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The land of Kashi
Kashi, Banaras, Benares, Varanasi, these are all the names of Lord Shiva’s nagri, his region, his home. Kashi is one of the oldest and most spiritual cities in India, and is often called the spiritual capital of the country owing to the sheer number of temples present there, the presence of Maa Ganga, and of course, the Kashi Vishwanath and Kaal Bhairav temple.
Kashi is where people go to seek enlightenment, wisdom, blessings, and also Moksha. And so in Kashi, there is a famous saying ‘Kashi Marnam Mukti’, which means to die in Kashi equates to salvation.
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The miracles people believe in
Kashi has always been a city where miracles are a part of everyday life. From the holy Ganga to ancient temples, and from sacred rituals to divine sayings, this city has it all. People come from all over India, and the world, in search of miracle powers, in search of peace, and of course, in search of living a full, healthy life. And so in the Kashi temples, there are stories and legends of infinite miracles. There are temples with a water well that is believed to predict death dates, there are temples that have ‘koops’ with water that can cure the gravest ailments, and many more.
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The Dhanvantari Koop
And in Varanasi, particularly the Mrityunjay Mahadev temple, is the sacred Dhanvantari well which is said to be a source of divine healing. It is believed that this ‘koop’ has existed for centuries and has been a place of faith for people who suffer from ailments, illnesses, negative energies, and the likes.
Many devotees believe that the water from the Dhanvantari koop has special properties that can remove toxins from the body, purify the soul, and heal a person from the inside out. Some even say that the well never runs dry, no matter the season, and people do not just drink water from the well, but also take some of the water home for their family.
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Who was Dhanvantari
Dhanvantari, the one after whom the well is named, was no ordinary man. In fact, he has the status of a God. It is said that Lord Dhanvantari is the god of medicine and Ayurveda in Hindu tradition, and he is shown holding a pot of Amrit, the potion that guarantees immortality, which is a symbol of his powers to bless people with health, healing, and eternal life.
According to Hindu legends, during the Samudra manthan, Lord Dhanvantari was one of the last to emerge, but he emerged with the Amrit in his hand, the element for which the Devas and Asuras united.
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The blessing of Lord Dhanvantari
The belief that the water from the Dhanvantari koop can cure ailments is a part of the faith of every person living in Kashi, and every person who believes in the spiritual nature of Kashi. People come from afar in search of the koop, going through narrow lanes to find the Mrityunjay Mahadev temple, and after they pay their respect to the Shivling, they walk towards the Dhanvantari koop, where a person sits with a pot in hand, filled with water, distributing it to the devotees who come.
People believe that drinking this water helps recover from chronic diseases, stomach disorders, skin problems, and other health issues too. (Image: shivank_sg11/Instagram)
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The legend of Dhanvantari koop
A famous story about the Dhanvantari Koop is that when Lord Dhanvantari was running with the pot of Amrit in his hand, preventing the Asuras of getting a hold of it, some drops of that nectar dropped in the 4 cities where Kumbh is held, and some dropped into the Dhanvantari koop.
And so as time went on and the miracle was seen by many, Lord Dhanvantari blessed the well with his healing powers.
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