The
Kashi Vishwanath temple
is one of the most popular temples of
Lord Shiva. Standing on the western banks of the
holy Ganga, this serene temple is one of the
twelve Jyotirlingas and is located amidst the crowded lanes in the holy city of
Varanasi. It is believed that
Varanasi is the place where the
first Jyotirlinga manifested itself. This was that fiery pillar of light which broke from the earth’s crust and flared right to the Heaven. It was through this light that
Lord Shiva proclaimed His Supremacy over all the other Gods. Thus,
the Kashi Vishwanath temple, also known as the
Shri Vishweshwar Temple, is said to be dear to
Lord Shiva.
Many Hindus believe that this is the temple where one can achieve salvation. It is here that Lord Shiva gives the Tarak mantra to the ones who are about to die. Pray to the Kashi Vishwanath and all your desires are sure to be fulfilled.
The lane that reaches up to the
Kashi Vishwanath temple is called Vishwanatha lane. Visit the temple and you are sure to be enthralled for this temple is indeed an
architectural masterpiece. The magnificent edifice has gold plating on its 15.5-meter spire (also called the gold chatra) which gives it another popular name which is ‘The
Golden Temple!’
Inside the temple, towards the North side, there is a well called the ‘
Jnana Vapi’ or the wisdom well. The sanctum of the temple holds the linga that is set in the centre of the floor in a square silver altar.
The
Kashi Vishwanath temple has been rebuilt several times. It is believed that the original temple was built in 1490. This vintage temple was destroyed during a Mughal invasion and
King Aurangzeb built a mosque in place of it. Till today, the
Kashi Vishwanath temple and the
Gyanvapi Mosque stand adjacent to one another. It is said that when
Aurangzeb decided to destroy the temple, the idol of
Lord Shiva was hidden in the
Jnana Vapi in order to protect it from getting destroyed. The well still stands between the
temple and the mosque.
The latest structure that is standing tall today dates back to the 18th century. It is said that
Lord Shiva came in the dream of Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore and she built this current temple in 1777.