Kashi: The Valiant History of a Sacred Geography

by Aditi Banerjee

Kashi: The Valiant History of a Sacred Geography tells the story of the most sacred of all Hindu holy cities through the prism of sacred geography as is extensively documented in the Sthala Purana. The book features a summary of the Kashi Khanda from the Skanda Purana, an ancient text on the divine origin and leela surrounding the kshetra of Kashi. The history of this kshetra is enriched by the accounts of warrior sadhus, sages, kings, queens, devotees and ordinary citizens who dedicated their lives to preserving and reviving this sacred geography by doggedly building and rebuilding temples, taking up arms against invaders, meticulously documenting Kashi’s history and lore, and tenaciously sustaining pilgrimage routes and practices covering the holy sites of this pivotal city.

In particular, the lesser-known story of the warrior sadhus who defended the Kashi Vishwanath temple from marauding invaders is explored through the lens of sacred geography. Studied in this light, Kashi is both a spatial and metaphysical contestation. The current controversy and litigation over the Gyanvapi site cannot therefore be satisfactorily resolved without taking recourse to the idea of sacred geography, which has since time immemorial informed Hindus and indigenous societies worldwide about their identity and the relevance of space and place, culture and metaphysics, civilization and the development of nationhood.

340 pages, Paperback

Published April 10, 2024

About the author

Aditi Banerjee is a practicing attorney at a Fortune 500 financial services company. She is currently an Executive MBA student at Columbia University. She co-edited the book, Invading the Sacred: An Analysis of Hinduism Studies in America. She has published several essays on Hinduism and the Hindu-American experience in publications such as The Columbia Documentary History of Religion in America since 1945 and Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs in America: A Short History (Religion in American Life) (Oxford University Press). She earned a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School and received a B.A. in International Relations, magna cum laude, from Tufts University. In her free time, she enjoys wandering the Himalayas and reading voraciously. The Curse of Gandhari is her first novel.

Reviews

[Jay Mehta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a captivating tribute to one of India’s most revered cities, Kashi/Banaras/Varanasi. It blends meticulous research with vivid storytelling. It also redefined the concept of a "place" as a sacred entity woven into the spiritual and historical fabric of Bharatvarsh. Rooted in the tradition of Sthala Purana, Banerjee's immersive storytelling uncovers the ancient origins of Kashi and its evolution as a sacred geography.
Aditi ji also explores the unity of Bharat through Kashi’s sacred geography, binding the subcontinent as one cultural entity. From the various pilgrimage paths prescribed in ancient texts to the cosmic significance of Avimukteshwara worshipped by Vishveshwara, the book provides a spiritual roadmap for experiencing Kashi in its fullest form. It makes you not just want to visit Kashi but also experience it in a way it is supposed to be.

It also dives into the reconstruction efforts after every wave of Islamic invasions. While many know Rani Ahilyabai Holkar in that context, the book also throws a light on other lesser-known individuals like the Rani Bhavani of Natore. These narratives underscore the resilience of Kashi as a symbol of Hindu identity.

Kashi: The Valiant History of a Sacred Geography is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the indomitable spirit of Kashi and its enduring significance in Bharat's spiritual and cultural heritage.