Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga: Varanasi’s Eternal Jyotirlinga

Kashi Vishwanath Temple, also known as the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, is a sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Vishwanath Gali, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites and is counted among the twelve holy Jyotirlinga shrines. The presiding deity, revered as Vishwanath or Vishweshwara (IAST: Viśvanātha and Viśveśvara), means “Lord of the Universe”.

Varanasi, also known as Kashi, is regarded as one of the holiest Hindu cities, located on the banks of the sacred Ganges River. A visit to the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Temple and a purifying bath in the Ganges is believed to help devotees progress on the path to moksha (liberation). Thus, Hindus from all over the world aspire to visit this divine place at least once in their lifetime.

This guide delves into the profound history, spiritual significance, architectural marvels, and the enduring resilience of the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, which has long stood as the spiritual heart of Hinduism.

The Genesis of the Jyotirlinga

• Varanasi: The First Manifestation: It is believed that Varanasi is the first Jyotirlinga to manifest itself.
• Legend of Brahma-Vishnu Supremacy: According to a Shiva legend from the Shiva Purana, once, Brahma and Vishnu had an argument over their supremacy. To settle the debate, Shiva pierced the three worlds, appearing as a huge, infinite pillar of light, the jyotirlinga. To discover the origin of this luminous column, Vishnu took the form of a boar (Varaha) and tracked the column beneath the ground, while Brahma, who assumed the shape of a swan, scoured the heavens in an attempt to locate the apex of the column. Both were unsuccessful in identifying the source of the luminous column. Brahma deceitfully asserted that he had discovered the summit of the column, while Vishnu humbly admitted his inability to find the starting point of the radiant column.
• Shiva’s Curse and Blessing: The dishonesty of Brahma angered Shiva, causing him to curse the creator deity that he would not be worshipped. Shiva also declared that Vishnu would be eternally worshipped for his honesty. Due to Brahma’s deceit over the discovery of the origin of the luminous column, Shiva penalized him by cutting his fifth head. This curse entailed that Brahma would no longer receive reverence, whereas Vishnu, being truthful, would be equally venerated alongside Shiva and have dedicated temples for eternity.
• Symbolism of the Jyotirlinga: A Jyotirlinga (Sanskrit: ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग, romanized: Jyotirliṅga, lit. ‘lingam of light’) is a devotional representation of the Hindu god Shiva. The jyotirlinga is an ancient axis mundi symbol representing the supremely formless (nirguna) reality at the core of creation, out of which the form (saguna) of Shiva appears. The jyothirlinga shrines are thus places where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. At all these sites, the primary image is a lingam representing the beginningless and endless Stambha pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva.
• The Twelve Jyotirlingas: There are twelve ‘self-manifested’ jyotirlinga sites that take the name of the presiding deity; each is considered a different manifestation of Shiva. These twelve jyothirlinga are located at Somnath in Gujarat, Mallikarjuna at Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, Mahakaleswar at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, Bhimashankar in Maharashtra, Viswanath at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Triambakeshwar in Maharashtra, Baidyanath Jyotirlinga at Deoghar in Jharkhand, Nageswar at Dwarka in Gujarat, Rameshwar at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, and Grishneshwar at Aurangabad in Maharashtra.

Ancient Glory and Literary Mentions

• Puranic References: The Skanda Purana contains a part titled “Kashi Khanda”, while the Brahmavaivarta Purana includes a portion known as “Kashi Rahasya”, both of which are dedicated to the city of Varanasi. These texts describe Varanasi’s sacred geography and its spiritual eminence. Kashi is mentioned in Vedic, Epic, and Puranic literature, holding a very significant place in India’s civilizational journey.
• Ancient Temple Description (Kashi Khanda): As per the Kashi Khanda, there were a total of 1099 temples in Varanasi, out of which 513 were specifically devoted to the worship of Shiva. The scripture states that the Vishwanath temple was formerly known as Moksha Lakshmi Vilas. The temple housed a total of five mandapas (halls), with the lingam of Vishwanath situated in the garbhagriha (innermost sanctuary). The remaining four mandapas included the Jnana mandapa located to the east, the Ranga mandapa to the west, the Aishvarya mandapa to the north, and the Mukti mandapa to the south.
• Cyclical Destruction and Reconstruction: Nārāyaṇa Bhaṭṭa, in his book Tristhalisetu, as well as Madhuri Desai, describe that the temple centers around a repetition of destruction and reconstruction, highlighting its enduring resilience.

