Why Varanasi is the Most Sacred Place for Asthi Visarjan as per Puranas

A common question whispered on the lips of pilgrims in these modern times:

Why Asthi Visarjan in Varanasi?

Why is this place, Kashi, considered the most sacred ground for entrusting the final remains of our loved ones to the elements?

Let’s understand.

It is not merely tradition, it is a profound truth rooted in the divine nature of Kashi and the unparalleled grace of Maa Ganga flowing through its heart. Understanding the Kashi Asthi Visarjan importance requires us to look beyond the physical act and touch the spiritual core of this Mahatirtha (great place of pilgrimage).

Why Varanasi Holds Supreme Sanctity for Asthi Visarjan: Kashi’s Pivotal Role in Moksha

Imagine a place so beloved by the Divine that Lord Shiva himself declared it his eternal home. That is Kashi. As Mahadev assures Parvati Mata in the sacred texts, including the Linga Purana, He never forsakes this city. This is why we call it Avimukta – ‘the never forsaken’. Think about that! To be in Kashi is to be perpetually within the embrace of Mahadev. What greater assurance, what safer harbour could a soul seek on its final journey?

The Linga Purana further tells us that any good deed performed here – chanting the Lord’s name, performing austerities, giving charity – yields fruits that never diminish. Akshaya Punya, inexhaustible merit! Now, consider the profound act of Asthi Visarjan, a final service filled with love and prayer. When performed in Avimukta, its spiritual merit is believed to be boundless, directly benefiting the departed soul.

The Skanda Purana, that vast ocean of knowledge, devotes countless verses to Kashi’s glory. It declares boldly that in all the three worlds – Bhuloka (Earth), Bhuvarloka (intermediate space), Swargaloka (heaven) – there is no city equal to Kashi. Why? Because it wasn’t created by Brahma like other realms; it was manifested by Lord Viśveśvara (Shiva, Lord of the Universe) himself!

Performing Asthi Visarjan here means entrusting the soul’s last connection to the physical world directly into the hands of its creator, in His own chosen city. This intrinsic divinity is central to the Kashi Asthi Visarjan importance.

The Lifeblood of Kashi: The Indispensable Grace of Maa Ganga

Now, let us speak of Ganga. Our scriptures, like the Agni Purana, sing praises of her purifying power. Merely bathing in her waters, especially at sacred confluences or her source, can wash away accumulated negative karma. But Ganga in Kashi is unique, exceptionally potent.

Here, as the Skanda Purana reveals, Ganga flows Uttarvahini – northwards! Instead of flowing towards the sea like most rivers, she turns towards her source in the Himalayas, towards the abode of the Gods, the direction of liberation. This northward flow itself is considered highly auspicious, amplifying the sanctity of her waters.

Furthermore, the Skanda Purana shares a beautiful secret: during auspicious times (parvan days), all the sacred Tirthas (holy waters and pilgrimage sites) from across the land are believed to converge and merge into the Ganga here in Kashi. When you immerse the asthi in the Ganga at Varanasi, it’s as if the essence of Prayag, Haridwar, Rameshwaram, Dwarka – all holy waters – touch those remains. This collective sanctity offers unparalleled purification. The Ganga Asthi Visarjan benefits derived here are thus considered exponentially greater than anywhere else, providing a comprehensive spiritual cleansing for the departed soul.

Kashi: The City Where Liberation Comes Knocking – The Promise of Moksha

Ultimately, the highest aim for many souls following the path of Sanatana Dharma is Moksha – liberation from the cycle of birth and death (samsara). And Kashi is unequivocally renowned as the Varanasi Moksha city.

This isn’t just a hopeful belief; it’s a powerful assertion found repeatedly in our Puranas. The Skanda Purana states with startling clarity that those who leave their physical body (sharira) in Kashi (Avimukta) do not take birth again. They attain salvation, mukti, sometimes described as being granted almost effortlessly compared to the rigorous paths of knowledge (Jnana Marga) or yogic discipline required elsewhere. It says Kashi grants salvation more easily than even Prayaga, the king of Tirthas!

Why is this so? Because Lord Viśveśvara himself resides here, actively bestowing liberation. It is believed He draws souls destined for moksha to Kashi in their final moments. The Linga Purana echoes this, declaring that even sinners who die in Varanasi, especially after bathing in Ganga and visiting Mahadev, attain liberation. The very atmosphere, the very dust (raj) of Kashi, is imbued with this power to dissolve karma and grant freedom. It’s said that even grievous sins find their dissolution here, a redemption hard-won elsewhere.

Therefore, when you ask Why Asthi Visarjan in Varanasi?, a significant part of the answer lies in this unique promise of liberation associated with the city itself. Performing the final rites here aligns the soul directly with the frequency of moksha.

Amplified Blessings: The Spiritual Significance of Rituals in Kashi

Given the sacred nature of the land and the river, any ritual performed in Kashi takes on heightened significance. The Spiritual significance Kashi rituals possess is immense. The energy of the place acts as an amplifier for prayers, offerings, and intentions.

Performing Asthi Visarjan involves specific rites, often guided by a knowledgeable Pandit. This frequently includes Pinda Daan, the offering of rice balls. As hinted in texts like the Brahma Purana (which speaks of ancestral rites in holy places like Viraja), offering sustenance to the departed soul and ancestors (Pitris) in a powerful tirtha like Kashi is exceptionally effective. It satisfies the ancestors and aids the soul’s smooth transition.

The Skanda Purana emphasizes this amplification, stating that even a small virtuous act – a holy dip, charity, chanting (Japa), fire ceremony (Homa), or ancestral rites (Shraddha) – performed in Kashi, especially at potent spots like the Dashashwamedh Ghat, yields everlasting merit (akshaya phala).

Imagine, then, the amplified benefit of a rite as significant as Asthi Visarjan performed with devotion here!

Kashi Compared: A Beacon Among Holy Sites

While we deeply revere all tirthas – Prayaga, Haridwar, Rameshwaram, Gaya, Kurukshetra – each holds specific importance. Gaya is paramount for Pinda Daan, Prayaga for confluence baths. But when the focus is specifically on Moksha, on ultimate liberation facilitated through the final rites, the Puranas, particularly the Skanda Purana, consistently elevate Kashi to a unique, supreme position. The ease and certainty with which liberation is associated with dying or having one’s final rites performed in Kashi sets it apart.

Conclusion: The Confluence of Grace in Mahadev’s City

So, the answer to Why Asthi Visarjan in Varanasi? becomes clear. It is because here, in this ancient, holy city:

1. Lord Shiva’s Presence: You are within the eternal embrace of Mahadev in His chosen Avimukta Kshetra.
2. Ganga’s Supreme Purity: You entrust the remains to the divine Mother Ganga flowing northwards, infused with the essence of all Tirthas.
3. The Promise of Moksha: You align the soul with the unparalleled liberating energy of Kashi, the city that grants freedom.
4. Amplified Ritual Merit: Every prayer, every offering, holds magnified spiritual weight and benefit.

The Kashi Asthi Visarjan importance stems from this sacred confluence – of place, river, divinity, and purpose. It is the belief, held firm for ages and echoed in our scriptures, that performing this final rite here offers the departed soul the greatest possible peace, purification, and the clearest path towards liberation. It is the ultimate act of love and dharma a family can perform for their loved one.