Mystique of Mandirs in Varanasi: A Spiritual Journey

 Nestled on the banks of the sacred river Ganges, Varanasi, also known as Kashi or Banaras, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and a revered spiritual hub in India. Varanasi is a city of contrasts, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with modern life, and bustling streets lead to tranquil Ghats where pilgrims and seekers gather to pay homage to the divine.

At the heart of Varanasi's spiritual image are its many temples, each a sanctuary of devotion and a testament to the city's rich cultural heritage. From grand buildings adorned with intricate carvings to humble temples nestled in narrow alleys, the temples of Varanasi offer a glimpse of the vibrant tapestry of Hindu spirituality.

The Magnificent Kashi Vishwanath Temple:

No visit to Varanasi is complete without a visit to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to the city's presiding deity Lord Shiva. Located in the heart of the bustling old city, this iconic temple is considered to be one of the most sacred sites for Hindus and a focal point of spiritual energy.

Stepping into the sacred premises of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple is an unusual experience. The massive spire of the temple, adorned with intricate sculptures and golden embellishments, rises majestically against the blue sky, and casts a divine aura over the bustling streets below.

Inside the temple, devotees gather in the sanctum sanctorum, offer prayers and seek blessings from Lord Shiva. The air is filled with the aroma of incense, and the sound of mantras echoes in the hall, creating an atmosphere of exquisite devotion.

Exploring the Sacred Ghats:

As the sun sets over the river Ganges, the ghats of Varanasi come alive with the flickering glow of oil lamps and the rhythmic chants of evening aarti ceremonies. Amidst this celestial symphony, several mandirs dot the riverbank, offering pilgrims a chance to deepen their spiritual experience.

One such revered mandir is the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the monkey god. Situated near the Assi Ghat, this temple is believed to be a place of solace and refuge, where devotees come to seek protection from life's trials and tribulations.

Further upstream, the Dashashwamedh Ghat is home to the iconic Vishalakshi Temple, dedicated to Goddess Vishalakshi, the consort of Lord Shiva. This sacred shrine exudes an aura of tranquillity, with its serene courtyards and ancient prayer halls providing a serene refuge from the hustle and bustle of the ghats.

Embracing Spiritual Diversity:

Varanasi is not just a bastion of Hindu spirituality but also a melting pot of diverse religious traditions. Alongside its Hindu mandirs, the city is dotted with mosques, churches, and Buddhist stupas, each adding a unique flavour to its cultural tapestry.

One such example is the Gyanvapi Mosque, situated adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Despite the religious divide, the mosque and the temple coexist in harmony, symbolising the city's ethos of inclusivity and tolerance.

Conclusion:

Mandir in Varanasi are more than just architectural marvels; they are repositories of faith, repositories of centuries-old traditions, and symbols of spiritual aspiration. In the labyrinthine lanes of the city, amidst the chaos and clamor, these sacred shrines stand as beacons of hope and enlightenment, guiding pilgrims on their quest for divine grace.

As I bid farewell to Varanasi, I carry with me the echoes of chants, the fragrance of incense, and the blessings of the divine. In the timeless embrace of the city's mandirs, I found solace, inspiration, and a deeper connection to the eternal spirit that animates us all. Varanasi, with its mandirs, remains a testament to the enduring power of faith and the eternal quest for transcendence.

Varanasi: What is the story of India's oldest religious city?

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.

Why is Kaal Bhairav Mandir known to get rid of all the Sins?

Kaal Bhairav temple is a mythical shrine of God Shiva located in Bharonath, Vishweshwarga, a place in Varanasi. The temple has various religious, historical, and cultural significance that attracts a lot of people. The temple is totally devoted to Bhairava (a ferocious form of Lord Shiva). The Kaal Bhairav Mandir derived its name from the ferocious form of Lord Shiva, and when combined with “Kaal” it basically signifies that someone’s time is not going well, and he is about to face death. This form of Shiva wears a garland containing skulls and peacock feathers with them. It is a belief that if somebody’s time is not going in favor, things go in the right direction, after visiting the temple. There is a saying that Kashi is one of Lord Shiva's favorite places, and he appointed Kaal Bhairav as the Kotwal of that place and gave him the authority to punish those who committed sins. In the interior of the temple, there is a silver idol of Kaal Bhairav form of Lord Shiva, that is sitting on a vehicle, with a dog and his three-pronged spear is the main center of attraction for the visitors, but the visitors only see the decorated face of the idol, other parts are totally covered with a piece of cloth.

Associated Story
Previously, God Brahma and Vishnu were competing among themselves to see who is superior. Then Lord Shiva appeared as a ray of hope to sort out the fight between the two Gods. An angry Brahma looked at the pillar of light with its 5th head, which began to burn in anger. Shiva immediately created the being Kaal Bhairava, who decapitated the 5th head of Brahma and got stuck on the hand of Kaal Bhairava. Brahma Hatya or cutting the head of Lord Brahma is a sin done by him, and a gory woman is created in the form of sin. Then in remorse for the crime of Kaal Bhairava, Lord Shiva ordered him to go to certain places, and the gory lady followed him till he reached Varanasi, the head fell down from his hand and the place is called "Kapal Mochan Teerth" and the lady had disappeared.  He was liberated from all the sins of Brahma Hatya when he entered Varanasi and after that Lord Shiva declared that Kaal Bhairav will stay in Varanasi forever to wash away the sins of his followers.

History
The construction of Kal Bhairav Temple is not accurate, but it was one of the oldest temples, destroyed at the time of the Mughal Empire and rebuilt around the 17th century and till now it is under the same infrastructure.

Ways to reach Kaal Bhairav Temple

• The exact location of the temple is Pandeypur Rd, Naibasti, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221002 which is around 3.9 kilometers from Varanasi Railway Station.
• If you prefer to come by airplane, at around 23.7 km away from Kaal Bhairav Temple, there is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
• At around 3.4 kilometers from the Kaal Bhairav Temple, there is Varanasi Bus Stand in case you reach Varanasi by bus.
• You can take an auto-rickshaw, taxi, or a cab to reach the Kaal Bhairav Temple, according to your convenience.

Conclusion
In case you are visiting Varanasi, for religious significance, Kaal Bhairav temple is a must-visit place for you, and you will be able to get rid of all the sins and curses. Visiting Kaal Bhairava in the month of October to March is the best time.  Lord Shiva holds an important place in Hindu mythology, and it is a form of Lord Shiva that will bring all the good deeds into your life.