Manikarnika Snan 2025: Moksha-Bestowing Kartik Ritual at Varanasi’s Sacred Ghat

 

Date: November 4, 2025 (Tuesday)
Location: Manikarnika Ghat, Varanasi
Tithi: Kartik Shukla Chaturdashi

What is Manikarnika Snan?

Manikarnika Snan is a sacred bathing ritual observed on the 14th day (Chaturdashi) of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) in the auspicious Kartik month. Devotees gather at Manikarnika Ghat, one of Varanasi’s holiest and oldest cremation sites, to perform this spiritually elevating snan (bath), believed to grant moksha—liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Rituals Performed on Manikarnika Snan

  • Early Morning Meditation: Devotees rise during the last quarter of the night to meditate on Lord Shiva.
  • Holy Bathing Ceremony: Performed at Manikarnika Ghat before sunrise.
  • Prayers & Offerings: Worship of Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati, seeking forgiveness for sins of past and present lives.
  • Vedic Chanting & Scripture Reading: Reciting mantras and sacred texts enhances the spiritual merit.
  • Charitable Acts: Donating clothes, food, or money to Brahmins is considered highly rewarding.

Mythological Significance

According to legend, Devi Sati’s ear ornaments fell at Manikarnika Ghat when Lord Shiva carried her body across the Earth. This event sanctified the site as a Shakti Peeth, making it a revered location for both cremation and spiritual purification. Bathing here on Kartik Shukla Chaturdashi is said to dissolve karmic debts and grant salvation.

Travel & Pilgrimage Tips

  • Best Time to Arrive: A day before the snan to secure accommodation and participate in pre-dawn rituals.
  • Nearby Temples: Kashi Vishwanath, Annapurna Devi, and Scindia Ghat.
  • Local Essentials: Carry warm clothes, donation items, and waterproof bags for scriptures.

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