Various Religious Organizations in Varanasi and their activities

Varanasi is home to a large number of religious and spiritual organizations representative of the many communities in India.

Arya Samaj is located in Bulanala and Lallapur.Bharat Dharma Mahamandal was started in 1857 by Pandit Din Dayalu Sarma of Punjab and later on it came under the influence of Swami Jnanananda.Located at Lahurabir, it is publishing many valuable works.

Parivrajak Mandal was started around 1923 in Lakhsmi Kund.It is aimed at spreading the reiligous and Dharma feelings in rural areas through its team of Sadhus.Garibdas Mangal Math is running Dayalu Vidyalaya at Bans Phatak.

A number of buddhist monasteries existed in Varanasi and Sarnath in the early years of Indian history. The chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang refers to thirty monasteries in Varanasi alone. At present there are there Buddhist monasteries one near Kashi Vidyapeeth and two near Maldahiya.

Chintamani Parsvanath Jain Mandir at Ram ghat is a matha(mutt) belonging to Jain traditions.

Among other religious faiths, christian missionaries may be found working in Varanasi. There are six religious institutions belonging to Sunni muslims and two belonging to Shias.

The various Hindu Mathas or mutts in Varanasi played a very critical role during the tumultous period of Muslim invasions and muslim oppressive rule from the beginning of the 11th century to the middle of the 18th century.