Where is Kashi Vishwantah Jyotirlinga Located?

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is in Varanasi city of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier the name of Varanasi was Banaras and before that the name of this city was Kashi during the reign of Emperor Vikramaditya. It is said that Kashi was a city of scholars.

Mahakavi Kalidasa had won everywhere in the world but was defeated in Kashi. This city is one of the oldest cities in India. It is a place dedicated to Lord Shiva and it is also called Shiva Dham. Here there is a Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva known as “Kashi Vishwanath”.

Kashi Vishwantah is the Seventh Jyotirlinga

Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga is the 7th Jyotirlinga. The most important thing is that this temple is located on the western bank of the holy river Ganges, it is known as Jyotirlinga Vishwanath or Vishveshwar Mahadev which means lord or ruler of the universe. The city of Varanasi is also called Kashi. Hence the temple is called Kashi Vishwanath temple.

The Mughals Destroyed the Temple Several Times

During Mughal rule, around 1194 AD, the original temple was demolished by Qutbuddin Aibak, who was the army general of Muhammad Ghori. The temple was then rebuilt by Hindu rulers and in 1669 AD, Aurangzeb demolished the rebuilt temple and built the Gyanavapi Mosque on the remaining parts.

Even today there is a mosque behind the temple which is known as Gyanvapi Masjid. Every time the temple was broken down, the priests and devotees would worship together in secret, sometimes worshiping the hidden Shivalinga, sometimes whispering Shiva's name in private. This has been going on for many years. But even today there is no real Shivling of the real Vishwanath Mahadev.

Where is the Original Shivling?

It is said that the real Jyotirlinga was hidden in the well of Gnanavapi to protect it from attackers. And I believe, the real Shivling is still in the well near the temple. A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court regarding this matter and ASI is surveying it. Let's see if the result is coming.

Why is this Temple Unique from all Other Temples?

Baba Vishwanath's temple’s top part which is covered with gold plate was offered by Raja Ranjit Singh of Punjab with 22 tons of gold. As much gold as he had donated to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, he also gave as much gold to the Guru Granth Sahib of Amritsar. Evidence of this has been found so far. The Mughals repeatedly destroyed the temple.

The present temple was rebuilt in 1777 by Maharani Devi Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. Its peak is 51 feet. Rani also built five pavilions here. Whatever you see in the temple today is the gift of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. Because before this Aurangzeb had completely damaged the temple.

This temple is unique; the spire above the sanctum sanctorum is adorned with the Sri Yantra, making it a highly sacred place for Tantric practices. The Sri Yantra represents Lakshmi and Shakti practices, and its placement above the Shivalinga indicates that not only devotion but also the heights of Tantra and Sadhana can be attained here. This site is particularly fruitful for seekers seeking esoteric knowledge.

It is said that the Aghor darshan of Baba Vishwanath destroys the sins of many lifetimes. Especially on Shivratri, Baba roams the city in his Aghor form, and his procession includes ghosts, spirits, gods, animals, birds, and spirits of all kinds. This darshan demonstrates that Shiva is present within every form, every situation, and every living being; he is the master of calmness.

What is Special about the Kashi Vishwanath Shivalinga?

Did you know? The Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga is divided into two parts. On the right side resides Goddess Bhagwati or Parvati, the embodiment of Shakti, while on the left side resides Lord Shiva in a beautiful form. This means that this linga is worshipped as "Half Ishwar" and "Half Parvati," and this form of Lord Shiva is called "Ardhanarishvara."

This combination represents the unity of Shiva and Shakti, which is extremely rare and sacred. For this reason, Kashi is called the region of liberation, because the union of Shiva and Shakti here grants the soul ultimate peace and salvation. It is believed that even Lord Vishnu and Brahma visit this place to visit.

Kashi Vishwanath Story

According to ancient texts, Lord Shiva made Kashi his eternal abode. This means that he declared that he would live there forever. The Skanda Purana states, that even during the Great Deluge, when the entire universe was being destroyed, Shiva held Kashi above the waters on his trident, protecting it from destruction.

One of the most fascinating texts tells the story of how Shiva and Parvati made Kashi their abode. It is said that when Shiva first arrived here, he was so captivated by its spiritual energy that he refused to leave. The gods feared that if Lord Shiva remained in the mortal world forever, humans might attain immortality. His presence would make humans extremely powerful. The greatest concern was that staying in Kashi would grant instant salvation, and no sinner would go to Yampuri.

So, they prayed to Mahadev to return to Mount Kailash. All the gods and goddesses tried to persuade him. Later, Shiva created one of his forms named as Vishwanath, who remained in Kashi forever as the lord of the universe, while his main divine form remained in the Kailash, Himalayas.

How to Reach Kashi Vishwanath?

By Air

If you come by flight, you will land at Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport which is about 25 km away from the temple and from there you can take an auto or taxi, and cabs are easily available directly to the temple.

By Train

Varanasi is also a major railway junction. There are other major railway junctions near Varanasi, such as Manduadih and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Railway Junction, which are both very close to Varanasi and are India's largest railway junctions. Traveling by train is also a convenient pilgrimage. Autos and cabs can also be used from any railway station to reach the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, which will take you directly to the temple.

By Road

Varanasi is a major holy place in India. It is connected by national highways to Lucknow, Patna, Allahabad, Delhi, Kolkata, and Gorakhpur. Thousands of regular buses, private taxis, and personal vehicles make commuting to and from Varanasi a breeze.