A Tumultuous History: Destruction and Rebirth

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple has faced repeated demolitions and reconstructions throughout its history.

• First Demolition (1194): The original Vishwanath temple, initially known as the Adi Vishveshwar Temple, was destroyed by Muhammad of Ghor during his invasion of India in 1194. The Ghurids destroyed it when Mu’izz al-Din Muhammad ibn Sam returned to India and defeated Jayachandra of Kannauj near Chandawar, afterwards razing the city of Kashi. In a few years, the Razia Mosque was constructed in its place.
• Reconstruction by Iltutmish (1230): In 1230, the temple was rebuilt near the Avimukteshwara Temple, away from the main site, during the reign of Delhi’s Sultan Iltutmish (1211–1266).
• Second Demolition (15th-16th Century): It was demolished again during the rule of either Hussain Shah Sharqi (1447–1458) or Sikandar Lodi (1489–1517). Sikandar Lodi demolished several sacred temples of Kashi in 1490 CE, including the Vishwanath temple.
• Reconstruction During Akbar’s Reign: Raja Man Singh started rebuilding the temple during Akbar’s reign. Raja Todar Mal furthered the reconstruction of the temple in 1585. In 1585 CE, Jagatguru Narayanabhatta, a renowned pandit from Paithan, Maharashtra, was responsible for getting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple rebuilt. In the seventeenth century, during the rule of Jahangir, Vir Singh Deo completed the construction of the earlier temple.
• Aurangzeb’s Demolition (1669) and Gyanvapi Mosque: In 1669, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb destroyed the temple and built the Gyanvapi Mosque in its place. The remains of the erstwhile temple can be seen in the foundation, the columns, and the rear part of the mosque. Hindu pilgrims continued to visit the remnants of the temple.

The Present Temple: Maratha Legacy and Modern Enhancements

• Construction by Ahilyabai Holkar (1780): The current structure was constructed on an adjacent site by the Maratha ruler Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore in 1780. Ahilyabai Holkar is credited for rebuilding the Kashi Vishwanath Temple after it was desecrated and destroyed by Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. In 1742, the Maratha ruler Malhar Rao Holkar had devised a plan to demolish the Gyanvapi Mosque and reconstruct the Vishweshwar temple at the site, but his plan did not materialize.
• Contributions by Other Maratha Rulers: In 1785, at the behest of Governor General Warren Hastings, Collector Mohammed Ibrahim constructed a Naubatkhana in front of the temple. In 1828, Baiza Bai, widow of the Maratha ruler Daulat Rao Scindhia of Gwalior State, built a low-roofed colonnade with over 40 pillars in the Gyan Vapi precinct. During 1833–1840, at the boundary of Gyanvapi Well, the ghats (steps by the riverside) and other nearby temples were constructed.
• Gold Plating by Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1835): Many noble families from various ancestral kingdoms of the Indian subcontinent made generous contributions to the operation of the temple. In 1835, Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire, at the behest of his wife, Maharani Datar Kaur, donated 1 tonne of gold for plating the temple’s dome. In February 2022, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple was also gold-plated after an anonymous donor from South India donated 60 kg of gold to the temple.
• Silver Donations: In 1841, Raghuji Bhonsle III of Nagpur donated silver to the temple.

Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project

• Launch and Purpose: The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 to make it easier to travel between the temple and the Ganges River and to create more space to prevent crowding. This project aimed to enhance the pilgrimage experience by directly connecting the temple with the riverfront.
• Inauguration and Impact: On 13 December 2021, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the corridor with a sacred ceremony. This led to a many-fold increase in visitors.
• Relocation and Temple Restoration: A press release by the government stated that around 1,400 residents and businesses within the corridor’s area were relocated elsewhere and compensated. It also mentioned that more than 40 ruined, centuries-old temples were found and rebuilt, including the Gangeshwar Mahadev temple, the Manokameshwar Mahadev temple, the Jauvinayak temple, and the Shri Kumbha Mahadev temple.

Temple Structure and Layout

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple complex is renowned for its architectural beauty and spiritual ambiance.

