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India.com
3 hours ago
- India.com
The Myths Of Varanasi: A Deep Dive Into Local Culture
History along with spirituality and mythical stories define Varanasi which remains one of the longest inhabited urban areas worldwide. The Hindu, Buddhist and Jain communities acknowledge Kashi as their most holy place where its original designation is Benares. Throughout the years the city has maintained its identity through ancient legends and myths that internal understanding from generation to generation. Through its ancient historical stories the city retains both its cultural core and its annual attracting power for millions of pilgrims and tourists. A collection of significant historical stories makes up the distinctive essence of Varanasi through these popular local myths. 1. The Legend of Lord Shiva and the Creation of Kashi Lord Shiva represents the main deity in Hinduism and his eternal presence defines the major mythology about Varanasi. The legend tells that Shiva created Varanasi from which he selected this earthly place to reside. After his destruction dance (Tandava) Shiva decided to place his divine presence upon this location. Both Varanasi and Kashi share a name which refers to luminous light because it represents spiritual enlightenment leading people to freedom. The Hindu faith holds that both life in Kashi and dying within its domain will deliver moksha which is liberation from rebirth. The strong belief that Varanasi provides spiritual opportunities to seek liberation has transformed the city into a magnet for seekers of salvation. Shiva along with other deities receive worship through spiritual ceremonies at the riverbanks of the Ganges. 2. The Sacred Ganga River: A Gift from the Heavens Hinduism considers the River Ganga to be sacred which forms the second main mythological component of Varanasi. King Bhagiratha conducted deep spiritual devotion which led to the descent of the divine river Ganga from heaven so that her waters could purify his forefathers' ashes for their ascension to heaven. The myth states that when Ganga descended from heaven her power created a danger of planetary destruction. The terrifying descent of Ganga was prevented by Lord Shiva who captured her with his matted hair so she could release her waters in a controlled manner to the Earth. The people of Varanasi consider the Ganga to be Mother Ganga so bathing in its waters provides religious purification which brings spiritual renewal. Neophytes from all over the world visit the Varanasi ghats especially Dashashwamedh Ghat and Manikarnika Ghat for religious ceremonies. 3. Vishwanath Temple: The Abode of the Universe The Kashi Vishwanath Temple takes pride in being the central religious structure of Varanasi which worships Lord Shiva. Shiva's manifestation as 'pillar of light' at this Jyotirlinga site among the twelve sacred divine locations makes it known as the 'abode of the universe.' Popular tradition claims that the temple's original building needed a makeover after numerous invasions disrupted its construction several times. Devotees maintained their faith which protected the temple from extinction despite numerous adversities. People visit this temple daily to show their devotion as it stands as an enduring symbol of religious determination. From the tops of buildings the temple spire shines like gold while it contains divine energy which inspires the city below. 4. The Tale of Markandeya and Immortality Legend tells how Sage Markandeya holds a central role in Hindu mythical stories which connect to Varanasi. The legend tells that Markandeya received a prophetic message that he would survive only sixteen years. Through his dedicated service to Lord Shiva he managed to escape Yama when he came to collect his soul from death. The trick appeared when Shiva fought Yama to save Markandeya's life by beating the deity who came to collect the sage. This legend demonstrates the strength of devotion because Varanasi both protects people and enables divine salvations. Visitors from all walks of life come to the Markandeshwar Mahadev Temple situated by the Manikarnika Ghat in order to receive blessings and understand how dedication defeats death. 