Lolarka Kund
Surya
About
This water pool is named and attached with the first form of Sun-God, Surya. Lolarka (Trembling Sun) is one among the two oldest sites mentioned in the Mahabharata (ca 1500 BCE), and is one among the twelve Solar deities. According to the Kashi Khanda, the water of Asi River (now no more) and the fire power of the Sun god Lolarka work together to destroy any sin (Kashi Khanda, 46.67). The mythology refers that Lord Shiva sent Surya to recover for him the city of Varanasi that was ruled by King Divodasa, however Surya failed in his mission and finally decided to settled down in the divine land in his twelve forms. This is the site of his first settlement. The Kashi Khanda (46.68) mentions that on hearing the greatness of Lolarka, an excellent man never experiences misery in the ocean of sorrow in the worldly existence. Lolarka is not only the oldest and most famous of Kashi’s Aditya’s, but it is perhaps one of the oldest of all sacred sites in Kashi. Historically the importance of Lolarka can be traced with the patronage of Gahacavala kings who bathed there, worshipped and made charitable donations. According to one of the brass inscriptions sources during the 12th century CE king Jayacandra, the Gahacavala ruler of this region had donated half a village to Lolarka, and to the other half to the Brahmins associated to this place. Lolarka Kund and Asi Kshetra Lolarka Kund (sacred water pool) is rectangular in shape, measuring 13m from north to south and 3m from east to west. Three long staircases descend into the Kund on the west, north and south. After 53 steep steps one reaches to the pool 17m below. The eastern side is a wall, which is bifurcated by a wide cut that allows water to flow from the Kund into the adjacent well to the east and eventually into the Ganga River.