• Main Deity and Lingam Dimensions: The linga of the main deity at the shrine is 60 centimetres (24 in) tall and 90 centimetres (35 in) in circumference, housed in a silver altar.
• Smaller Shrines: The temple complex consists of a series of smaller shrines located in a small lane called the Vishwanatha Gali. The main temple is a quadrangle, and there are shrines to other gods all around it. There are small temples for Kala Bhairava, Kartikeya, Avimukteshwara, Vishnu, Ganesha, Shani, Shiva, and Parvati in the complex.
• Jnana Vapi (Wisdom Well): There is a small well in the temple called the Jnana Vapi, also spelled Gyan Vapi (the wisdom well). The Jnana Vapi is located to the north of the main temple. During the invasion by the Mughals, the jyotirlinga was hidden in the well to protect it. It is said that the main priest of the temple jumped in the well with the lingam in order to protect the jyotirlinga from invaders.
• Three-Part Structure: The structure of the temple is composed of three parts. The first consists of a 15.5-meter-high spire on the temple; the second is a gold dome; and the third is the gold spire within the sanctuary bearing a flag and a trident.
• “Golden Temple” Title: The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is popularly known as the Golden Temple, due to the gold plating of its spire. One tonne of gold donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh has been used in the gold plating, as well as in three domes, each made up of pure gold, donated in 1835.

Religious Importance and Rituals

• Significance for Moksha: Kashi Vishwanath Temple is widely recognized as one of the most important places of worship in the Hindu religion because it holds the jyotirlinga of Shiva Vishveshwara, or Vishvanath. A visit to the temple and a bath in the Ganges is one of many methods believed to lead one on a path to moksha (liberation). Thus, Hindus from all over the world try to visit the place at least once in their lifetime.
• Rameswaram Tradition: There is also a tradition that one should give up at least one desire after a pilgrimage to the temple, and the pilgrimage would also include a visit to the temple at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu in South India, to which people take water samples of the Ganges to perform prayer there and bring back sand from near that temple.
• Salvation at Death: There is a popular belief that Shiva himself blows the mantra of salvation into the ears of people who die naturally at the Vishwanath temple. Many legends tell of the true devotee achieving freedom from death and saṃsāra (aimlessness) by the worship of Shiva, and that Shiva’s devotees upon death are directly taken to his abode on Mount Kailash by his messengers and not to judgment by Yama.
• Tamil Saivite Nayanar Mentions: It is one of the shrines of the Vaippu Sthalams sung by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Sambandar.
• Daily Aarti Timings: The temple opens daily at 2:30 AM and various aartis are held regularly. Mangala Aarti is performed at 3:00 am (ticketed), Bhog Aarti at 11:15 am, Saptarishi Aarti at 7:00 pm and Shringar Aarti at 9:00 pm. Shayan Aarti marks the end of the day and is performed from 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm, before the Lord retires for the night. General darshan is free of cost from 4:00 am to 11:00 am and 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
• Festival Rituals:
  • Rangabhari Ekadashi: Phalgun Shukla Ekadashi is celebrated as Rangabhari Ekadashi, a festival of colors. According to tradition, before Holi, Baba Vishwanath comes back to Kashi after having a cow in the form of Mother Bhagwati. The temple complex echoes with the beating of dozens of damroos (two-sided drums). This tradition has been performed for over 200 years. On Vasant Panchami, Baba’s Tilak is performed.
  • Shivaratri Marriage and Parvati’s Departure: Shivaratri marks Baba’s marriage, and Rangbhari Ekadashi marks Parvati leaving with her husband Shiva. These traditions have been carried out by the erstwhile Mahant family of the temple for over a century. The rituals of Baba’s marriage ceremony are performed at the residence of Kulpati Tiwari, the erstwhile Mahant of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Redzone.
  • Saptarishi Aarti: The seven rituals of Saptarishi Aarti were performed by Baba Vishwanath. According to the Puranas, Kashi is beloved by the Saptarishi; so, according to the tradition, the devotees of the Saptarishi Aarti perform the rituals of marriage. The seven archaks under the leadership of Pradhan Archak Pandit Shashibhushan Tripathi (Guddu Maharaj) completed the marriage in Vedic rituals. The Saptarishi Aarti is an ancient ritual dating back to more than 750 years.
  • Jalabhishek by Yadav Community: The Yadav community of Kashi, associated with Chandravanshi Gop Seva Samiti and Shree Krishna Yadav Mahasabha, have been performing jalabhishek on a shivling, traditionally for 90 years, starting in 1932. This tradition of collectively offering water by Yadav brothers was started in 1952 by Teju Sardar. Around 20,000 to 25,000 Yadav devotees participate in this event. They carry pitchers on their shoulders from Ganga Ghat, collect Gangajal, walk to Baba Kashi Vishwanath temple, and offer Gangajal to Baba Kashi Vishwanath every year in the Month of Shravan.

