Lord Shiva Kashi Vishwanath (Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga) Kashi River Ganga River Ganga Aarti Manikarnika Ghat (River Ganga) Lord Kalabhairava Devi Vishalakshi (Varanasi Shakti Peetha) Devi Vishwabahu Devi Annapoorna Yogini Lord Brahma Bindu Madhav Dhundiraj Vinayaka Lolark Kund Bhakta Hanuman Sage Agastya Sage Shukracharya Adi Shankaracharya Trailanga Swami Baba Lokenath Ramakrishna Paramahamsha
• Shiva: Lord Shiva created Kashi and abides there as Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga. Lord Shiva also established Kalabhairava, Dandapani and Ashta Bhairavas in Kashi. Lord Shiva was worshipped in Kashi by devas and sages due to which various Lingas exist in Kashi.
- Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga (Near Lalita Ghat)
- Avimukteshwara Linga (Within Kashi Vishwanath Temple)
- Trilochan Temple (Near Trilochan Ghat)
- Adi Mahadev Temple (Near Trilochan Ghat)
- Vireshwar Temple (Near Schindia Ghat) Vishwakarmeshwar Temple (Within the Vireshwar Temple near Schindia Ghat)
- Chandreshwar Temple (Within Siddheshwari Temple near Schindia Ghat)
- Dharmeshwar Temple (Near Meer Ghat)
- Kameshwar Temple (North of Trilochan quite close to Prahlad Ghat)
- Kedareshwar Temple (Near Kedar Ghat)
- Krittivasheshwar Temple (Daranagar area between Vishwanath and Mahamrityunjay Temples)
- Manikarnikeshwar Temple (Ghasi Tola quite close to Manikarnika Ghat)
- Omkareshwar Temple (Near Matsyodari or Macchodari area)
- Ratneshwar Temple (Vishweshwarganj close to Mahamrityunjay Temple)
- Kalabhairava Temple
- Dandapani Temple
- Bhairava Temples
• Devi: Devi abides in Kashi as Varanasi Shakti Peetha (Devi Vishalakshi). Devi also abides in Kashi in other forms like Devi Annapoorna, Devi Vishwabahu, Devi Durga, 64 Yoginis etc.
- Devi Vishalakshi Temple (Varanasi Shakti Peetha)
- Devi Annapoorna Temple
- Devi Vishwabahu Temple
- Devi Durga Temple
- Devi Sankata Temple
- Devi Siddheshwari Temple
- Yogini Temple
• Brahma: Lord Brahma performed ten Ashwamedha Yagnas in Kashi (Dasashwamedh Ghat).
- Dasashwamedh Ghat
• Vishnu: Lord Vishnu abides in Kashi as Bindu Madhava.
- Bindu Madhav Temple
• Ganesha: Sri Ganesha abides in Kashi as 56 Vinayakas, the most famous of which is Dhundiraj Vinayaka.
- Dhundiraj Vinayaka Temple
• Surya: Surya deva abides in Kashi as 12 Adityas, the most famous of which is Lolarka.
- Lolarka Kund
• Hanuman: Bhakta Hanuman abides in Kashi as Sankat Mochan Hanuman.
- Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
○ Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?): Sri Adi Shankaracharya got the darshan of Lord Shiva in Kashi as a chandala with four dogs who came to test him.
○ Trailanga Swami (1607 - 1887 CE): Sri Trailanga Swami lived in Kashi for many years and performed many miraculous deeds.
- Trailanga Swami Ashram
○ Baba Lokenath (1730 - 1890 CE): Baba Lokenath lived in Kashi for sometime as a disciple of Sri Trailanga Swami.
○ Ramakrishna Paramahamsha (1836 - 1886 CE): Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa visited Kashi during his pilgrimage and had a vision of Lord Shiva imparting the Taraka mantra. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa also met Sri Trailanga Swami during his visit.
