FAITH

Benares,the first city of India and holiest of holy place under earth for Indians .Presiding deity is Shiva,known as Baba Biswanath worshipped by millions since ages.OM! Nama Shivay;Sarba Dhukha Dahanaya is the Mantra chanted by every Hindu every day.Besides Biswanath Temple,another famous places are Ghats on the bank of sacred Ganga.There is belief that who will take dip in Ganga,all sins will be washed away and he or she will be liberated and will go to heaven after death.One day Shiva and Parvati were moving around,when Parvati asked Oh! my lord,please tell,in the ghat hundreds are taking dips in Ganga,that means;every body's sins are washed away.Lord Shiva told,we shall see.Let you be a middle aged poor widow and I will be your dead husband.You keep my head on your bosom and cry.When people will go to Ganges ,they will see you crying.When they will ask the reason of crying.Then you tell,just before death,her husband told that,if any pilgrim who has no sins ,if touches my fore head,I shall be alive.Many priests,learned Pundits passed by ,but,no body dare touch his husband's fore head.Lastly a butcher asked her and on learning the cause of her grief,said,it is simple.Let me take dip in holy Ganges,my all sins will be washed away,then I shall touch your dead husband and he will be alive.So he went for bath,prayed to Sun and came back and touched her husband.He bcecame alive and blessed him.When he looked up he saw Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati in full glory.He prostrated and touched their feet and cried profusely.Sviva told Parvati,today,only this man is liberated,because ,he has unflinching faith.OM! Nama Shivay;Sarba Dhukha Dahanaya