Vishwanath Temple (Uttar Pradesh)
The Temple opens daily at 2.30a.m. in Mangala
Aarati 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.
Vishwanath Temple (Uttar Pradesh) Hindu Temples
The oldest living city in the world,
Varanasi is the ultimate destination of all Hindu pilgrims searching
for moksha from the cycle of birth and re-birth. It is held sacred
for being the home of Lord Shiva and Parvati as also the presence
of the mighty river, Ganges that in Varanasi is said to have the
power to wash away the sins of mortals.No one knows when Varanasi
was found, a city whose status as the foremost place of Hindu pilgrimage
cannot be questioned. Located in the modern-day state of Uttar Pradesh,
in the Uttaranchal region, its beginnings are lost in the mists
of time. However, it is said that Shiva and Parvati were its first
citizens. Ganga (the Ganges) the 'River of Life', is said to have
acquired the boon to wash away the sins of the human race, when
it flowed from the tresses of Lord Shiva. And Varanasi is the place
where she turns into the mighty river. Hundreds and thousands of
pilgrims flock to this eternal city to expiate their sins. Mark
Twain who was fascinated by the legend of Benaras (as it was called
earlier), once wrote, "Benaras is older than history, older
than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as
all of them put together". That says it all.
History
This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is popularly known as
the 'Golden Temple' due the gold plating done on its 15.5 meter
high spire. One tonne of gold donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh has
been used in the gold plating of the spire. The temple was destroyed
by various invaders and was rebuilt in 1776 by Rani Ahilyabai of
Indore. Today, due to security reasons, metal detectors are placed
throughout the temple.
The Vishvanath temple was, however, destroyed by the Mughal Emperor
Aurangzeb who built the Gaynvapi Mosque in its place.Even today
the western wall of the mosque show the remnants of a temple which
had very intricate and fine artwork on it. Both the Kashi Vishwanath
and the Gyanvapi mosque are adjacent to each other.
Standing on the western bank of India's holiest rever Ganges, Varanasi
is the oldest surviving city of 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 in which is enshrined
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 bondages of maya and the inexorable entanglements of the
world. A 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 devotee by a single visit to Kashi Vishwanath
Temple. Deeply and intimately implanted in the Hindu mind, the Kashi
Vishwanath Temple has been a living embodinent 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 symbolises man's desire to live in peace snd 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 wll as global levels.
On January 28, 1983 the Temple was taken over by the Govt. of Uttar
Pradesh and it's management eversince stands entrusted to a Trust
with Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh. Former Kashi Naresh, as president
and an Executive Committee with Divisional Commissioner as Chairman.
The Temple in the present shape was built way back in 1780 by Late
Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore. In the year 1785 a Naubatkhan
was built up infront of the Temple by the then collector Mohd. Ibrahim
Khan at the instance of Governor General Warren Hastings. In 1839,
Two domes of the Temple were covered by gold donated by Punjab Kesari
Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. Third dome but was remained uncovered, Ministry
of cultures & Religious affairs of U.P. Govt. took keen interest
for gold plating of third dome of Temple.
Pooja Timings
The Temple opens daily at 2.30a.m. in Mangala Aarati 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 are free to have darshan. From
7 to 8.30 p.m. evening Sapta Rishi Aarati is done after which darshan
is again possible uptill 9 p.m. when Shringar/Bhog Aarati starts.
After 9 p.m. Darshan from out side only is possidle. Shayana Aartis
starts at 10.30p.m.The Temple closes at 11p.m.
Other links
Hindu Temples in India
temples
Uttar Pradesh