5. Buddhist Connections: Sarnath and the First Sermon The religious identity of Varanasi centers mainly on Hindu traditions but the site actively participates in Buddhist religious activities. Gautama Buddha gave his initial sermon at Sarnath which existed only 10 kilometers outside of Varanasi right after his enlightenment. The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta constitutes the moment which launched the Buddhist doctrines. Sarnath maintains numerous stupas and monasteries with Dhamek Stupa standing as the most celebrated structure since it marks the spot where Buddha provided his lessons. The religious significance of Varanasi extends into its dual appeal for wisdom and compassion which deepens its multicultural heritage according to Buddhist beliefs. 6. Parvati's Tapasya and the Birth of Ganesha A mythical tale associated Varanasi with the origin of Lord Ganesha who serves as the elephant-headed lord of wisdom and obstacle remover. Goddess Parvati proceeded with extreme penance within Varanasi to regain the admiration of Shiva. While performing her bath with turmeric paste she fashioned Ganesha and through supernatural means she animated him. Shiva met Ganesha while the boy guarded Parvati but did not recognize their family connection which made him cut off Ganesha's head out of his rage. Shiva consecrated the newly created divine Ganesha by putting elephant attributes on his body instead of a severed head. A sacred account at Varanasi shows how love and loyalty brought transformation to its spiritual center. 7. The Eternal Flame at Manikarnika Ghat Locals in India view Manikarnika Ghat as their religious center where mystifying stories surround its sacred cremation activities. A tale tells about a perpetual burning flame which exists continuously at the ghat. The ghat obtained its name after Shiva dropped his earring ('mani') when Lord Vishnu dug the site with his chakra during the universe creation. The spiritual significance of cremation rituals at this site enables Hindus to attain liberation from rebirth thus making it an essential location when they reach their final days. A perpetually burning flame together with sacred chants that resound during the process creates a spiritual space for deep self-reflection. Final Thoughts Throughout millennia Varanasi's identity remains completely linked to its numerous legendary myths that have governed the city's development. Lord Shiva selected the city as his divine abode while its religious power grants people access to salvation through countless spiritual truths that continue to define its existence. The religious power of Varanasi springs from its holy Ganga River waters and holy Vishwanath Temple and historical significance at Sarnath thus compelling spiritual reverence from visitors.
Asia Times
4 hours ago
- General
- Asia Times
Righteous revolt against auctioning the Buddha's looted gems
The slick online catalogue entry for 'Premium Lot 1, The Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha' on the Sotheby's Hong Kong website was abruptly replaced on May 7 with a single line notification: 'The auction has been postponed.' Shortly afterwards, the associated webpages went blank. The only evidence remaining on Sotheby's Hong Kong website was an entry on the Piprahwa gems' history and a short YouTube promotional clip for the sale (below). Sotheby's had first announced its intention to auction the relics on February 6, 2025. Discovered in northern India in 1898 and thought to date to the third century BC, it was estimated they would fetch up to HK$100 million (US$12.8 million). The collection was consigned by Chris Peppé on behalf of his family, who had inherited the relics from his great grandfather, William Caxton Peppé – a 19th-century British colonial landowner who owned an estate in India. Reaction was muted at first, but as a scholar who researches the early history and archaeology of Buddhism and issues surrounding loot and restitution, I was gravely concerned by this proposed sale. Fortunately, I was not alone, and thanks to detailed research of SOAS colleagues such as Conan Cheong, Ashley Thompson and Thai academic Pipad Krajaejun, as well as protests from Buddhist devotees worldwide, a groundswell of disapproval began to grow. A letter sent to Sotheby's by the British Maha Bodhi Society, and shared with me, states: Millions around the world, whether Buddhist or not, have religious and ethical concerns and believe that the sale of sacred items is morally wrong and offensive … Members of the Buddhist sangha [monkhood], as well as lay followers from all traditions, are appalled that the gems offered in devotional acts by the Buddha's own clan, have been separated from his corporeal remains and