanasi is a cultural centre of northern India that has been closely associated with the Ganges. Hindus believe that dying here and being cremated along the Ganges river banks allows the cycle of rebirth to be broken and salvation to become possible. The city is known worldwide for its many ghats, steps leading down the steep river bank to the water, where pilgrims perform rituals. Of particular note are the Dashashwamedh Ghat, the Panchganga Ghat, the Manikarnika Ghat, and the Harishchandra Ghat, the last two being where Hindus cremate their dead. The Hindu genealogy registers at Varanasi are kept here. Among the notable temples in Varanasi are Kashi Vishwanath Temple of Shiva, the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, and the Durga Temple. The city has long been an educational and musical centre: many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians live or have lived in the city, and it was the place where the Benares gharana form of Hindustani classical music was developed. In the 20th-century the Hindi-Urdu writer Premchand and the shehnai player Bismillah Khan were associated with the city. India's oldest Sanskrit college, the Benares Sanskrit College, was founded during East India Company rule in 1791. Later education in Benares was greatly influenced by the rise of Indian nationalism in the late 19th-century. Annie Besant founded the Central Hindu College in 1898. In 1916, she and Madan Mohan Malviya founded the Banaras Hindu University, India's first modern residential university. Kashi Vidyapith was established in 1921, a response to Mahatma Gandhi's Non-cooperation movement.

WikidataRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. Varanasi

   Varanasi, also Benares, Banaras or Kashi, is a city on the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, 320 kilometres southeast of the state capital, Lucknow. It is holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and Jainism. Hindus believe that death at Varanasi brings salvation. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the oldest in India. Many of its temples were plundered and destroyed by Mohammad Ghauri in the 12th century. The temples and religious institutions in the city now are dated to the 18th century. The Kashi Naresh is the chief cultural patron of Varanasi, and an essential part of all religious celebrations. The culture of Varanasi is closely associated with the Ganges. The city has been a cultural center of North India for several thousand years, and has a history that is older than most of the major world religions. The Benares Gharana form of Hindustani classical music was developed in Varanasi, and many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians live or have lived in Varanasi. Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath located near Varanasi.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. VARANASI

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Varanasi is ranked #55121 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Varanasi surname appeared 373 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Varanasi.
   
   94.3% or 352 total occurrences were Asian.
   2.1% or 8 total occurrences were of two or more races.
   1.8% or 7 total occurrences were White.
   1.3% or 5 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.

How to pronounce Varanasi?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Varanasi in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Varanasi in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Varanasi in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of Varanasi in a Sentence

1. Adam Braun:

   [The film] showed a scene that was shot on the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi, India, i was so motivated by that scene that I decided I had to get to India. 'Spiritual moment'.

2. Read MoreIn a speech:

   It is often said that whosoever come to Kashi( the ancient name for Varanasi) even once, becomes part of the city. In the last five years, I have experienced this every passing moment. In molding me and giving a direction to my political and spiritual being, Kashi has a huge influence on me.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Varanasi
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi
3. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Varanasi
4. ^ Surnames Frequency by Census Records
   https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy/data/2010_surnames.html