INNER MEANING OF KASI

SUBHASHITHAM:042

इदं शरीरं कौन्तेय क्षेत्रमित्यभिधीयते |

 एतद्यो वेत्ति तं प्रहु: क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तद्विद: || 2||

  idaṁ śharīraṁ kaunteya kṣhetram ity abhidhīyate I

  etad yo vetti taṁ prāhuḥ kṣhetra-jña iti tad-vidaḥ II

BG 13.2: The Supreme Divine Lord said: O Arjuna, this body is termed as kṣhetra (the field of activities), and the one who knows it is called kṣhetrajña (the knower of the field) by the sages who discern the truth about both.

Prakriti and Purusha are called respectively as Kshetra and Kshetrajna. The word kshetra means the field. The body is therefore, often referred to as Dharma kshetra. There is an intelligent principle that not only resides in the body but also cognises and governs it. The sages call that discerning principle as Kshetrajna. The distinction between Kshetra and Kshetrajna is elaborately described in 13^th chapter of Bhagavad Gita. Sri Shankara Bhagavad Pada captures the essence of gita ch13 in his beautiful work called “ Kasi Panchakam”.

काश्यां हि काशते काशी, काशी सर्वप्रकाशिका।

सा काशी विदिता येन, तेन प्राप्ता हि काशिका ॥४॥

Kanshya hi kashte kashi,Kashi sarvaprakashika,  Sa Kashi Vidita Yena,tena Praptaa hi Kashika ..4

The city of Kasi is indeed shining in the Awareness that is Atman. That Kasi illuminates all. Whosoever realizes that Kasi indeed gains Kasi.( This was quoted by prime minister Modiji during his visit to Varanasi )

काशीक्षेत्रं शरीरं त्रिभुवनजननी व्यापिनी ज्ञानगंगा,    

भक्तिः श्रद्धा गयेयं निजगुरुचरणद्ध्यानयोगः प्रयागः।

विश्वेशोऽयं तुरीयस्सकलाजनमनस्साक्षिभूतोऽन्तरात्मा,   

देहे सर्वं मदीये यदि वसति पुनः तीर्थमन्यत्किमस्ति ॥५॥

 KashiKshetram sharirm tribhuvanjanani vyapini Jnanaganga,

  BhaktiH Shraddha gayeyam nijagurucharana dhyanyogaH prayagH,  I

 Vishveso’yam turiyaH-sakala janamanaH-sakshibhuto’ntratma,

 dehe sarvamadiye yadi vasati punaH tirthmanyatkimasti..5

Body is the pilgrimage center of Kasi. The all-pervading flows of knowledge is the Ganges, the mother of the three worlds. Devotion and faith are this city of Gaya. The communion of meditation on the feet of one’s preceptor is the city of Prayag. Atman, the fourth, is this Lord of the universe. It obtains in all living beings as the witness to the mind and the inner ruler. As everything exists in my body, where is the need for any other pilgrimage centre?

The Hindu mythological literature is created based on the principle of Symbolism.

Kasi is my body.    Manikarnika - the famous bathing ghat there - is Hridayam, Heart

Ganga –the river stands for the perennial  manifestations of the atman, in the form of waking consciousness.

Bhavani- The consort of Siva, also called Maya, is the creative power of Brahman

Viswanatha - Siva in the temple is the Self within me.  Brahman who lives in the Heart for seekers.

Sri Krishnaya Thubyam Nama: