 Varanasi, or Banaras, (also known as Kashi)
is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Varanasi
is so old that it is a part of Indian mythology and finds
mention in the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Through the
ages Varanasi was also known variously as "Avimuktaka",
"Anandakanana", "Mahasmasana", "Surandhana",
"Brahma Vardha", "Sudarsana", "Ramya"
and "Kasi" or Kashi - 'the City of Light".
The oldest living city in the world, Varanasi is the ultimate
destination of all Hindu pilgrims searching for moksha from
the cycle of birth and re-birth. The word ‘Kashi’ originated
from the word ‘Kas’ which means to shine. Stepped in tradition
and mythological legacy, Kashi is the ‘original ground’ created
by Lord Shiva and Parvati, upon which they stood at the beginning
of time.Varanasi is said to be the point at which the first
jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light by which Shiva manifested
his supremacy over other Gods, broke through the earth's crust
and flared towards the heavens. More than the Ghats and even
the Ganga, the Shivalinga installed in the temple remains
the devotional focus of Varansi. It is open only to Hindus.
Situated amidst the crowded lanes of Varanasi, the temple
of Vishwanatha can be approached from a lane called Vishwanatha
lane. Inside the courtyard is the temple of Vishwanatha surrounded
by many subsidiary shrines. It is in the heart of this city
that there stands in its fullest majesty the Kashi Vishwanath
Temple in which is enshrined the Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara
or Vishwanatha. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple, also known as
Golden Temple is the most sacred and main temple of Varanasi
and it is dedicated to Lord Shiva or Vishveswara (Vishwanath),
the presiding deity of the city. It is more popular due to
the Gold plating done on its 15.5 meter high spire. One ton
of gold donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh has been used in
the gold plating of the spire. The original temple was located
across the road, but it was destroyed by Aurangzeb who built
a mosque in its place, but the traces of the old temple can
be seen behind the mosque.. The present temple was built by
Ahalya Bai of Indore in 1776.This mosque has minarets towering
71 metres above the Ganges. Now the new Vishwanath Temple
situated in the premises of Banaras Hindu University, it is
managed by the reputed industrialists - the Birla family.
About the Deity
Situated amidst the crowded lanes of Varanasi, the temple
of Vishwanatha can be approached from a lane called Vishwanatha
lane. Inside the courtyard is the temple of Vishwanatha surrounded
by many subsidiary shrines. There is a well, called Jnana
Vapi i.e. wisdom well located to the north of the main temple.
As one enters the temple from the southern side the first
temple to the left of the pilgrim are three temples in a row
one behind the other, Vishnu, Virupakshi Gauri and Avimukta
Vinayaka. A cluster of five lingas enclosed in a temple is
called Nilakantheshvar temple. Just above the Avimukteshvara
Vinayaka are temples of Shanishchara and Virupaksha. To the
right just near the entrance is the temple enshrining a linga
called Avimukteshvara. There is a controversy regarding the
original Jyotirlinga at the place, which suggests that not
the Vishwanatha but the Avimukteshvara is the original Jyotirlinga.
The Golden Temple or Kashi Vishwanath Temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva was built by Ahalya Bai of Indore in 1776 and 800
kg of gold plating on the towers were provided by Maharaja
Ranjit Singh of Lahore. The Shivlinga in the temple is the
main devotional focus of the city. Next to the Temple is a
Well known as the Gyan Kapur Kuan (well of knowledge). This
temple was renovated by Maharani Khaneti ,wife of Sudarshan
Shah in 1857.The temple has a Shivling (60 cm. high and 90
Cm. Circumference).People from all over India do also visit
the Vishvanath temple during their visits to Uttarkashi, Gangotri
and Yamunotri. The Vishwanatha temple consists of a mandapa
and a sanctum. Inside the sanctum a linga is set into the
center of the floor in a square silver altar. The Linga is
of black stone. Though the interior of the temple is not large
and elaborate it presents the peaceful atmosphere ideal for
worship.
