How did March get its name?
Did you know March, the third month of the modern calendar, derives its name from Latin Martius, meaning “month of Mars”? Mars was the Roman god of war, and March was originally the first month of the year in the…
Murali Duggineni
Storyteller, Quizzer, Marcom Pro.
Murali Duggineni
Storyteller, Quizzer, Marcom Pro.
Category History
Gyan Vapi: The “Well of Knowledge”
At the northern edge of the Kashi Vishwanath temple complex in Varanasi stands the Gyan Vapi Well, a structure that has long shaped the identity of the precinct. The name comes from the Sanskrit jñāna (knowledge) and vāpī (well or…
Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple – The Leaning Temple of Varanasi
Situated at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, the Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple is famous for its dramatic nine-degree tilt, which exceeds that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped as Ratneshwar Mahadev, it is also called…
Kala Bhairava: The Fearsome Protector of Kashi
Hidden within the narrow lanes of Varanasi is the Kala Bhairava Temple, where Shiva is worshipped in his fiercest form. The name “Kala Bhairava” translates as time, death, and the color black, signifying the truth that all beings are subject…
Assi Ghat: Where Durga’s sword met the Ganges
Assi Ghat is located at the southern end of Varanasi where the small Assi stream meets the Ganges. An important spiritual and cultural landmark, the ghat derives its name from the Assi River, one of the two tributaries that lend…
Harishchandra Ghat: When truth stood the test of fire
Harishchandra Ghat in Varanasi is one of the city’s oldest cremation grounds. It is named after the legendary king Harishchandra, whose life is remembered as a symbol of uncompromising truth. According to ancient texts, Harishchandra ruled the kingdom of Ayodhya…
Manikarnika Ghat and the sacred legends associated with it
Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi is one of Hinduism’s holiest places, symbolically regarded as the meeting point of creation and destruction. As the busiest cremation ground on the banks of the Ganga, it is believed that a soul cremated here attains…
Kashi Viswanath Temple – The Heart and Soul of Varanasi
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is among the most revered shrines of Hinduism. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, where Lord Shiva is manifested as a brilliant “column of light”. References in the Skanda…
Aranmula Kannadi: The Mirror That Reflects Kerala’s Shining Heritage
Aranmula, a temple town in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district, is renowned for its boat race and an extraordinary handcrafted artifact—the Aranmula Kannadi (Aranmula Mirror). Unlike conventional glass mirrors, this metal mirror, crafted from a secret alloy of copper and tin, offers…