Harishchandra ghat, one of the two important cremation grounds in Varanasi. Named after the king Harishchandra, it is considered the most sacred cremation ground. It is one of the oldest ghats in city. Dead bodies are brought here for cremation. Bodies are brought from thousands of kilometres away to be burned here. This ghat is named after King Harishchandra, who is said to have had to work as a Dom (caretaker of the crematorium) in order to keep his word. Kings Harishchandra was famous for never refusing a guest and never telling a lie. He was a worshiper of Brahma. Indra told Brahma that he believed that Harishchandra’s devotion was not as strong as he made it appear to be. So in order to prove that it was, Brahma disguised himself as a Brahmin priest and asked the king for his entire kingdom. Harishchandra gave it. In order to give the priest payment (daksin) for performing some rituals the king became a worker at the crematorium at this ghat. His wife was sold to a seller of flowers. When his son died of a snakebite his wife brought him to the burning ghat where her husband was working. Because she had no money to pay the cremation fee, she ripped her sari in half to pay the fee. Brahma then restored the son back to life and gave the king back his kingdom. He also told Harishchandra that this ghat would be especially sacred and that it would be named after him.
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