Situated on the banks of the holy Ganges River in the south of Uttar Pradesh, the mysteries of Kashi or Varanasi have been attracting pilgrims from India as well as foreigners for centuries. Varanasi, a city of ancient domes, temples, ashrams, saint-priests, shops adorned with Banarasi sarees, busy streets full of different exquisite tastes and balanced modernity, represents the colorful and charming India of dreams. There is an impression of Lord Shiva in every street of this city.
Kashi is one of the oldest and holy cities of the world. Lord Shiva has established this city. It is said that this city was built by Lord Shiva on his trident as his abode after his marriage with Goddess Parvati. Hence, it is said that even if the world ends, the city of Kashi will remain at that time.
Kashi is one of the seven holy cities of India
Kashi is one of the seven holy cities of India (Ayodhya,
Kashi, Mathura, Haridwar, Kanchipuram, Ujjain and Dwarka). The city has about
84 Ghats and big shrines which have been present since the time of the Vedas.
It is said that whoever stays here attains spiritual knowledge and salvation.
It is also believed that the nine houses do not affect the people living in
Kashi, as they follow the rules of Lord Shiva. They cannot even enter this city
without the permission of Lord Shiva.
Kashi is mentioned in all ancient texts.
Kashi i.e. Varanasi or Banaras is definitely mentioned in
almost all the ancient texts of India. In the 'Kashi Khand' of Skanda Purana,
description of different pilgrimages of Kashi is found in about 15,000 verses.
In the Puranas, this city is also mentioned as Adyvaishnava land and Lord
Brahma is believed to have performed ten Ashwamedha Yagyas at Dashashwamedh
Ghat. Along with this, this place is also important for the devotees of Goddess
Sati, as the city is also home to a Shakti Peeth.
Arrival of these great personalities in Kashi
Located near Kashi Vishwanath temple on the banks of river Ganges, Manikarnika Ghat is considered as a Shakti Peeth. Apart from Lord Shiva, the name of this holy city is associated with many great personalities of India like- Raja Harishchandra ji, Adi Shankaracharya ji, Goswami Tulsidas ji, Rani Ahilyabai Holkar, Rani Lakshmibai ji etc. Many ancient saints like Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda and Guru Nanak have sung their glory many times after visiting the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Meerabai's Guru Sant Raidas was also born in Banaras.
Why Kashi is named Varanasi
Known as the city of Lord Shiva, the city of temples, the
city of knowledge, the religious capital of India, the city of lights, Kashi is
given twelve different names in the Skanda Purana, among which Varanasi,
Ananda-Kanan, Avimukt, Rudravas, Shri Shivpuri and Muktibhoomi are prominent.
The name 'Kashi' means light or light of Brahma and Vishnu. The name Varanasi
is probably derived from the two local rivers Varuna and Asi. These rivers come
from north and south respectively and join the Ganges river.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
There are innumerable temples of Lord Shiva in this city,
of which Kashi
Vishwanath Temple is paramount. Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the
most sacred places in the world. The holy Ganges river flows beside the temple,
which increases the spiritual value of the temple manifold. Kashi Vishwanath
temple has been mentioned countless times in ancient texts of India like Skanda
Purana, Shiva Purana, Upanishads and Vedas.
The Shivling of Lord Vishwanath is one of the twelve Maha Jyotirlingas. Jyotirlinga means the self-manifestation of Shivling. It is said that a one-time visit to Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga is equal to the journey of the remaining eleven Jyotirlingas. These Jyotirlingas are also considered to be the first of all Jyotirlingas and they are also called the king of Jyotirlingas.
A popular tradition that is followed even today is that after visiting the Kashi Vishwanath temple, the water taken from the river Ganges is used for the consecration of the Jyotirlinga of Sri Ramanathaswamy at Rameshwaram. The sand from the temple is brought back to Varanasi and given as Prasad to Lord Shiva. It is believed that pilgrimage to Kashi and Rameshwaram leads to complete salvation and knowledge.
The complex of Kashi Vishwanath temple is quadrangular, with many small and big temples dedicated to Lord Kartikeya, Lord Vinayaka, Kalabhaivar, Avimukteshwar, Lord Vishnu, Virupaksha, Virupaksha Gauri and Lord Shanishwar. The temple has three distinct areas- the first is a shikhara over the temple of Lord Vishwanath, the second is a golden dome and the third is a trident and a flag on top of it. The temple has an auditorium, which leads to the sanctum sanctorum where the Shivling is situated.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Rani Ahilyabai Holkar
How many times the invaders have tried to destroy the
Kashi Vishwanath temple, it is not hidden from anyone. When PM Modi got the
Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor constructed, bringing back the old glory of
Kashi, he also got the statue of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar installed in it. The
reason for this is that in 1780, Rani Ahilyabai ji got the Kashi Vishwanath
temple rebuilt. And not only Kashi, but he also got the construction of temples
done in far Gaya and up to the Himalayas.
He also got the temple rebuilt at Somnath in Gujarat. Rani Ahilya Bai ji built temples in famous pilgrimages and places across India, appointed scholars in temples, built ghats, built wells and stepwells, built new roads, built many buildings and dharamshalas, other areas for the hungry. Open it and put a cup for the thirsty. Indian society is indebted to the Queen for her great and public welfare works.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple Timings
Kashi Vishwanath Temple opens daily at 2:30 and closes at
11 pm. Mangala Aarti between 3 am to 4 pm, Midday Bhog Aarti between 11:30 am
to 12 noon, Sapt Rishi Aarti between 7 pm and 8:30 pm, Shringar Bhog and Aarti
at 9 pm, 10:30 pm Shayan Aarti begins. The general darshan timings are from 4
am to 11 am, 12 noon to 7 pm and 8:30 pm to 9 pm.
Other Famous Temples of Varanasi
Tulsi Manas Temple
Tulsi
Manas Mandir is dedicated to Lord Shri Ram, Mata Sita and Lakshman ji.
The temple is said to have been built at the place where Saint Goswami Tulsidas
composed Shri Ramcharitmanas. On the walls of the temple, the four quarters of
this holy book have been engraved.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir
This is a very Siddha temple, which was established by
Goswami Tulsidas ji. Actually, Tulsidas ji was able to see Lord Shri Ram ji
only by the grace of Hanuman ji, and by the grace of Hanuman ji he could
compose Ramcharitmanas, so Tulsidas ji considered Hanuman ji as his guru and in
Ramcharitmanas he Hanuman ji is worshiped as his guru.
Mata Annapurna Temple
This temple is dedicated to Annapurna Devi, an incarnation
of Goddess Parvati, near Kashi Vishwanath Temple. This is the only temple in
the world where Prasad is distributed among the devotees before offering Bhog
to the Lord. It is said that whoever worships Mother Annapurna ji with
devotion, there is never any shortage of food in his life.
Kal
Bhairav Temple
The temple is located 1 km away from Kashi Vishwanath
Temple. It is said that one must visit this temple to complete their Kashi
journey. He is believed to be the protector of Kashi and no one can enter Kashi
without his permission.