अयोध्या मथुरा माया काशी काञ्ची अवन्तिका । पुरी द्वारावती चैव सप्तैते मोक्षदायकाः ॥
- Sapta Mokshapuri Sloka (Kashi is a Moksha Puri)
वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्र्यंबकं गौतमीतटे । हिमालये तु केदारं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये ॥
- Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotra - verse 3 (Varanasi has the Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga)
गङ्गातरङ्गरमणीयजटाकलापं गौरीनिरन्तरविभूषितवामभागम् । नारायणप्रियमनङ्गमदापहारं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥
- Vishwanathashtakam - verse 1 (Lord Vishwanatha abides as the presiding deity of Varanasi)
देवराजसेव्यमानपावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् । नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगंबरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
- Kalabhairava Ashtakam - verse 1 (Lord Kalabhairava abides as the guardian deity of Kashi)
वाराणस्यां विशालाक्षी देवता कालभैरवः । मणिकर्णीति विख्याता कुण्डलं च मम श्रुतेः ॥
- Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 30 (Varanasi has the Vishalakshi Shakti Peetha where the Kundala of Devi had fallen)
नित्यानन्दकरी वराभयकरी सौन्दर्यरत्नाकरी निर्धूताखिलघोरपावनकरी प्रत्यक्षमाहेश्वरी । प्रालेयाचलवंशपावनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥
- Annapoorna Stotram - verse 1 (Devi Annapoorna abides as the presiding mother of Kashi)
देवि सुरेश्वरि भगवति गङ्गे त्रिभुवनतारिणि तरलतरङ्गे । शङ्करमौलिविहारिणि विमले मम मतिरास्तां तव पदकमले ॥
- Ganga Stotram - verse 1 (River Ganga flows through Kashi)
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is identified with the Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga mentioned in the Shiva Purana. The Avimukteshwar Linga is also present within the Vishwanath Temple and is mentioned in the Shiva Purana. The Vishwanath Temple is located near the Lalita Ghat of Varanasi.
• Temples and Places of Lord Shiva and various Deities in Kashi (from Kashi Khanda):
► Kashi - River Ganga Ghats (Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh)
Some of the famous Ghats are:
• Asi Ghat
• Harishchandra Ghat
• Dashashwamedh Ghat
• Manikarnika Ghat
• Panchganga Ghat
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple is located near the Lalita Ghat.
- The famous Ganga Aarti is held in Dashashwamedh Ghat.
The list of Ghats of river Ganga in Kashi are given below:
Ravidas Ghat
Asi Ghat
Ganga Mahal Ghat 1
Reewa Ghat
Tulsi Ghat
Bhadaini Ghat
Janaki Ghat
Mata Anandamayi Ghat
Vaccharaja Ghat
Jain Ghat
Nishadraj Ghat
Panchakot Ghat
Prabhu Ghat
Chet Singh Ghat
Niranjani Ghat
Mahanirvani Ghat
Shivala Ghat
Gularia Ghat
Dandi Ghat
Hanuman Ghat
Karnataka Ghat
Harishchandra Ghat
Lali Ghat
Vijaynagar Ghat
Kedar Ghat: The Kedareshwar Temple is near this ghat.
Chauki Ghat
Kshemeshwar Ghat
Manasarovar Ghat
Narad Ghat
Raja Ghat
Pandey Ghat
Digpatia Ghat
Chausatthi Ghat
Rana Mahal Ghat
Darbhanga Ghat
Munshi Ghat
Ahilyabai Ghat
Shitala Ghat
Dashashwamedh Ghat: The famous Ganga Arati of Kashi is performed in the Dashashwamedh Ghat every evening.
Prayag Ghat
Rajendra Prasad Ghat
Manmahal Ghat
Varahi Ghat
Tripura Bhairavi Ghat
Meer Ghat: Dharmeshwar Temple (with the Dharmeshwar Linga and Dharmakoop within it) is near this ghat.
Lalita Ghat: Vishwanath Temple (with Vishwanath and Avimukteshwar Lingas) is near this ghat.
