Manikarnika Snan

Manikarnika snan is a ritual of taking a holy dip in Manikarnika ghat on the day of Shukla paksha Chaturdashi tithi of Kartik masa. This day is highly auspicious for cleansing bad karma and renewing energy meridians.

Manikarnika Snan 2023

Significance

Manikarnika Ghat is an ancient Ghat in Varanasi. Ghats in Varanasi have a great spiritual significance. According to the scriptures, Sati Devi after marrying Lord Shiva lived in the Himalayas, when She heard that Her father Daksha Prajapati was organizing a Yagya ceremony she requested Lord Shiva to visit the yagna along with her. But Lord Shiva denied accompanying her. While she was at the ceremony, Daksha Prajapati mocked at Lord Shiva and Sati devi set her body ablaze. When Lord Shiva carried Sati’s body back to Himalayas, parts of her body fell on different places on Earth to become Shakthi peeth.

Of the Shakthi Peeths or ghats, manikarnika ghat was created when Sati’s ear ornaments fell on earth. This is the reason why this ghat is called Manikarnika- an ornament. It is mentioned in puranas that a person who takes a holy ritualistic dip on Shukla Kartik Chaturdashi attains ‘moksha’ or salvation. 

Rituals

Devotees wake up early before sunrise and meditate on their favorite lord. The holy bathing ritual on the Manikarnika Ghat is organized during the last quarter of the night. Soaps and other chemicals should be avoided while taking a holy dip and yields equivalent results of taking 1000 snan in Holy ganges. During the day devotees visit shakthi peeths and offer prayers to Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati. This day is an ideal day to seek forgiveness for their sins. On this day, reciting Vedic mantras, japa or reading religious scriptures at the banks of Manikarnika Snan is considered very auspicious. It is also a special day for donations in the form of clothes, money, or food.

Benefits

Important Timings On Manikarnika Snan

Manikarnika Snan festival dates between 2019 & 2029

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