(“shining”) One of
the city of Benares' traditional names.
Benares is one of the Seven Sacred Cities mentioned in the
Hindu scriptures, where death brings ultimate emancipation of the soul.
In a more narrow sense, the word Kashi refers to the biggest
of Benares' three ancient holy zones.
It encompasses everything inside the Panchakroshi Yatra
path, a circuit that circles the city and defines the region's outer edge.
The fabled account of the jyotirlinga, the "pillar of
light" where the deity Shiva is claimed to have originally emerged, is the
inspiration for the name Kashi.
The pillar of light, according to legend, not only landed in
Kashi but was also a form of Kashi, emphasizing the city's holiness above all
other locations on Earth.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.
