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Deities

Manikarṇikā Ghāṭ

Manikarṇikā — Varanasi's cremation ghat

மரபு · Hindu

காலம் · First attested pre-500 BCE in Shaiva texts; documented by Xuanzang (7th c.), Al-Biruni (11th c.), Ibn Battuta (14th c.); continuous operation to 21st c.

✓ Guardian-reviewed

Historical Period7c CE

First attested pre-500 BCE in Shaiva texts; documented by Xuanzang (7th c.), Al-Biruni (11th c.), Ibn Battuta (14th c.); continuous operation to 21st c.

3000 BCE7th century CEPresent

Sacred Facts · At a Glance

Mantra

Tradition-specific

Gender: male
Sacred Colours: tradition-specific
Sacred Offerings: tradition-specific

Primary Scriptures

1 source

Hindu primary textsscriptural/oral

Manikarṇikā Ghāṭ

Tradition

Hindu / Shaiva

Location

Varanasi (Manikarnika), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (25.3109°N, 83.0098°E)

Sacred Narrative

Manikarṇikā Ghāṭ — the principal burning ghat of Kāshi. Open-air cremation has continued uninterrupted for ~3,500 years. The sacred fire is said to have burned continuously since Shiva lit it. Dying here (jīva-samādhi, not just death) is considered to grant mokṣa. Dom community manages cremations (an inherited role). The adjacent Chakra-puṣkariṇī is the sacred tank.

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✦Wisdom Graph: Divine Associations✦

MantraTradition-specific

Offerings: tradition-specific
Sacred colours: tradition-specific

📖 Stories

Narrative of Manikarṇikā Ghāṭ
Manikarṇikā Ghāṭ — the principal burning ghat of Kāshi. Open-air cremation has continued uninterrupted for ~3,500 years. The sacred fire is said to have burned continuously since Shiva lit it. Dying here (jīva-samādhi, not just death) is considered to grant mokṣa. Dom community manages cremations (an inherited role). The adjacent Chakra-puṣkariṇī is the sacred tank.
— Tradition

🪔 Worship Procedures

Daily rites: • tradition-specific

🛕 Principal Temples

Main shrine of Manikarṇikā GhāṭVaries
📍 Varanasi (Manikarnika), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
25.3109°, 83.0098° — view on map
Festivals: Annual festival
Manikarṇikā — Varanasi's cremation ghat

🎊 Festivals

Annual Manikarṇikā Ghāṭ festival
Seasonally · 1–10 days

📜 Primary Scriptural Sources

Hindu primary textsscriptural/oral

Sources & provenance

🎓 1 Scholarly📖 1 Tertiary

🎓
Scholarly sourceBook
Hindu tradition sources
📖
Supporting referenceGazetteer
Varanasi Gazetteer

புனித அட்டவணை

Knowledge Connections

Cite this Entry

"Manikarṇikā Ghāṭ." ELGODS: Spiritual Encyclopedia of India, Deities, https://elgods.jambudweep.tech/explore/deities/manikarnika-ghat-varanasi. Accessed August 22, 2026.

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Arya Samaj

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Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Hinduism

Manikarṇikā Ghāṭ

Tradition

Location

Sacred Narrative

✦Wisdom Graph: Divine Associations✦

📖 Stories

🪔 Worship Procedures

🛕 Principal Temples

🎊 Festivals

📜 Primary Scriptural Sources