Kashi Vishwanath Temple is a standout among the most popular temple in Varanasi, otherwise called the Golden temple devoted to Lord Shiva.
It was built in the year 1780 by the Maratha ruler, Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of the Indore. This makes Varanasi a sightseer’s place on account of awesome religious significance to the Hindus.
The gold used to cover the two arches of the temple was given by the Punjab Kesari, the Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who managed Punjab.
Presently, after 28 January 1983, this temple turns into the property of the administration of Uttar Pradesh and it is overseen by Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh, then by the Kashi Naresh.
Standing on the western bank of India’s holiest river the Ganges, Varanasi is the oldest surviving city in the world and the cultural capital of India.
It is in the heart of this city that there stands in its fullest majesty the Kashi Vishwanath Temple which is enshrined by the Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara, or Vishwanatha.
Here gravitate the teeming millions of India to seek benediction and spiritual peace by the darshan of this Jyotirlinga which confers liberation from the bondage of Maya and the inexorable entanglements of the world.
ASRI KASHI VISHWA NATH TEMPLE 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 devotees by a single visit to Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Deeply and intimately implanted in the Hindu mind, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple has been a living embodiment 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 symbolizes man’s desire to live in peace and 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 well as global levels.
Aarti time of Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Table of Contents
Kashi Vishwanath Temple Opening time is: 3:00 am in the morning
- Mangala Aarti : 3 AM- 4 AM (Morning)
- Bhog Aarti : 11.15 AM to 12.20 PM (Day)
- Sandhya Aarti : 7 PM to 8.15 PM (Evening)
- Shringar Aarti: 9 PM to 10.15 PM (Night)
- Shayan Aarti : 10.30 PM – 11 PM (Night)
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is situated on the western bank of the heavenly stream Ganges. The Jyotirlinga present in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple is considered the twelfth of all the Jyotirlingas.
Lord Shiva is the principal divinity in Hinduism furthermore known as the Vishwanatha or Vishweshwara (implies the leader of the universe).
Kashi is the most established city of the world in history and is known as the city of Lord Shiva.
As per the Shaiva reasoning, it is viewed that Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the midpoint of love for quite a while.
There is a Gyanvapi Mosque found adjoining the temple. Amid profound events, for example, Shivratri, the ruler of (Kashi Naresh) goes to the temple.
Around then no one is permitted to enter the temple. Few fans are permitted to the temple simply after Kashi Naresh has performed the Puja.
There is a well on the grounds of the temple called Jnana Vapi or insight well. There is a history behind the well.
It is viewed that the Jyotirlinga was hidden in the well to get assurance from invasion. The primary holy person of the temple was bounced into the well with the Jyotirlinga to shield from the interlopers.
There are different little sanctuaries, for example, the Kaalbhairav, Avimukteshwara, Vishnu, Vinayaka, and Virupaksh Gauri are situated on the primary grounds of the temple.
Around 3000 Pilgrims come day by day to the temple and on the uncommon events, it gets to be 100000.
The glory of Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Kashi city is the spot for Moksha and Ganga. The individuals who live here achieve Mukti or Salvation, even without traveling to wherever of the journey.
Anyone, be it a man, lady, youthful, old, Sahara, unadulterated or debased, Prasuta, Aprasuta, Swadesh, Andaja, Udibhaja, of whatever position, all accomplish Moksha.
There is not a particle of uncertainty in this. Whatever a man might do, eat, rest, or whatever else, in the event that he withdraws from this world from Avimukteshwar, he certainly achieves Moksha.
Any little demonstration of goodness or Punyakarya takes away every one of the wrongdoings. Great and terrible individuals are conceived on this planet. Be that as it may, by living in Kashi, both accomplish Moksha. Later, a few people approached to assemble this temple.
A lord by the name of Banar built up this city of the journey. Around one and half thousand wonderful sanctuaries were worked here. The tower of the Vishweshwara temple is a hundred feet high.
Kashi Nagar is great to the point that regardless of the fact that the universe is to be obliterated in Pralaya, it would stay in place. Dandapani and Kalabhairav monitor this city.
They stay there until the end of time. On the Ganga banks, eighty-four showering ghats are found. There are likewise a few teerthkundas. They have been there right from the seasons of Vedas.