Jalshayi Ghat
Manikarnika Ghat:Manikarnikeshwar Temple is quite close to this ghat.
Scindia Ghat: Siddheswari Temple (with the Chandreshwar Linga and Chandrakoop within it) and Vireshwar Temple (with the Vireshwar Linga and Vishwakarmeshwar Linga) is near this ghat.
Sankata Ghat
Ganga Mahal Ghat 2
Bhonsale Ghat
Agnishwar Ghat
Ganesh Ghat
Mehta Ghat
Ram Ghat
Jatar Ghat
Gwalior Ghat
Balaji Ghat
Panchganga Ghat
Durga Ghat
Brahma Ghat
Bundiparkota Ghat
Shitala Ghat
Lal Ghat
Hanumangadhi Ghat
Gaay Ghat
Badrinarayan Ghat
Trilochan Ghat: Trilochan Temple and Mahadev Temple is near this ghat.
Gola Ghat
Nandishwar Ghat
Sakka Ghat
Teliyanala Ghat
Naya Ghat
Prahlad Ghat: Kameshwar Temple is quite close to this ghat.
Kalabhairava Temple is present in Varanasi. Sri Kalabhairava is considered as the Kotwal of Kashi. Sri Kalabhairava Temple is located in Vishweshwarganj area, around 1 km from Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Devi Vishalakshi Temple of Varanasi is identified with the Varanasi Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. The Vishalakshi Temple is located near the Meer Ghat.
Devi Vishwabahu is identified with Devi Vishwabhuja mentioned in Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda. Devi Vishwabahu shrine is present within the Kashi Dharmeshwar Temple premises near Meer Ghat.
• Varanasi Shakti Peetha: I meditate on the Varanasi Shakti Peetha where the Kundala (Ear-Ring) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Vishalakshi and the Bhairava is called Kalabhairava. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 30)
Devi Vishalakshi Temple of Varanasi is identified with the Varanasi Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. The Vishalakshi Temple is located near the Meer Ghat.
Devi Vishalakshi Temple of Varanasi is identified with the Varanasi Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. The Vishalakshi Temple is located near the Meer Ghat.
Devi Vishwabahu is identified with Devi Vishwabhuja mentioned in Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda. Devi Vishwabahu shrine is present within the Kashi Dharmeshwar Temple premises near Meer Ghat.
Trailanga Swami (1607 - 1887 CE) was a great saint of Kashi who was a Yogi. In his long life of 280 years, he spent most of his life in Kashi. He is often called the living Shiva of Kashi.
• Festivals:
- Maha Shivaratri: Celebrates the cosmic union of Shiva and Shakti (Kashi Vishwanath)
- Bhairava Ashtami: Celebrates the manifestation of Lord Kalabhairava (Kashi Kalabhairava)
- Sharadiya Navaratri: Celebrates the victory of Devi Durga over demon Mahishasura (Good over Evil) (Kashi Vishalakshi) (Kashi Durga)
- Devi Annapoorna Puja and Annakut: Worships Devi Annapoorna; Large amounts of food (Annakut) are offered to Devi Annapoorna and free food is distributed to people (Kashi Annapoorna)
- Shayani Ekadasi: Marks the day when Lord Vishnu enters in the Yogic slumber; Marks the beginning of Chaturmasa (Kashi Bindu Madhav)
- Prabodhini Ekadasi: Marks the day when Lord Vishnu awakens from the Yogic slumber; Celebrations are held in Vaishnava temples (Kashi Bindu Madhav)
- Ganesh Chaturthi: Celebrates the appearance of Sri Ganesha (Kashi Vinayakas)
- Chhath Puja: Gratitude is expressed to Surya deva (Sun God), the visible manifestation of divinity, for the various life-sustaining blessings on Earth (Kashi Adityas)
- Ganga Dussehra: Celebrates the descent of river Ganga from Heaven to Earth (Ganga)
- Kartik Poornima: Holy Bathing in Sacred River (Ganga) (Dev Deepavali)
◍ Association with Sri Rama:(Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sri Ramavisited the Agastya Ashrama in Dandakaranya (near Panchavati) during his forest exile. Sage Agastya bestowed divine weapons to Sri Rama and praised Devi Sita for her devotion to husband. Then sage Agastya suggested Sri Rama to stay in Panchavati.
