Kashi is a significant place in Hinduism, where people’s faith remains deeply connected from birth to death. The lanes, ghats, and temples here constantly flow with new emotions. Among these sacred spots, Lolark Kund stands out, a site that draws countless devotees wishing for children. On Thursday (29 August), this divine bathing ritual began with daylight, and thousands come from India and abroad to take holy dips.
Lolark Kund: Shape and Religious Belief
Lolark Kund is an ancient reservoir, surrounded by three staircases and nearly 50 feet deep. Its unique shape forms a special connection with the sun’s rays. Tradition says that on Bhadrapada Shukla Shashti, called Lolark Shashti, bathing here increases possibilities of having children. Devotees arrive from distant regions and countries each year.
Faith and Bathing Rituals
At sunrise on Lolark Shashti, the bath holds special importance. The ritual begins with an aarti accompanied by 51 damrus (drums), then worshipers enter the water to bathe. Couples submerge three times while praying to Lord Lolarkeshwar Mahadev. After bathing, devotees place a fruit or vegetable in the kund and avoid eating it until their wish is fulfilled. They also leave their wet clothes behind, believing this act pleases the Sun God and helps grant their wish for a child.
Science and Belief
Lolark Kund carries not only tradition but also scientific studies. Professor Praveen Rana and his team described the pond’s shape, sunlight, water, and Ganga water as a scientific combination. According to their 1995 survey, 60% of visiting couples later had children. Lolark Kund connects directly to a vertical well accessed by three paths. Ancient texts like the Shatapath Brahman (8th century BCE) mention the twelve solar months, twelve suns, and their water bodies.
Tradition Meets Faith
Bathing in the kund serves not only those wishing for children but also those seeking relief from physical suffering. Each couple offers a fruit or vegetable and refrains from consuming it until their desire is fulfilled. Thousands come every year for the ritual’s spiritual promise.
Safety and Organisation
Officials manage bathing and prayers systematically. They open only one entry route to control the crowds. Barricades stretch for 5 kilometers, and authorities expect over 500,000 people to bathe this year.
Prestige Among Kashi’s Sacred Sites
Lolark Kund holds a top position among Kashi’s sacred spots, as described in Kashikhanda. Lord Surya is worshipped here in twelve forms, and bathing, prayer, and giving on Sundays hold special significance every month.
Kashikhanda’s shlokas say, “Of all sacred sites in Kashi, Lolark is the highest head. Other sites are like body parts; all are purified by Asijala (water of the river Asi). No other site matches the virtue of Asikunda.”
Spiritual and Cultural Heritage
Lolark Kund is not just a religious spot; it is part of Kashi’s cultural life. Lakhs of people come yearly wishing for children, and the waters here blend spirituality, science, and tradition in a unique way.
Lolark Kund is not only a confluence of faith but proof of Kashi’s religious and scientific thought, attracting generations for fulfilment and happiness.
