Preparing for Death: A Look Inside Mukti Bhawan

During one of my Vacations, I had the privilege to travel to Varanasi with my family. Having just completed my High School and not many things to do in life, everything intrigued me, One of which was Mukti Bhawan, aka the house of salvation.

Varanasi, previously known as Kashi is amongst the holiest place for any Hindu. Pinnacle of Spirituality, Varanasi is located at the bank of river Ganga. Devotees from all around visit here in the hope of salvation, salvation for all the sins they have committed, salvation to get born as a human again. Little do they know, Ganga only cleans sins that are done unknowingly.

As I walked through the narrow lanes of Varanasi, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the sense of spirituality that surrounded me. The city was a maze of vibrant colors, pungent smells, and constant chatter, but amidst all the chaos, there was an air of calmness and serenity.

Here among the virtuousness, lies Mukti Bhawan. A place for the living to die in the lap of holiness. People who assume to have lived their part of live, stay in one of the few mukti bhawans here. There used to be many of them but now have converted themselves into hotels cause it is where the money lies.

It is often believed that dying in the lap of ganga is the stairway to heaven. While in varanasi, this part of the culture fascinated me the most. So I went to one of such mukti bhawan and spoke to the caretaker of the place.He seemed nice and unaffected by death which are two very contrasting characters to explain about someone.

“Some people are told by the hospital, some people just seem a breathing dead body. I know when someone is going to die or not. Respectively, I give them time to stay here. ” told the caretaker.

As I walked around the Bhawan, I saw many elderly people sitting on the verandah, lost in their thoughts. They seemed content, almost at peace with their imminent death. I wondered what thoughts were going through their minds. Were they reminiscing about their past, or were they looking forward to their future in the afterlife?

The mere thought of waiting for death numbed and crippled me. The chances of getting to talk with someone waiting for heaven was astronomical as they were too fragile, the most I could get was the perspective of their family members.

I also spoke to some family members who had accompanied their loved ones to Mukti Bhawan. They told me about the emotional turmoil that they went through, knowing that they were accompanying their loved ones to their final resting place. But they also spoke about the sense of closure that Mukti Bhawan brought, knowing that their loved ones would be at peace and surrounded by holiness in their final moments.

Walking away from the place changed my perspective about death completely. It was a reminder that life was fleeting, and that death was an inevitable part of the cycle of birth and rebirth. But it was also a reminder that there was peace to be found in the midst of chaos, and that salvation was possible for those who sought it with an open heart and mind.

An experience for lifetime.

Happy reading :)