Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Table of Contents
“Kashi Vishwanath Temple” is a momentous Hindu religious structure having colossal importance as per the Hindu mythology and
scriptures. The temple is a Hindu pilgrimage site and one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines. It is situated in the Vishwanath gali in Varanasi.
The presiding deity is Lord Shiva and his form here is known by the name of Vishwanath (Lord of the Universe).
History
The temple has quite a long dated history with repetitive destruction and reconstruction. As per the dated records-
Construction/Reconstruction | Destruction |
1. CE 500-508 (reign of Vainya Gupta) | 1. 1194-1197 (Qutubddin Aibak demolished the temple partly by the order of Miuhammad Ghori) |
2. 1230 (reconstruction by a Gujarati Merchant during the reign of Shams-al-Din Iltumish and partly under the reign of Delhi’s sultan) | 2. 1447 (By Mahmud Hussain Shah Sharqi) 1490 (By Sikandar Lodhi) |
3. 1584 (Patronized by Raja Man Singh & supported by Todar Mal) | 3. 1669 (By bigoted King Aurangzeb;most part was demolished) |
4. 1777-80 (By Ahilyabai Holkarthe Daughter-in-law of Malhar Rao) | — |
Since March 1st 2022 on the eve of Mahashivratri, the temple which is now known as the “Kashi Vishwanath Tirtha Kshetra” has been opened for the devotees after finishing the basic structure and inaugural opening done by the current Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Structure of the Temple
The temple is quadrangle in shape. There are three domes made up of pure gold which was donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1835. The temple structure consists of 3 parts. The 1st part has a spire on the top. The 2nd part is an onion Dome coated with gold. The 3rd part is a gold spire top bearing a flag and a trident which is 15.5 meter high.
The Jyotirlinga is 24 inches tall and 35 inches in circumference. It is enshrined over a platform made of silver in the sanctum. Also there is a wisdom known as GyanVapi in the campus. There are other Hindu gods that surround the main temple inside the campus.
“Gold coated 3 parts of the temple”
Mythology and Activity
As the temple is located on the banks of the river Ganges, it is believed that bathing in the river and paying a visit to the temple will lead us towards the path of liberation. The devotees(Hindus) across the globe try to visit the place at least once in their lifetime. Many believe that a true devotee of Lord Shiva is freed from the circle of life and is taken to Mount Kailash directly by his messengers.
Everyday there are 5 different Aarti performed during different hours of the day.
Aarti | Timing |
1. Mangla Aarti | 3:00 a.m-4:00 a.m |
2. Bhog Aarti | 11:30 a.m-12:30 p.m |
3. Sapta Rishi Aarti | 7:00 p.m-8:00 p.m |
4. Shringar Aarti | 9:00 p.m-10:00 p.m |
5. Shayan Aarti | 10:15 p.m-11:00 p.m |
Accommodation and Transport
One can reach Varanasi through various modes of transportation be it a car, bus, train or even a plane. Using local transportation for traveling in the city i.e. rickshaw or an auto-rickshaw would be far more convenient.
For accommodation there are various options available in accordance with your budget. There are many hotels, stays, rest houses etc available for stays.