Kashi, also known as Varanasi, is a sacred city and has great religious significance among Hindus. It is the dream of most Hindus to visit Kashi at least once in their lifetime. It is believed that a sacred bath in the river Ganga (Ganges) and darshan in the Vishwanath temple will lead one to the path of liberation (Moksha) from the entanglement of Maya. People from all walks of life and with different age groups, come here to seek spiritual peace.
About Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Kashi Vishwanath temple is one of the twelve jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is believed that Lord Shiva is residing here in the name of Vishwanath or Vishweshwara, which literally means ‘Lord of the Universe’. The temple can be reached via a narrow lane called ‘Vishwanath Galli’. It is also called the ‘Golden Temple of Varanasi’ because the domes of the temple are made up of Gold.
Kashi is said to be the oldest living city in the world. It is the most important religious and cultural destination for Hindus across the world. Kashi has been mentioned in various mythological scriptures of Hinduism. There are even 3500 years of documented history to the city. There were about 26000 shrines in Kashi but today there are about only 3000 temples. During invasions, most of the temples were destroyed.
The significance of Kashi is that it has one of the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and also one of the eighteen shaktipeethas of Goddess Parvati. Kashi is one of the only three places in India, where both jyotirlinga and shakti pith is worshipped (Ujjain and Sri Shailam are the other two places). Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Vishwanath and Parvati is worshipped as Goddess Annapurna.
There is another Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, called the 'new Vishwanath temple', which is located within Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus in Varanasi. Although it is a must-visit place in Kashi, it has nothing to do with the original Vishwanath temple. This temple is the brainchild of the freedom fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, who had planned to replicate the original Vishwanath temple. The Birla family undertook the construction and finally completed the temple in 1966 on the BHU campus. Because of that, the temple is also called Birla Mandir.
What is Jyotirlinga
Vishwanath Temple is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India, where it is believed that the supreme deity of Hinduism, Lord Shiva himself resides in different manifestations in the form of linga. Jyotirlinga means a column of light. Lingam signifies the infinite nature of Lord Shiva, without the beginning and the end. According to ancient scripture, Shiva Puran and Nandi Puran, Lord Shiva will have a presence all over the space. However, his presence will be felt more in these jyotirlingas. In all these places, Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Lingam.
Read more on Jyotirlinga and legends
Legend behind Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is mentioned in the Skanda Purana in the Kashi Khanda. It is believed that Lord Shiva lived in this city. To make the place comfortable for his consort, Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva requested the demon Nikumbha to build the place appropriately. Parvati was very pleased with the new structure. She was offering food to everyone. that is why she is worshipped as Goddess Annapurna. It is believed that even Lord Shiva was holding a begging bowl in front of her asking for food.
History of Kashi Vishwanath Temple
There is a long and painful history of the temple. Like all other important temples of India, this temple too suffered destruction at the hands of foreign invaders. It was destroyed several times by Mughal emperors. But again the Hindu rulers were reconstructing the temple later.
Initially, the temple was demolished by Mohammed Ghori in 1194 CE. After few years, it was rebuilt by a Gujarati trader. Again, it was destroyed during another Mughal king, Sikandar Lodhi’s reign, and rebuilt again in 1585 by Raja Man Singh.
Another Mughal king, Aurangzeb in 1669 CE, not only demolished the temple but also built a mosque in its place. The mosque is named after the temple well, which is called the ‘Gyan Vapi’ or the well of knowledge. We can clearly see the ruins of the temple architecture under the Gyanvapi mosque even now. According to the legends of the temple, the lingam of the original temple was hidden in this well when the temple was destroyed.
Later many Hindu rulers like Malhar Rao Holkar and Maharaja of Jaipur tried to demolish the mosque and reconstruct the temple. However, they couldn’t complete the plan.
In 1780, Malhar Rao’s daughter-in-law Ahilyabai Holkar constructed the present temple adjacent to the mosque as an alternative arrangement.