are now being sold to the highest bidder. This disapproval turned into a tidal wave on May 5, two days before the planned auction, with the intervention of the Indian government – which is now threatening legal action against both Sotheby's and the Peppé family, demanding that the relics be repatriated to India. In terms of his rights and those of his relatives to sell the relics, Chris Peppé previously had told the Guardian newspaper: 'Legally, the ownership is unchallenged.' Sotheby's confirmed to me that it and the Indian government are 'currently in discussions regarding the Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha, and are pleased to be working together to find the best possible outcome for all parties.' To understand how we reached this impasse, we must cast our eyes back to 19th-century British colonial India, then forward again to 2018-2023 and a number of high-profile exhibitions at some of the world's most prestigious museums. In 1898, the family's great-grandfather, William Caxton Peppé, excavated a Buddhist reliquary monument (known as a stupa) on his estate in Piprahwa, northern India. He uncovered what is now considered by scholars to be the most significant cache of Buddhist relics found in India. The discovery included five reliquary urns containing gems, ash and bone fragments. An inscription on one suggested the remains could be those of the historical Buddha, who is thought to have been cremated around 200 years prior to their burial. The Indian Treasure Trove Act of 1878 allowed Peppé to keep a portion referred to as 'duplicates' (an art-history term used to justify the dividing up of similar material from a hoard or archaeological site that is very much frowned upon today). The British authorities gifted the bones and ash to King Chulalongkorn of Siam, who enshrined them in Bangkok and distributed portions to other Buddhist nations. The majority of the 1,800 gems, meanwhile, had been deposited in the Indian Museum in Kolkata. It is a longstanding issue, however, that the bulk of this collection remains locked away in the museum safe, off-limits to Buddhists, the wider public, and scholars alike. Perhaps the publicity surrounding the Peppé portion of the reliquary contents might prompt that museum to review this policy after 120 years. About ten years ago, armed with his inherited share of the relics, Chris Peppé began reaching out to museums worldwide, proposing to loan them. This, he recently stated, was to make them accessible to Buddhist devotees and the general public alike. Five museums took him up on the offer and, starting in 2018, duly curated high-profile exhibitions around them or incorporated them into larger shows. Chief among these was the 2023 blockbuster Tree And Serpent: Early Buddhist Art of India at the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, where Peppé took part in the exhibition symposium, delivering a lecture on the relics. Objects with a history of celebrated exhibitions tend to reach higher prices at auction. Whether the Peppé family intentionally built up the Piprahwa exhibition history with the aim of eventually auctioning the relics is unclear. I contacted Chris Peppé directly and posed this question to him, but he declined to comment. Tellingly, the Sotheby's website included a scholarly article from 2023 in Orientations Magazine by John Guy, curator of the Tree and Serpent exhibition. But it was dated to February 2025, which perhaps inadvertently made it appear to have been written as an endorsement of the sale. In fact, the paper had been published to coincide with the exhibition. I contacted Guy about this, and he responded by saying: I regard the linking of my publication to the Sotheby's sale as highly inappropriate and this was done without my knowledge or consent. The Met's lawyers demanded that it be removed immediately, which was done, along with a written apology from Sotheby's. When I spoke to Nancy Wong at Sotheby's, she confirmed this, saying: 'We apologized and immediately removed the relevant reference from our website.' Given the events of the past few weeks, the Peppé family now finds themselves in a bind. With the Indian government engaged, it may not be long before Sotheby's drops them and the relics altogether. Despite their cultured facades and high-society veneers, auction houses are businesses, designed to make a profit, and any potential buyers may have been thoroughly scared off by recent events. It is hard, however, for me to have much sympathy for the family who could have prevented this whole affair by donating the relics to a Buddhist community or museum in the first place. Stephen A Murphy is Pratapaditya Pal Senior Lecturer in Curating and Museology of Asian Art, SOAS, University of London This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HT Archives: PM Nehru dies, grief and shock shroud country
