Kashi Vishwanath Temple or Kashi Vishwanath Mandir is one of the most renowned temples of Lord Shiva, situated in the holy city of Varanasi (also known as Banaras or Benares), in the Eastern part of Uttar Pradesh state of India. Kashi Vishwanath Temple is also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas Shrines of Lord Shiva. It is said that the benefits gained by the darshan of other Jyotirlingas in various parts of India, goes to the devotee by a single visit to Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The main deity is known as Vishwanatha or Vishweshwara, which means the Ruler of the Universe. Situated on the western bank of the river Ganges, the temple is visited by millions of devotees to get blessings and devout peace. Kashi Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga Temple is sometimes referred as the Golden Temple because of the 15.5m high golden spire which adorns the temple, similar to the Sikh Gurudwara at Amritsar.
Varanasi is also famed for being one of the Shakti Peethas of India. It is said that the left hand of Sati fell at Varanasi. Goddess Annapurna or Visalakshi signifies the Shakti Peetham here.
History of Kashi Vishwanath Temple
The original Kasi Viswanath Temple was ruined by Aurangazeb and he built a mosque in its place. The traces of the old temple can be seen behind the mosque. During the 18th century, the present temple was built by Maharani Ahilya Bai of Indore. It was Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Indore who provided the gold plating on the towers of the temple.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple Architecture
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple Banaras consists of a mandapa and a sanctum, besides many subsidiary shrines. The sanctum has a linga made of black stone and is set into the center of the floor in a square silver altar. On the southern entrance of the temple, there are three temples in a row one behind the other, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Virupakshi Gauri and Avimukta Vinayaka. There are a group of five lingas enclosed in the temple called Nilakantheshvar temple. Shanishchara and Virupaksha temples are seen just above the Avimuka Vinayaka temple. There is another linga called Avimukteshvara which is seen on the right, near the entrance. Some people suggest that original Jyotirlinga at the place is not the Vishwanatha but the Avimukteshvara Jyotirlinga.
There is a well called Gyan-Kupor (the well of Knowledge), located beside the temple. Legend has it that when the Shiva Lingam was removed from the original temple, it was hidden in this well to protect it from Aurangazeb.
Significance of Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Temple
Well regarded as the most important place of worship in Hindu religion, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is revered by important Hindu saints such as Adi Sankaracharya, Sri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Goswami Tulsidas, Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Gurunanak (Guru Nanak). It is believed that a visit to Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Temple and a bath in the river Ganga shows the way to Moksha (liberation). Another custom is that one should give up at least one wish, after a pilgrimage to the temple. A visit to the temple at Rameswaram in South India is also included in the pilgrimage. From there, people take the water of Ganga to perform prayer at Kashi and bring back the sand from that temple.
Varanasi Ghats
Devotees take a ritual bath in the ghats and perform puja to the rising sun. Notable among them are Varanasi Ganga Ghat, Kedar Ghat, Tulsi Ghat, Mansarovar Ghat, Dasaswamedh Ghat, Panchaganga Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Manmandir Ghat, Dandi Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat.
A COURTESY OF www.hindudevotionalblog.com
I have Performed A Special Puja For You at Kashi Biswanath Temple & I am Sure it will Give you a Special Benefit & Betterment to Your Health, Well Here is A Gift For You , These Two Videos Are Belong To KAL BHAIRAVA The Guard of Lord Shiva & the Destroyer of Demonic Activities & Bad Spirit influence in Human Life. The Protector of Universe & the Safe Guard to Prevent Any Attack of Incurable Diseases . Listen this Chanting Everyday with Soulful Feeling, & You Can Feel the Impact of it Surely!!! :D
Love You <3 <3 <3 . God Bless You.
