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Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga

Vishwanath Gali, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

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Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga
Photo: Unknown photographer, about 1915 (University of Edinburgh, International Mission Photography Archive), Public domain

About

Kashi Vishwanath is the ninth jyotirlinga in the order of the stotra. It is in Varanasi, near the western bank of the Ganga. Here Shiv is called Vishwanath or Vishweshwar, the Lord of the whole universe, and devotees lovingly call him 'Baba'. For Hindus, Kashi is one of the holiest cities, and for many families a darshan of Baba Vishwanath is a lifelong wish. The present temple was built in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. Its spire is covered with gold given by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, so it is also called the Golden Temple.

The story

The Shiv Puran tells that Brahma ji and Vishnu ji once argued about who was greater. Then Shiv appeared as an endless pillar of light. Vishnu ji went down as a boar and Brahma ji flew up as a swan, but neither could find its end. Vishnu ji admitted the truth, while Brahma ji claimed he had seen the top. Shiv honoured Vishnu ji's truthfulness. The places where Shiv appeared as light are called jyotirlingas, and Kashi holds a special place among them.

Kashi is called Avimukta, the city that Shiv never leaves. Devotees believe that even when the world dissolves at the end of an age, Shiv holds Kashi safe on his trishul. Sages such as Agastya are also said to have worshipped Vishweshwar here.

Over the centuries the temple was rebuilt more than once. In 1780 Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar built the present temple, and in 1835 Maharaja Ranjit Singh offered gold for its spire.

Visiting

October to March is the best time. The temple is in the narrow lanes of old Kashi, and a wide corridor now links it with the Ganga ghats. Nearby are Maa Annapurna's temple, Manikarnika Ghat and the many ghats along the Ganga.

Festivals

  • Maha Shivratri
  • Rangbhari Ekadashi (Phalgun Shukla Ekadashi), when Baba returns to Kashi with Maa Gaura
  • Vasant Panchami (Baba's tilak)
  • Dev Deepawali (Kartik Purnima) on the ghats of Kashi

12 Jyotirlingas

Sources