Significance of the Kashi Vishwanath temple
Kashi Vishwanath Temple has the most religious significance for love in the Hindu religion.
Numerous extraordinary Hindu holy people (like Adi Sankaracharya, Goswami Tulsidas, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda, Gurunanak, and so forth) had gone to the Varanasi to scrub down in the blessed water of the Gange and for the Darshan of the Jyotirlinga.
It is trusted that the person who will clean up (in any event once in their lifetime) in the Gange in the heavenly city Varanasi will get Moksha. Genuine fans of Lord Shiva get the opportunity from the cycle of demise and birth.
After death, they specifically mixed into the Mahadev. Individuals’ convictions that the person who chose to end their life at the temple, Lord Shiva himself drives a mantra of flexibility in his ear.
Insights about the Shiva temple are portrayed in the Kashi Khanda of Skanda Purana. Kashi Vishwanath temple was built by the Hari Chandra in the eleventh century.
The temple was wrecked and recreated commonly. The present development is finished by the Hindu Maratha ruler of the Malwa kingdom, Ahilya Bai Holkar.
History of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Kashi Vishwanath temple is situated on the western bank of the River Ganges in the heavenly city Varanasi. Jyotirlinga in the Kashi Vishwanath temple has an exceptional and selective significance in the religious history of India.
It pulls in enthusiasts from all over the world. The administration of the temple was taken under UP Government on 28th January 1983.
The present temple is built by Late Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore in 1780. A Naubatkhana (before the temple) is developed by the Collector Mohd. Ibrahim Khan in 1785.
The two arches of the temple were secured by the gold (offered by the Punjab Kesari Maharaja Ranjeet Singh) in 1839. Also, the third arch was gold plated by the Ministry of societies and Religious undertakings of the Uttar Pradesh Government.
Vishwanath Gali in Varanasi
Vishwanath Gali in Varanasi is the best approach to Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Kashi Vishwanath Temple is situated in the Vishwanath Gali and one who needs to go to the temple can experience the Vishwanath Gali.
Vishwanath Gali is an exceptionally well-known Gali of the Varanasi and popular for women’s corners, which look for pooja merchandise and desserts.
Pilgrims can make a reasonable shopping in the Vishwanath Gali subsequent to finishing the Darshan of Lord Shiva in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
The Temple opens daily at 3 a.m. in Mangala Aarati from 3 to 4 a.m. ticket holders are permitted to join. From 4 to 11 a.m. general Darshan is allowed. 11.30 to 12 a.m. mid day Bhog Aarati is done.
Again 12 noon to 7 p.m. devotees is free to have darshan. From 7 to 8.30 p.m.
evening Sapta Rishi Aarati is done after which darshan is again possible until 9 p.m. when Shringar/Bhog Aarati starts.
After 9 p.m. Darshan from outside only is possible. Shayana Aarti starts at 10.30p.m.The Temple closes at 11 p.m.
Most of the Prasad, milk, clothes, and other such offerings are given to the poor.
Contributions in cash or kind towards development or specific purposes are accepted giving due thought and a receipt thereof is issued and the donation is used for the desired seva.
The city has been mentioned time and again in the Upanishads, Brahmanas, and the Puranas. Kashi has been derived from the word KAS, which literally means to shine.
There are records to prove that the temple was founded in 1490. Kashi has seen the rule of many kings both famous and not so famous.
Few of us know that it was also ruled by Buddhists for some time. The city on the banks of the Ganges has seen its share of slaughter and destruction.
The temples were plundered time and again by the Mughals. The original temples were re-built, then destroyed and re-built. The city has a resilience that could survive all attacks and get back to running again.
- Mughal Emperor Akbar gave permission to build the original temple, which was later destroyed by Aurangazeb.
- The great Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar built the present temple. The Kashi Vishwanath temple was last rebuilt and restored to its glory by the Queen of Indore, Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar. She took the initiative to restore the temple and also provided the funds for it. Aurangzeb had destroyed the temple and built a mosque in its place. Even today the remains of the temple are visible on the western wall of the mosque in the form of excellent and complicated artistic work. There is a legend that Shiva appeared in her dream and she took it upon herself to start the renovation work in the 18th century.
