Is Dying in Varanasi, Spiritually Advantageous to a True Devotee?

Swami Shivananda, the direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, had grown old and was not keeping well. Some well-wishers suggested that he leave the Belur Math in Calcutta and go reside in Varanasi to spend the last years of his life.

It is a belief amongst Hindus that those who die in the holy city of Varanasi, attain to a high spiritual state after death. Hence this suggestion was made to him. What was Swami Shivananda’s response? We discover in this post.