Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Varanasi

Special Features

Foundation Year: 4000 - 5000 years old

Theertham: Holy Ganga - 64 bathing ghats

Sthala Puran

Lord: ViswanatharKashi Vishvanath Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Varanasi.u00a0 The temple stands on the western bank of the holy river Ganga and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest of Shiva temples.The main temple is a quadrangle and is surrounded by shrines of other gods. There are small temples for Kaalbhairav, Dhandapani, Avimukteshwara, Vishnu, Vinayaka, Sanishwara, Virupaksha, and Virupaksh Gauri in the complex. There is a small well in the temple called the Jnana Vapi also spelled as Gyaan vapi.The venerable linga is made up of black-colored stone and is enshrined in the sanctum, placed on a silver platform.The temple is composed of three parts. The first comprises a spire on the temple of Lord Vishwanath or Mahadeva. The second is a gold dome and the third is the gold spire atop the Vishwanath carrying a flag and a trident.Many leading saints, including Adi Sankaracharya, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, Bamakhyapa Goswami Tulsidas, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Sathya Sai Baba, and Gurunanak have visited the site.A visit to the temple and a bath in the river Ganges is one of many methods believed to lead one on a path to Moksha (liberation). Thus, Hindus from all over the world try to visit the place at least once in their lifetime.The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is also popularly known as the u2032Golden Templeu2032 due to the gold plating done on its 15.5-meter high spire. One tonne of gold donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh has been used in the gold plating of the spire.

Architecture

The temple has been referred to in Hindu scriptures for a very long time as a central part of worship in the Shaiva philosophy. It has been destroyed and re-constructed a number of times in history. The current structure was built by the Maratha ruler, Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore in 1780.The temple complex consists of a series of smaller shrines, located in a small lane called the Vishwanatha Galli, near the river. The linga of the main deity at the shrine is 60 cm tall and 90 cm in circumference housed in a silver altar.

Prayers and Benefits

Festivals

Social Activities