- Kashi Vishwanath is revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva.
- The temple has a golden chatra on top. It is believed that any wish is fulfilled if it is made after seeing the chatra.
- Temple is an architectural sight – After the Queen of Indore re-built the temple, Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Indore donated almost a ton of gold to ensure that the towers of the Kashi Vishwanath temple are gold plated. The towers are almost 15.5 meters in height and a sight seen to be believed. The temple has an inner sanctum that comprises a linga made up of black stone placed on a silver altar, on the floor. There are three shrines in a row on the south. Around the temple, there is a cluster of five lings when combined known as Nilakantheshvar temple
- First, the ray of light -It is believed that when the earth was created the first ray of light fell on Kashi. There are legends that believe that Shiva had actually stayed here for some time. Shiva is supposed to be the guardian of the city and its people. It is said that in Kashi even the nine planets cannot do their own free will and have to abide by Shiv. Shani was supposed to have come to Kashi in search of Shiv and could not enter the temple for 7 and a half years. When you visit Kashi you will see the temple for Shanidev outside the Vishwanath temple.
- It is said that when news reached Aurangzeb’s plans to destroy the temple, the idol of Shiva was hidden in a well to protect it from destruction. The well still stands there between the mosque and the temple. Be sure to see it next time you go to pray at this majestic site.
The Kashi Vishweshwar temple as we see it now was built by Ahalya Devi Holkar in 1777 AD. In 1785 AD, the then King of Kashi, Mansaram, and his son Belvant Singh built many more temples near Varanasi.
In 1755 AD, the Avadh part of pratinidhi (representative) got the old temple of Bindumadhava repaired and renovated it beautifully.
The kalabhairava temple was built by Srimant Baji Rao Peshwa in 1852 AD.
King Ranjit Singh had the Kashi Vishwanath temple towers covered in gold. A huge bell hangs in the temple. It was donated by the King of Nepal.
Surrounding Saranath, there are many Buddhist stupas, Viharas, and Chaitra grihas. In 1931 AD the Mahabodhi society had built a very beautiful Buddha temple in Saranath.
The Hindu devotees visit Kashi to make offerings. Here they perform many rituals and consider themselves blessed. Alongside, several foreign tourists visit this place regularly.
Places worth seeing include Ghats, temples, Tapo Bhoomi, and the scenic beauty of the surroundings.
Kashi Kshetra and Sri Vishweswara Jyotirlinga are connected as the holiest shrines in the world. The Ganga water here is considered the nectar of the earth.
Dying in Kashi or performing the final rites is considered the way to the Heavens. Kashi – Rameshwar yatra is the prime pilgrimage for the Hindus.
Jaya Ganga, Jaya Vishwanath, Om Namah Shivaya. The entire area echoes these chantings. The Gods in Varanasi are described in Sanskrit in the following way:
“Varanasitu Bhuvantrya sarabhoota’
Ramya Nrinaam Sugatidakhil Sevyamana”
Atragata Vividha dushkritkarinopi’
Papakshaye virajasaha sumanaprakashah”
– Narada Puran
How to reach Kashi Vishwanath Temple Varanasi
Varanasi is easily accessible from all parts of the country. Very well connected by road, rail, and air, the City of. offers Convenient and comfortable traveling options to and from other cities of India.
Local Transport
Taxis: Private taxis are available from travel agencies, hotels, etc., auto-rickshaws, cycle rickshaws, and Tempos are also readily available.
Left Luggage Facility: Left luggage facility is available at both the Varanasi and Mughalsarai railway stations(24 Hours).
By Air
Indian Airlines flies to Babatpur airport which is 22 km. from Varanasi and 30 km. from Sarnath There is a. direct, daily flight connection between Varanasi and New Delhi. It also connects Varanasi to Delhi, and Agra, Khajuraho, Calcutta, Mumbai, Lucknow, and Bhuvaneshwar. For travel, and reservations contact Indian Airlines.
By Train
Varanasi is an important and major rail junction. The city is served by trains from all metros and major cities across the country. New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Gwalior, Meerut, Indore, Guwahati, Allahbad, Lucknow, Dehradun… the city has direct rail connections.