The circle of life is a symbolic representation of birth, survival and death
Life and death are the only events that are spiritual. If you can understand them, you will rest in peace.
They are probably the only mystery that needs to be solved. The conundrum needs resolution if peace is to be attained. All the activities that we perform daily are related to these two aspects. This is what I saw in Varanasi.
Varanasi, one of the oldest living cities of the world, is situated on the banks of the Holy river Ganges. Kashi is considered one of the holiest cities in the Hindu religion. The city is closely linked with the holy river. Thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit the city to take a holy dip in the river water. Here in Kashi, death is not feared or looked down upon, people living here have realized and accepted death as an integral part of life. it is widely said in the city that people may go to various places in the world to live it up, but they come to Kashi to die. The souls find salvation here. There is a unique sense of life in the air even the close proximity of death. The people in the city are always cheerful. They start their day on the river banks and end their day there on the banks.
Life is represented as a circle because it is a constant loop. People are constantly born and are constantly dying. There is a spiritual element to the circle and in the idea that the end of one existence is not necessarily the end of life altogether. An example of this can be seen on the ghats of Varanasi.
Life begins on the steps of the ghats. These symbolize the beginning of a new circle of life. The smiles of the children playing on the ghats symbolize life, happiness and energy. This is followed by the struggle of life as people sitting on the banks introspect and reflect on life and death as they see they have come to the final stage of the beautiful circle of life. The last stage is the end. The one who was born on the ghats is again united with it.
