Kashi Yatra

According to a Hindu belief, Goddess Durga manifests in nine forms. During Navratri, worshipping these nine forms of Goddess Durga holds a special significance. Each manifestation of Goddess Durga is known by her respective name, governing planet, iconography and mantra for invocation. Following are the nine forms of Goddess Durga that are included in Nav Durga Yatra:

• PRATHAM PADAV - KARDAMESHVARAR
• DWITIYA PADAV - BHEEMCHANDI
• TRITIYA PADAV- RAMESHWARA
• CHATURTHA PADAV - SHIVPUR
• PANCHAM PADAV - KAPILDHARA

The Panchakroshi Yatra demarcates the territorial limit (First level) of the cosmic territory of Varanasi, referred as Kashi Mandala. This is quite possible that the circular pilgrimage path as a boundary of cosmic circuit (archetypal conception) would have been only a mental construct and never been a reality. However, after passage of time this circuit has shrunk down to the present path of Panchakroshi Yatra (i.e. laghu, the shorter one; Second level) and covers a distance of 25 krosha (i.e. 55.2 miles/ 88.5 km). The third level of manifestation is marked by the Nagar Pradakshina (NP), marking the sacred territory of the holy city. The fourth level is symbolised as Avimukta, marking the inner city in which Lord Śiva, the patron deity of Kashi, moves; the name Avimukta means the “Never Forsaken” zone. The fifth level is marked by the Antargiha (“inner sanctum”) of Vishveshvara.