New Delhi Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru is dead. His life ebbed away a little before 2pm. He had been unconscious since early in the morning. At about 6.30am Mr Nehru suffered a heart attack combined with what the doctors described as a 'shock'. The news of his death plunged the country into deep gloom the likes of which it had not experienced since Mahatma Gandhi's assassination 16 years before. In Parliament. members looked dazed as they heard the sad news. Besides his grief-stricken daughter Mrs Indira Gandhi, those present by his bedside at the time of his death were Mr Gulzarilal Nanda, Mr TT Krishnamachari and Mr Lal Bahadur Shastri, President Radhakrishnan and Vice-President Zakir Hussain joined them as soon as they heard the news. Most of them stood sadly round his room since early morning when it became known that he was gravely ill. The shock caused by his death was all the greater because those who had seen him only yesterday on his return from Dehradun had found him cheerful and in apparent good health. This morning, Mr Nehru woke up looking and feeling perfectly normal. At 6.20am, however, he complained of a pain in the back and a feeling of uneasiness. The doctors were immediately summoned. They diagnosed a heart attack. Nearly 10 leading doctors of Delhi were in attendance. But from almost the very start, it was feared that they were fighting a losing battle. Mr Nehru lost consciousness soon after the attack in the morning. He never regained it. Parliament. which began its special session this morning, was first given the news of his illness when it assembled at 11am. Mr Nanda made the brief announcement in the Lok Sabha and Mr Krishnamachari in the Rajya Sabha. It was left to Mr C Subramaniam to announce to the Lok Sabha the sad news that the Prime Minister was dead. Using an expression which was a variation of what Mr Nehru had himself employed to describe the passing away of Mahatma Gandhi, Mr Subramaniam said: 'The light is out.' Many members wept as they heard the news. MPs rushed to the Prime Minister's House to pay their homage to the departed leader Dr Syed Mahmud, a close associate of Mr Nehru, and many others were sobbing as they walked into the Prime Minister's House. Formally attired diplomats wearing black bands around their arms arrived at the Prime Minister's house to place wreaths on behalf of their respective governments. A group of saffron-robed Buddhist monks brought incense. They stood silently near the main porch of the house and prayed. Mr Nehru's sisters, MrS Vijayalakshmi Pandit and Mrs Krishna Hutheesing, rushed to Delhi by a special plane but they arrived only after the Prime Minister had expired. A distraught Sheikh Abdullah telephoned from Pakistan and announced his intention to rush to Delhi immediately. Congress president K Kamaraj, who was on a tour of south India, reached the Capital a couple of hours after Mr Nehru's death. Most state chief ministers and several governors had arrived in the Capital by the evening to attend the funeral tomorrow. A remark that Mr Nehru had made only five days ago at his last press conference lends a touch of irony to today's tragic happening. Asked if he would consider grooming a successor during his lifetime. Mr Nehru had remarked lightly. 'My lifetime is not ending soon.' Mr Nehru had suffered a paralytic stroke on January 7. He recovered from it, but not fully. However, thanks to his enormous zest for life. Mr Nehru always hated to think of himself as ill. He often chafed under the restraints that his doctors had imposed on him. He was always eager to live and act normally. This month alone he undertook three trips outside Delhi, at least two of which were physically fairly arduous. On May 4, he flew for a day to Bhaisalotan on the Indo-Nepal border to be present at the opening of the Gandak Barrage. The following week, he went to Bombay to attend the AICC meeting and took an active part in its deliberations. Last weekend he flew to Dehradun for a brief rest. To reach Dehradun, he flew first in an Ilyushin aircraft and later by helicopter.
