12 Jyotir Linga Kshetram !! Varanasi/Kashi Sri Vishwanatha Mandir !!


Jai Sriman Narayana !!
 
 
 
 
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Varanasi/Kashi is one of the 12 Jyotir Linga Kshetram located on western bank of river Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, India.  This is one of the prominent temples of Lord Shiva in existence for more than 3500 years, had undergone ruins several times and the current structure was re-built in the year 1780 by Maharani Ahalya Bhai Holkar of Indore.  Previously it was under the patronage of King of Kashi/Kashi Naresh later it was undertaken by the Govt. of Uttar Pradesh.  According to the scared scripture of Skandha Puranam/Kashi Skandham, this temple was built in 11th century by King Harishchandra.  This self-manifested Linga was installed in the Gnana Vapi during the process of protecting the same from the Mughal invaders.
 
 
Presiding deity – Lord Kashivishwantha/Vishweshwara/ Vishweshwar Linga with his consort Goddess Sri Visalakshi
 
 
Theertham – Gnana Vapi,
There 84 bathing Ghats and several Theertha Kund are situated here
 
 
Sannidhis – Lord Ganesha, Lord Dhandapani,  Lord Avimuktheshwara, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Sri Annapoorna, Kalabhairava, Sankatha,  Goddess Sri Durga, Sankatmochan, Lord Shaneeswara, Lord Virupaksha & Goddess Virupaksha Gauri
 
 
Sub Shrines – Mangaleshwar & Atmavishveshwar at Shankatha Ghat, Kukuteswar &Triparneswar at Durga Kund, Mahakaleshwar at Dhandapani Gali, Kal Mahadev at Kanth Ki Haveli, Prayageshwar at Dashashwamedha Ghat, Angarakeshwar, Upashantheshwar  & Agnaneshwar at Ganesh Ghat, Parmeshwar, Harichandreshwar, Vashishteshwar at Shanktha Ghat, Kedareshwar at Kedar Ghat, Neelakandeshwar at Neelkantha, Omkareshwar at Chittanpura, Kasheshwar at Trilochan, Mahamryuthunjay at Maidagin, Shukreshwar at Kalika Gali,
 
 
Festivals – Maha Shivaratri, Amlaki Ekadashi, Annakoot Utasav, Makara Sankranthi, Shravan festival, Akshay Trithiya,
 
 
Worshipped by – Lord Vishnu, deities and Rishis, Sage Agastya, Sri Sankara Bhagavad Padha, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Vivekananda, Sant Tulsidas, Sri Dayananda Saraswathi, Gurunanak,
 
 
Worship of Lord Vishwanatha with Goddess Sri Vishalakshi provides abundance of devoutness includes salvation.  This is one of the holiest lands on Earth which has the significance of its perpetual existence during the time of deluge/Mahapralaya.
 
 
This temple remains open from the morning 3.00AM to 10.30 PM in the night.  The rituals begin with Mangala Arati/Vishwaroopa Dharshan of Lord Vishwanatha in the early morning hours.  The mid day Arati/Bhog Arati is performed from 11.30 AM to 12.00 PM.    In the evening 7.00 PM to 8.30 PM Saptha Rishi Arati is performed followed by Srungara Arati at 9.00 and concludes with Shayana Arati at 10.30 PM. 
 
 
 
 
 
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
 
 

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