In Kashi, also known as Varanasi, death is believed to lead to moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. According to Hindu belief, Lord Shiva himself whispers the Tāraka Mantra into the ear of a soul departing in Kashi, severing its connection to the material world. This sacred city, considered one of the oldest, is thought to have been created by Shiva and rests on his trident. Rather than the god of death, Shiva is seen as the liberator of souls here.