ਬਨਾਰਸ (banaaras)
Meaning: noun: Banaras or Benares, one of the oldest and sacred cities of Hindus, situated on the banks of the Ganges in North India.
Quote:
ਅਬ ਕਹੁ ਰਾਮ ਕਵਨ ਗਤਿ ਮੋਰੀ॥ ਤਜੀ ਲੇ ਬਨਾਰਸ ਮਤਿ ਭਈ ਥੋਰੀ॥
ab kahu raam kavan gati moree. tajee le banaaras mati bahee thoree.
Now tell me, O Divine! What will my condition be? I left Benares (did not choose to die there), I had little common sense. -Bhagat Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib, 326
Message: Surrendering the self to wisdom
Bhagat Kabir was born and brought up in Benares which is also known as Varanasi and Kashi. By the time of his death, he had moved to the town of Maghar, known to be a barren or ‘cursed’ land.
Brahmins criticized and chided him for this move because they believed one who died in Benares attains heaven and one who died in Maghar was reborn as a donkey.
Some said he had lost his mind.
Kabir however held fast to his conviction and responded that he had merged his own self into the Divine self. Thus he saw the Divine equally pervading in all places. Hence Kashi and Maghar were same to him.
Holding on to superstitious and false notions takes us further from truth and divinity. Salvation is achieved when we overcome our vanity and conceit and humbly practise the wisdom of the Divine in life.
Etymology: From Sanskrit vaaraaṇasee (Varanasi) → Prakrit vaaraaṇasee/vaaṇaarasee → Apabhransh baanaarasee → Hindi banaaras (Banaras or Benaras).