Japan Today
11 hours ago
- Japan Today
In Japan, bobtail cats are considered good luck and Nagasaki is filled with them
By MAYUKO ONO and MARI YAMAGUCHI In Japan, bobtail cats are considered good luck and Nagasaki is the place to find them. They are known as omagari neko (bent-tail cats) or kagi neko (hook cats) and have their own society of admirers and even a dedicated Shinto shrine. Their tails come in varieties including hook-shaped at the tip, curved or in a bun, explained Kazuya Hideshima, a worker at Omagari Neko Shrine and member of the Nagasaki Cat Society. Past findings have indicated bobtails accounted for nearly 80% of the cats in Nagasaki, twice the occurrence of anywhere else in Japan. Japanese cats are believed to have come from China in the 6th century with Buddhist monks, serving as rat hunters to protect religious scriptures on ships. Nagasaki bobtails have their roots in the Dutch East Indies when the city was the only foreign port during Japan's closed era in the 17th to 19th centuries. They hunted rats to protect shipments on their way from Southeast Asia to Japan, according to Nagasaki cultural officials. Soshin Yamamoto, a veterinarian and cat specialist, said the large population of bobtails in Nagasaki is likely the result of a genetic mutation that reproduced in a relatively isolated environment when the nation was shut up tight. 'Having bobtails is no problem for most cats living a normal life, as long as they live near humans and aren't jumping and running around like wild cats in a forest,' he said. Nagasaki residents hope the cats bring in tourists and help business. Natsuno Kani, a 50-year-old tourist from Tokyo who recently visited the bobtail shrine, said she knew Nagasaki was famous for bent-tail cats. But Abigail Tarraso, an artist from Spain based in Takeo City in neighboring Saga Prefecture, was unfamiliar with the species, which is not as popular in Spain. 'Today is the first time in Nagasaki that I have ever heard of this,' said Cindy Bi, an American who is also an artist. 'I am excited to look around for them. Maybe we will see a few." © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Buzz Feed
13 hours ago
- General
- Buzz Feed
Iced Matcha Lattes, Ranked: Starbucks, Dunkin', & More
Hi! I'm Dannica, I was a barista for four years, and I love matcha lattes and other matcha-flavored things. Previously, I went to different coffee chains and ranked their pumpkin spice lattes to welcome in fall, but now that we're about to enter summer's embrace, I'm back again to try iced matcha lattes from the most popular coffee chains in America. But first, ✨history check✨! Matcha is a type of green tea. It presents as a finely ground powder made from shade-grown tea leaves. Originating in China but now primarily associated with Japan, matcha was originally (and still is!) used ceremonially among Buddhist monks and others to promote mental clarity and meditation, and is believed to help medicinally due to the tea being high in antioxidants. However, matcha has grown outside of its spiritual and ceremonial role in recent years as it surged in popularity across the world, particularly captivating younger coffee and tea enthusiasts (me). Now, you can find matcha incorporated into things like donuts, breads, ice cream, cakes — and lattes. So, without further ado, let's get into our taste test, which I'm calling Matcha Madness™️. I went to five coffee chains: Dutch Bros, Dunkin', Better Buzz, Peet's Coffee, and Starbucks. Let's start! 5. STARBUCKS — Made with 2% milk and an unsweetened matcha powder, Starbucks puts the matcha powder and milk into a cold foam blender to gently incorporate the two together. If you do want your matcha sweetened, though, you can ask for some pumps of classic syrup or vanilla! OK, though the internet is telling me that Starbucks's matcha latte recipe is supposed to come with classic syrup, the one I got surely didn't. And even if it did, I honestly don't think it would've made a difference in the I mentioned before, I used to be a Starbucks barista, so I was around when the matcha powder WAS sweetened, and I thought it was pretty decent back then and didn't need any other added sweetener. So color me surprised when I took a sip of the ~updated~ matcha latte and found that not only was it unsweetened, but extremely bitter and watery!?Listen, I understand that matcha isn't naturally the sweetest thing in the world, but this put it plainly, not good. It was thin-bodied and tart, and almost just tasted like watered-down milk. Again, even if the drink was sweetened, you shouldn't need to rely on syrups to have a good matcha latte!