On January 28, 1983, the management of the temple was taken over by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, which is entrusted to a trust.
The architecture of Kashi Vishwanath Temple
The present Kashi Vishwanath temple is built by Ahilyabai Holkar in 1780. It is built in the classical Nagara style of architecture which is mostly seen in northern India. The temple structure consists of a spire, a gold dome, and a gold spire carrying a flag and a trident. 1 tonne of Gold has been used in plating the temple’s dome, which was donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
The main temple is quadrangle and consists of Sabha griha (congregation hall) leading to the inner Garbha Griha (Sanctum Sanctorum). In Garbha Griha, Lord Shiva is worshipped in the name of Kashi Vishwanath or Vishweshwara in the form of a Linga. The linga, which is made in dark brown colored stone, is set on a square silver platform.
The temple is also surrounded by smaller shrines of other gods like Kalabhairav, Dandapani, Vishnu, Vinayaka, Shaniswara, Avimukteshwara, and Virupaksha.
To the north of the main temple, there is a well called ‘Gyan Vapi well” or wisdom well. According to temple sources, the linga was hidden in this well when Mughals came to destroy the temple.
There is a tradition among Hindus to give up at least one desire or a favorite sweet after visiting the temple. There is also a belief that after visiting the Kashi temple, one should take water from the Ganga River and visit the Rameshwaram temple in Tamil Nadu to perform the prayer there and bring home the sand from near the temple.
Temple Timings of Kashi Vishwanath Temple
The temple is open from 3 AM to 11 PM at night. From 4 AM, general darshan is allowed in the temple. There are five special Pooja and Aarti sessions performed at the temple. Only ticket holders are allowed to participate in the Aarti. Tickets can be purchased online or in the temple. When pooja is performed the temple remains closed for general darshan.
Aarti Timings:
. 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM Mangala Aarti . 11:30 AM to 12:20 PM Bhog Aarti . 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM Sapta Rishi Aarti . 9:00 PM to 10:15 PM Shringar Aarti . 10:30 Pm to 11:00 PM Shayan Aarti Darshan Timing: 4 AM 11 AM; 12 PM 7 PM and 8:30 PM to 9 PM
Entry Fee: Free;
Special darshan: Special darshan facility with the ticket (Rs. 300) available.
Special Poojas: Abhishek, Rudrabhishekam, Mahadev Pooja, Special Aati
Special Days: Maha Shivaratri
General Information About the Kashi Vishwanath Temple
The temple can be reached via narrow lanes with shops and small shrines on either side of the lane. These lanes are not only crowded with humans but also with cows and monkeys too. You may find these lanes dirty and stinky. But when you are immersed in the devotion of Lord Shiva, you will forget everything. But still, it is our responsibility to keep the temple surroundings clean and neat. Also, Government should focus on these areas.
-->Generally, the temple will be crowded with devotees. There will be a long queue for darshan. You can visit early morning to avoid the long queue.
-->Mobile phones and other personal accessories are not allowed inside the temple.
-->Foreign nationals with valid passports are allowed inside the temple only with temple darshan ticket
-->Beware of the touts who offer shortcut ways for temple entry for money.
Interesting Facts about Kashi Vishwanath Temple
-->There is a tradition among Hindus to give up at least one desire or a favorite sweat after visiting the temple.
-->There is a belief that after visiting the Kashi temple, one should take water from the Ganga River and visit the Rameshwaram temple in Tamil Nadu to perform the prayer there and bring home the sand from near the temple.
--> Many leading saints have visited the place in the past. The prominent saints who visited Kashi are Adi Shankaracharya, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swamy Vivekananda, Goswami Tulsidas, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Guru Nanak, etc.
How to reach Kashi Vishwanath Temple
By Road – Varanasi is well connected with all the major cities of India. Taxi/Auto Rickshaw services are available to the temple.