• Seeing Sri Rama exhausted in the battlefield and Ravana appearing with renewed vigour (after removing his fatigue), sage Agastya appeared with the celestials and told Sri Rama to worship the Sun-god and chant the Aditya Hridayam stotra.
◍ Association with Lord Shiva:(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda)
• Sage Agastya had his hermitage in Kashi and worshipped Lord Shiva there. For the work of the devas, the sage moved to the south to make the Vindhya mountain short. (Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda)
◍ Association with Devas:(Mahabharata)
• Sage Agastya eliminated demon Vatapi, the brother of demon Ilavala, both of whom conspired and devoured the Brahmanas.
• Sage Agastya liberated his ancestors by begetting a son through Lopamudra.
• Sage Agastya checking the rise of the Vindhya mountain which was obstructing the path of the Sun.
• Sage Agastya drank up the Ocean to eliminate the Kalakeya demons who used to hide inside the Ocean during the day and destroyed the Brahmanas during the night.
◍ Pilgrimages:
► Kashi: Sage Agastya has his hermitage in Kashi before moving to the south to check the rise of the Vindhya mountain.
► Nashik - Ankai Agastya Ashrama: Identified with the hermitage of sage Agastya.
◍ Sadhana & Philosophy:
• Knowledge of Brahman.
• Exponent of the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta.
◍ Compositions:
• Wrote commentaries on Brahma Sutras, principal Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita.
• Composed Sanskrit Stotras on various Deities.
◍ Other Deeds:
• Founded four Mutts around the four corners of India.
• Believed to be the organiser of Dashanami monastic order and founder of Shanmata tradition of worship.
◍ Pilgrimages:
► Vadakkunnathan Temple: Parents of Adi Shankara prayed for a child.
► Kaladi: Birthplace of Adi Shankara.
► Omkareshwar - Shankaracharya Gufa: Adi Shankara met his guru Govindapada on the bank of river Narmada.
► Kashi: Lord Shiva gave darshan to Adi Shankara in the form of a Chandala with four dogs. Adi Shankara got disciple Sanandana.
► Badrinath: Adi Shankara wrote commentaries on Brahma Sutras, Gita and Upanishads.
► Prayag: Adi Shankara met Kumarila Bhatta (Mimamsa school) for a debate.
► Mahishmati: Adi Shankara had a debate with Mandana Mishra.
► Gokarna: Adi Shankara met disciple Hastamalaka.
► Shringeri - Sharada Peeth: Adi Shankara established the Sharada Peetha (Southern Mutt).
► Puri - Govardhan Mutt: Adi Shankara established the Govardhan Mutt (Eastern Mutt).
► Dwarka - Dwarka Mutt: Adi Shankara established the Dwarka Mutt (Western Mutt).
► Joshimath - Jyotir Math: Adi Shankara established the Jyotir Math (Northern Mutt).
► Kanchipuram - Kanchi Mutt: Adi Shankara is said to have established the Kanchi Mutt also.
► Kashmir - Sharada Peeth: Adi Shankara ascended the Sarvajna Peetham.
► Kedarnath - Shankaracharya Samadhi: Adi Shankara left the earthly abode from here.
◍ Life: Born in Kumbilapuram, Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh. Performed Kali sadhana for 20 years. Then initiated into monastic life by Bhagirathananda Saraswati. Lived most of his life in Kashi (Varanasi).
Preserve Nature and Nature will Preserve Us,
Simplify Life and help Nature Thrive,
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► Kashi - Vishwanath Temple
► Kashi - Varanasi
► Kashi - Kalabhairava Temple
► Kashi - Dhundiraj Vinayak Temple
► Kashi - Adi Mahadev Temple
► Kashi - Trailanga Swami Mutt