Management and Visitor Information

• Management: The temple was managed by a hereditary group of pandits or mahants. After the death of Mahant Devi Dutt, a dispute arose among his successors. In 1900, his brother-in-law, Pandit Visheshwar Dayal Tewari, filed a lawsuit, which resulted in him being declared the head priest. Since 1983, the temple has been managed by a board of trustees set up by the government of Uttar Pradesh.
• Visitor Numbers: It has become one of the most visited Hindu temples in India, with an average of 45,000 pilgrims per day in 2023. As of August 2023, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust reported that 10 crore (100 million) tourists had visited the temple since the inauguration of the corridor in December 2021. The temple receives around 3,000 visitors every day. On certain occasions, the numbers reach 1,000,000 or more.
• Temple Assets: The total assets of the temple were estimated to be more than ₹6 crores in 2024.
• Temple Recycling Initiative: Flowers from the temple are recycled into incense by the biomaterials startup Phool.co.
• Transportation: Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is located roughly 22 kilometers from the city center and approximately 25 km from the temple complex. There are two railway stations in the city, namely Varanasi Cantonment Station and Kashi Railway Station. The closest railway station to Kashi Vishwanath Mandir is Varanasi Junction Railway Station, which is about 4 km from the temple. From the railway stations, cabs, autos, bikes, or taxis can be taken to reach the temple. The city has two bus terminals: one located at the Cantonment (Cantt) and another at Golgadda, commonly referred to as Kashi Depot. The urban transportation system comprises many types of vehicles, including two-wheelers (34%), autos (20%), cycles (16%), pedestrians (14%), four-wheelers (6%), cycle rickshaws (6%), and other miscellaneous vehicles (4%).
• Accommodations: There are various dharmshalas, rented guest rooms, and other hotels and lodges available nearby at various prices, including a guest house run by the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust. Southern Grand, Kashi (Bhimashankar Guest House) is an accommodation facility situated in Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor of Varanasi, India.

The Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga stands as an eternal symbol of devotion, resilience, and spiritual power in the ancient city of Varanasi. Its tumultuous history of repeated destructions and magnificent reconstructions mirrors the cyclical nature of time and the enduring faith of millions. As one of the twelve Jyotirlingas — a site where Shiva manifested as a fiery column of light — the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Temple serves as the spiritual heart of Kashi, offering a profound journey towards moksha (liberation).

From its unique rituals like the Saptarishi Aarti to the modern enhancements of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, this sacred abode continues to inspire, drawing seekers from across the globe into its timeless embrace — a living testament to Lord Shiva’s omnipresent grace.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

1: What is the significance of Kashi Vishwanath Temple?

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, making it one of the most sacred Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed to be the first Jyotirlinga to manifest, and a visit, along with a bath in the Ganges, is believed to lead one to moksha (liberation). The Jyotirlingas symbolize Shiva’s infinite and unchanging nature.

2: What is the history of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple’s destruction and reconstruction?

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple has a turbulent history, having been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times. The original temple, the Adi Vishveshwar Temple, was demolished by Muhammad of Ghor in 1194. It was later destroyed by Aurangzeb in 1669, who built the Gyanvapi Mosque in its place. The current temple was built by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar in 1780.

3: What is the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor?

The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 and inaugurated on 13 December 2021, is a major redevelopment that connects the Kashi Vishwanath Temple directly to the Ganges River. It aimed to make access easier for pilgrims and provide more space, leading to a significant increase in visitor numbers.

4: Why is Kashi Vishwanath also called the “Golden Temple”?

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is popularly known as the “Golden Temple” due to the significant gold plating on its dome and spire. Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire donated 1 tonne of gold for this purpose in 1835, and an anonymous donor from South India contributed another 60 kg of gold in February 2022 for the sanctum sanctorum.

5: What is the “Jnana Vapi” well in the temple?

The Jnana Vapi (Wisdom Well) is a small, sacred well located to the north of the main temple. According to legend, during Mughal invasions, the original jyotirlinga was hidden in this well by the chief priest to protect it from destruction.

---

For a deeper understanding of the Puranic origins of Jyotirlingas, delve into [Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga: Ujjain’s Sacred South-Facing Shiva Temple]. 

For the latest updates on Ancient History, cultural insights, spiritual journeys, and other global events, visit mahakaltimes.com first.