By Train - Vishwanath temple is situated in the center of Varanasi city. The temple is situated at a distance of 6 km from Varanasi junction and 2 km from Varanasi city station. Another important railway station, Mughal Sarai station is at a distance of 17 km.
By Air – The Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport at Babatpur is the nearest airport to the temple (26 km). It is well connected with other metros in India. Travelers can hire a taxi/cab from the airport to the temple.
Places to Visit Near Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Varanasi was known as the cultural hub of ancient India. It was home to music, arts, literature, dance, architecture, etc. If you have a keen interest, Kashi offers a lot to explore. The main attractions of Kashi are temples, ghats, ganga arti, museums, fort, etc.
River Ganga and Ganga Aarti
River Ganga is an integral part of Kashi. Hindus personify Ganga as a goddess and consider it very sacred. Kashi visit will never be complete without taking a sacred bath in the Ganges. Hindus believe that taking a holy bath in the river will purify the soul. There are more than 80 ghats on the banks of the Ganga. These are the series of steps leading to the Ganga River. Some of the ghats are very famous and happening places. While Dashashwamedh ghat is famous for Ganga Aarti, Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats are for cremations.
One should never miss taking part in Ganga Aarti at the Dashashwamedh Ghat while visiting Varanasi. The spectacle of Ganga Aarti is the visual treat for every pilgrim. Ganga aarti is the way of showing gratitude to the goddess Ganga, through lighting lamps or diyas, chanting mantras, and singing in praises. Every day in the evening around 7 PM, the aarti is performed. A large number of people gather on the banks of Ganga to witness this spectacle.
Annapurna Devi Temple
The unique feature about the city of Kashi is that both Shiva and Shakti have separate temples. While Lord Shiva is worshipped in Vishwanath temple, Goddess Parvati is worshipped in the form of Goddess Annapurna in Annapurna Devi Temple. It is a very famous temple situated very near to Vishwanath temple in a Vishwanath Galli of Varanasi. Goddess Annapurna is a Goddess of food or nourishment. It is a beautiful temple constructed in nagara architecture. The sanctum of the temple houses a picture of Goddess Annapurna. It is constructed in the 18th century by Maratha king Peshwa Bajirao. Every day the temple serves free food to every devotee of the temple.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is a famous temple in Varanasi, established by Poet and Saint Goswami Tulsidas in the early 16th century. It is believed that the temple has been built on the same spot where Tulsidas had a vision of Lord Hanuman. As the name suggests, sankat mochan means to mitigate the problems. It is said that praying to Lord Hanuman in this temple is the best remedy for Mars and Saturn in your horoscope. Therefore, every Tuesday and Saturday, thousands of people come here to get blessings from Hanuman.
Durga Temple
Another important temple in Varanasi city is the Goddess Durga temple. It is a 300-year-old temple, painted completely in red color. The color Red is associated with Goddess Durga, the vibrant and warrior form of Shakti. It is believed that the deity of the temple is not man-made but it is self-manifested (Swayambhu). The present structure is built by Bengali Queen Rani Bhavani of Natore. The temple is constructed in a nagara style of architecture. It is located near Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple and Tulsi Manas temple. So, one can plan a visit to all these temples together.
New Vishwanath Temple or Birla Mandir
New Viswanath Temple is a famous temple, mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is located within Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus in Varanasi. Although it is a must-visit place in Kashi, it has nothing to do with the original Vishwanath temple. The temple is said to be one of the tallest in India, with a total height of 250 ft. The temple is also called as Birla temple because it was constructed by the Birla family. This temple is the brainchild of the freedom fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, who had planned to replicate the old Vishwanath temple.
Since time immemorial, the Ganga river has been observed as the sacred river. Scientifically, it is proved that the water from the Ganga river remains fresh even after a year. Historically, it is said that European sailors used to fill their water vessel with the Ganga river, as it wouldn’t get spoiled for months. Mughal emperor Akbar used to drink Ganges water. Water was dispatched in sealed jars wherever he was stationed. He was calling the water ‘water of immortality.