kasi
Kasi is a term with multiple meanings across geography, history, and onomastics. In historical Indian geography, Kasi, also spelled Kashi, denotes the ancient region and city that is today Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The city is renowned as one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities and a major pilgrimage site for Hindus, with sacred sites such as the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Dashashwamedh Ghat. The name Kasi appears in classical Sanskrit and vernacular literature and is sometimes used to refer to the broader Kasi Kingdom or the city itself in older texts. In modern usage, Kasi often appears in transliteration variants of Kashi.
In onomastics, Kasi is used as a given name or surname in various cultures. Notable individuals include
Other uses include its appearance in contemporary toponyms, organizations, or branding, and as a variant spelling