Imagine being in the oldest living city in the world. Now, just think of being in a place that has been nourished by the holy River Ganges. The holy ground had the opportunity to be touched by Lord Narayan’s(Vishnu) foot. For ages, this city has been celebrating death as freedom and liberation and not as something bad or the end. This city is none other than Kashi, or Varanasi sometimes called Banaras. All these aspects become even more meaningful because of one particular reason and that is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Apart from being one of the Dwadash Jyotirlingas, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the most revered religious abodes in the whole world. It is very rare to observe that a Jyotirlinga is located so close to the holy river Ganges. In no other city or place in the world, a temple would have seen so many drastic transitions as compared to the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. In no other city in the world, one has the opportunity to take blessings from Lord Shiva, Vishnu, all 9 forms of Goddess Adishakti, 5 Swayambhu Mahadeva, Kaal Bhairav and numerous other deities. That is why, it becomes very crucial to visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi. Through this post, I am going to share with you the 10 reasons that might eventually force you to visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
You might also want to check out this post about the 3 Days Varanasi Trip Itinerary(Places to Visit & Things to Do) to effectively plan s short tour plan for Varanasi.
The 10 reasons to visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple
1. Kashi Vishwanath is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas
This is not just any ordinary Temple but one of the 12 Jyotirlingas that you might have heard about at your homes. If not, let me tell you that there are other 64 Jyotirlingas in Hinduism. Jyoti means light or energy and Linga means the Shivling which is sacredly worshipped in Hinduism as a symbol of Lord Shiva. It is the physical representation of God himself. Hence, being one out of the 12 Jyotirlingas, it becomes very important and anyone can visit here and take blessings of Lord Shiva with faith and devotion.
2. One of the oldest Temples in India
Although the temple structure that we see today may not be that long because of the destruction by invaders. But, the temple itself is older than history. Even the Upanishads, the Mahabharata and Skanda Purana mention this temple.
3. Self Emerged Shivalinga at Kashi Vishwanath
It is also believed that Lord Shiva manifested as a pillar of light and broke through the earth and flared towards heaven. The story tells that when Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma were arguing over their supremacy, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a pillar of light which neither had a beginning nor an end. Later on, this pillar of light became a Shivalinga.
4. Kashi Vishwanath Corridor
You must have heard about the newly built Kashi Vishwanath corridor. Have you seen it? It is magnificent and will remind you of the earlier times. The temple is very spacious and can accommodate hundreds of pilgrims at a time.
5. Probably the first of the Jyotirlingas
Although it is a little debatable, many do believe that it is the oldest one. However, the Somnath Jyotirling Temple was built earlier than this one.
6. Is Located in Varanasi
Kashi or Varanasi itself is one of the oldest cities in the world is still existing that too in its purest form. Kashi Vishwanath Temple is located in Varanasi, which is a significant reason to visit the temple. If you ever visit Varanasi, I would recommend you to visit this temple at least once.
7. Very dear to Lord Shiva
Did you know that this Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga is dear and close to Lord Shiva? There are many reasons for this. Firstly, it is situated in Varanasi, secondly, it is very close to river Ganga. One can find many other stories mentioned in Shiva Purana.
8. The Easiest way to attain Liberation is to die in Varanasi
In Hinduism, there are four “Purusharthas” that a human needs to achieve. These are Dharm, Arth, Kaam and Moksha. The ultimate in all these four is Moksha or Liberation. Liberation from the cycle of birth and death. The easiest way to get rid of this cycle and attain liberation is to die in Varanasi. Therefore, this temple is highly revered in Hinduism.
9. Lord Shiva with Devi Parvati used to live here
It is believed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati lived here for a long time. It is also said that one day when Devi Parvati went to take a bath at Ganga Ghat, her earring fell down and she could not find it. She told this to Lord Shiva and later on, this particular ghat became popular as Manikarnika Ghat. Therefore, when anyone dies here in Varanasi and gets cremated at Manikarnika Ghat, Lord Shiva calls them and asks if they have seen that earring of Goddess Parvati and that very soul gets to meet Lord Shiva and attains liberation.
10. A temple which has survived multiple attacks
The structure that we see today is not the one from ancient times. The actual temple structure lived through ages but could not survive the attacks done by invaders. However, Kashi Vishwanath Mandir has faced many attacks and loots by the invaders but has always been rebuilt and developed.
It was attacked under the reign of Mohammad Ghori in 1194 CE. It was attacked again under the reign of Sikandar Lodhi. This time Raja Man Singh built the temple and later on Raja Todar Mal rebuilt it in 1585. Aurangzeb destroyed the temple in 1669 and built the Gyanvapi Mosque. Although the Maratha ruler Malhar Rao Holkar planned to demolish the mosque and reconstruct the temple at the original site in 1742. But he was intervened by the Nawab of Awadh. The present temple was built adjacent to the mosque by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, the daughter-in-law of Raja Malhar Rao Holkar in the year 1776.
Takeaways:
There might be a ton of articles on Kashi Vishwanath Temple explaining its glorious history and extraordinary architecture. But, this post exclusively elaborates on the reasons why you must visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Visiting the temple is crucial and the main reason will always be to take the blessings of the deity residing inside the temple. Yet, knowing the reasons for which you should be visiting the temple equips you with the knowledge of the various aspects of the temple.
I hope the reasons mentioned in this post motivate you to pay a visit to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and you know for sure why you should be going there at least once. I wish you that you embark on this spiritual and religious journey of yours to this auspicious abode of Lord Shiva very soon. Meanwhile, if you liked this article and found it helpful, please write “Namah Parvati Pate Hara Hara Mahadev“. Also, if you enjoyed reading the post and felt proud about the Bhartiya Sanskriti, then don’t hold back and share it with others. Share this post with your friends and family who are seeking a spiritual journey or are intrigued by the profound history of Kashi. Let’s spread the knowledge and inspiration together!” I will meet you in another post, till then Stay Safe🧡, Keep Travelling🚕 and Har Har Mahadev!
Kashi is truly a magical city that seamlessly blends spirituality and history. The ghats along the Ganges River and the vibrant energy of the temples create an unparalleled atmosphere that captivates the soul. Exploring Kashi is like stepping into a living tapestry of culture and tradition.