• Price: $5.25• Rating: 2/10 🍵 Literally, here is the surprise coloring my face: 4. DUTCH BROS — Dutch Bros recently came out with a whole new matcha menu featuring several different flavors, but this is just a regular ole iced matcha latte featuring 2% milk. I'm going to assume that the matcha powder is sweetened because when I asked the baristas, they weren't sure (but I'm 95% sure it is). First of all, I didn't take a picture of what the latte looked like on the inside because there were so many people at the location I went to that I got stressed out, navigated my way out, went to a plaza across the way to park, and ultimately forgot. However, I will say that the consistency of the drink appeared less creamy and cloud-like than Starbucks's, but thin-bodied as well. Unfortunately, Dutch Bros didn't meet my expectations!The vegetal, grassy flavor from the matcha peeked through a little bit, but it was overshadowed by this strange apple-like flavor? It caught me off-guard — it almost tasted like a sour apple? I'm still unsure what I was tasting, TBH, but all I know is I didn't like it all that much. I'm sure that if I tried another specialty matcha drink that Dutch Bros offers, I would like it a whole lot more, but their regular matcha latte? Not the biggest fan.• Price: $5.65• Rating: 4/10 🍵 3. DUNKIN' — Honestly, I underestimate Dunkin' Donuts, because they ranked higher during my Pumpkin Patrol™️ taste test, too! Dunkin's iced matcha latte is made with, by default, a sweetened matcha blend and skim milk. Without a doubt, Dunkin's matcha latte is sweetened to the heavens. There's barely any dimension to the matcha because it's quite sweet, yet it's still a better drink compared to the last two, in my drink is more full-bodied, and judging by the foam on top, it appears the matcha was shaken in with the milk (like how Starbucks used to do it), which I like a lot I were in a rush and had to go through a drive-thru for a matcha fix, I honestly wouldn't shy away from pulling up to Dunkin'! And for a small being $4.99, it doesn't seem like too bad of a deal. Dunkin' Donuts, you have truly bewitched me, body and soul.• Price: $4.99• Rating: 6/10 🍵 2. BETTER BUZZ — Made with whole milk, Better Buzz's matcha latte comes with matcha sweetened and mixed with their Vanilla Buzz mix! Simply put, this was a good matcha latte. Despite it being sweetened, I didn't think the sweetness overpowered the matcha at all, and it was still able to shine. The matcha was incorporated with the milk seamlessly, creating a silky mouthfeel, and had a grassy yet sweet flavor, without it being too was depth to the flavor of this drink that I didn't taste in the previous chains I went to, but I do wonder how the drink would stand without the vanilla mix, which is why I put it at number 2! Also, additional points for the cutest brand theme.• Price: $5.49• Rating: 8.5/10 🍵 Well, look at that! We've reached the end of our matcha-tasting journey! Now, for the best iced matcha latte that I tasted. Drumroll, please 🥁🥁🥁... 1. PEET'S COFFEE — The undefeated champion, it appears! Made with whole milk, Peet's uses organic ceremonial-grade matcha, and it certainly tastes like it. No offense, but this matcha latte won by a LANDSLIDE. Not only does Peet's win based on using a higher-quality matcha, but the preparation of the drink really makes a difference in the taste.I was watching the barista making it (if you're reading this, you slayed so hard), and the matcha is made traditionally, which includes sifting the matcha and whisking it with hot water. The matcha was then mixed with milk, then topped with ice and a nice, creamy cold the youngins say, that thing was bussin'. The drink was subtly sweet and earthy, with almost a nutty flavor to it. The vegetal, grassy flavor came through, but without ever being overly bitter. The foam was an awesome touch and was creamy and silky, creating a really pleasant sipping experience. Peet, whoever you are, I love you.• Price: $5.35• Rating: 10/10 🍵 Whew, trying five matcha lattes in one day is surely not for those with a complicated relationship with dairy (me). Let's just say that, yes, I probably consumed a lot of sugar, and, no, I didn't end up sleeping well that night. Even so, I had so much fun on this matcha adventure! Of course, everyone has different preferences and taste buds, so feel free to make your own judgment and do your own Matcha Madness (just bring water and maybe take a nap in between). And remember, you can always ask your barista to modify your drink as needed! And that's a wrap! Where's your favorite place to get a matcha latte? Do you like to make yours at home, or do you go to a specialty place? Let me know in the comments, and we can talk all things MATCHA! Check out more AAPI-centered content by exploring how BuzzFeed celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Of course, the content doesn't end after May. Follow BuzzFeed's A*Pop on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to keep up with our latest AAPI content year-round.