History
The Vishvanath temple was, however, destroyed by the Mughal
Emperor Aurangzeb who built the Gaynvapi Mosque using columns
from the original temple razed by Aurangzeb. Even today the
western wall of the mosque show the minarets towering 71 metres
above the Ganges of a temple which had very intricate and
fine artwork on it. Both the Kashi Vishwanath and the Gyanvapi
mosque are adjacent to each other. Here gravitate the teeming
millions of India to seek benediction and spiritual peace
by the darshan of this Jyotirlinga which confers liberation
from the bondages of maya and the inexorable entanglements
of the world. A simple glimpse of the Jyotirlinga is a soul-cleansing
experience that transforms life and puts it on the path of
knowledge and bhakti. Vishweshwara jyotirlinga has a very
special and unique significance in the spiritual history of
India. Tradition has it that the merits earned by the darshan
of other jyotirlinga scattered in various parts of India accrue
to devotee by a single visit to Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Deeply
and intimately implanted in the Hindu mind, the Kashi Vishwanath
Temple has been a living embodinent of our timeless cultural
traditions and highest spiritual values. The Temple has been
visited by all great saints- Adi Shankaracharya, Ramkrishna
Paramhansa, Swami Vivekanand, Goswami Tulsidas, Maharshi Dayanand
Saraswati, Gurunanak and several other spiritual personalities.
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple attracts visitors not only from
India but abroad as well and thereby symbolises man's desire
to live in peace snd harmony with one another. Vishwanath
being a supreme repository of this spiritual truth thus strengthens
the bonds of universal brotherhood and fellow feeling at the
national as wll as global levels.
On January 28, 1983 the Temple was taken over by the Govt.
of Uttar Pradesh and it's management eversince stands entrusted
to a Trust with Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh. Former Kashi Naresh,
as president and an Executive Committee with Divisional Commissioner
as Chairman. The Temple in the present shape was built way
back in 1780 by Late Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore.In
the year 1785 a Naubatkhan was built up infront of the Temple
by the then collector Mohd. Ibrahim Khan at the instance of
Governor General Warren Hastings. Two domes of the Temple
were covered by 800kg of gold ,plating on the towers ,donated
by Punjab Kesari Maharaja Ranjeet Singhsome 50 years later.
Third dome but was remained uncovered, Ministry of cultures
& Religious affairs of U.P. Govt. took keen interest for
gold plating of third dome of Temple. The five Aaratis of
Mahadev is very famous. At this time Shiva is decorated with
leaves shaded under huge cobra. Thousands of people come in
this time to visit the decorated Vishwanath.Kashi Vishwanath
Shiva Lingam in Golden Temple, which has seen many of its
destructions is the symbol of mysterious cosmos, which attracts
many thousands hindus to offer Ganges-water daily. It is the
belief of the people of Banaras is that Baba Vishwanath is
responsible for the happiness and sadness of the lives of
the people of Banaras.
THE LEGEND
Legend maintains that Lord Shiva manifested himself in the
from of a lingam at 12 holy cities in India, Varanasi being
one of them.These lingams we known as JYOTIRLINGAMS. To the
side of the temple is Gyan-Kupor('The well of Knowledge').
The Jyotirlingam of the original Vishwanath Temple, is believed
to be hidden in the well by his devotees to protect it from
the early Muslim invaders.
About the Puja -Archana:
The pilgrims visit the temple any time of the day and worship
the Lord by offering flowers and bilva leaves and chanting
mantras of Shiva. Daily five times the Aarati is performed.
The evening Aarati is known as Shringar Aarati. During this
Aarati the linga is decorated with variety of flowers. The
temple is kept open from 5.30 in the morning and stays so
till 12 in the noon. The temple usually remains closed during
the noon hours, and reopens in the evening at 4 p.m. The temple
closes in the night after the last pujas are performed by
8p.m. The Temple closes at 11p.m. Most of the prasad,milk,clothes
and other such offerings are given to the poors.
Places to see
The Ghats
Pilgrims flock the ghats to have a ritual bath and perform
puja to the rising sun. The Dasashvamedh ghat offers a magnificent
view of the riverfront. Other special ghats are the Asi, Barnasangam,
Panchganga and Manikarnika.
Tulsi Manas Mandi
7 km from the railway station, it is a temple dedicated to
Lord Rama. Believed to be situated where saint-poet Tulsi
Das lived and wrote the epic Ram Charit Manas. An exquisite
structure of white marble, it has the text of Ram Charit Manas
engraved on its walls.
Durga Temple
7 km from railway station, is one of the important temples
dedicated to Goddess Durga. Constructed in the 18th century
in the Nagara style of architecture, it has five shikharas
(spires), which start from the bottom and converge on the
top. Locally known as 'Monkey temple' because of the large
number of monkeys inhabiting the place.
Gyanvapi Mosque
Gyanvapi Mosque was built by Emperor Aurangzeb adjacent to
the Vishwanath temple. |
