One of the twelve 12 Jyotirlingas, or temples, devoted to Lord Shiva is the temple of Kashi Vishwanath, located in Varanasi on the western bank of the holy river Ganga. According to the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga story, Lord Shiva is sometimes referred to as Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha. There are multiple transport options on how to reach Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, as it’s a popular tourist attraction. This article sheds light on the timings to watch the live darshan of Kashi Vishwanath Varanasi temple and also the Kashi Vishwanath temple history in English. Also, get to learn some interesting facts about Kashi Vishwanath temple.
Kashi Vishwanath Varanasi Temple
Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha meaning “the king of the cosmos” is the principal deity of the temple of Kashi Vishwanath. Thus, Varanasi, India’s cultural centre, is referred to as the “city of Lord Shiva”. There
Live Darshan Of Kashi Vishwanath – Temple Timings
Here are the temple timings to know which aarti is being performed and when to watch the live darshan of Kashi Vishwanath. Darshan is allowed in the temple from 4 am to 11 pm. You can watch the live darshan of Kashi Vishwanath’s special aartis during the following hours (with the cost of visiting offline during each aarti):
Mangla aarti from 3:00 am to 4:00 am (Rs. 350)
Bhog /Aarti from 11:15 am to 12:20 pm (Rs. 180)
Saptarishi Aarti from 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm (Rs. 180)
Shringar Aarti from 9:00 pm to 10:15 pm (Rs. 180)
Shayan Aarti from 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm (Free)
Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Story
Hindu gods, Lord Brahma, who is credited with creating the universe, and Lord Vishnu, who is in charge of preserving peace and harmony on earth, engaged in a battle over who possessed the greater creative ability.
Lord Shiva, in the shape of the Jyotirlinga, the unending support of light, struck the three realms to test their strength. As a result of the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga story, Varanasi is thought to be the site of the first Jyotirlinga manifestation.
For other Jyotirlingas, Read here!
Kashi Vishwanath Temple History In English
Muhammad Ghori, an Islamist barbarian, gave his slave general, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the command to destroy Varanasi and its temples, notably Kashi Vishwanath Dham, in 1194, marking the first destruction of Kashi Vishwanath temple history in English timeline.
Later, the temple of Kashi Vishwanath was rebuilt between 1210 and 1236. Under Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s rule, it was destroyed once again in the 1300s. The Sharqi monarchs of Jaunpur who dominated the area in the 1400s continued to demolish the temples. Later, when Sikandar Lodi ruled, a sizable portion of the city was demolished leaving no way on how to reach Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga.
Under Narayan Bhatt’s direction, the temple of Kashi Vishwanath was erected in 1584–1585 But in 1669, Aurangzeb ordered its destruction and a mosque was erected in its place. Ahilyabai Holkar, the queen of Indore, restored the Kashi Vishwanath Varanasi temple later, in 1777. Maharaja Ranjit Singh provided gold to cover the temple domes in 1893.
The Kashi Vishwanath Varanasi temple corridor was built in 2019 under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi inaugurated the route to the country in 2021. Such was the Kashi Vishwanath temple history in English.
Interesting Facts About Kashi Vishwanath Temple
- Three domes on the Kashi Vishwanath Varanasi temple are coated in gold. Any desire made after witnessing the golden chakra at the top is said to come true.
- Following the Kashi Vishwanath temple history in English, the Sanskrit word “Kas” means “to glitter,” which is where the word “Kashi” comes from. The city’s resilience is greatly admirable considering all the invasions and looting it has endured over the years.
- Since the time of the Upanishads, Brahmanas and Puranas, Varanasi has been regarded as a place of great reverence. The Kashi Kanda of the Skanda Purana is one of the Puranas that mentions this temple and is a popular fact among the various facts about Kashi Vishwanath temple.
- Devotees must now wear a saree (for women) and a dhoti-kurti (for men) when visiting the renowned Kashi Vishwanath Varanasi temple. The Kashi Vishwa Parishad recently decided that this dress code must be rigorously adhered to by worshippers giving Sparsh darshan (into the temple sanctum).
- Hindus see the temple as having great significance because it is one of Lord Shiva’s 12 Jyotirlingas. Many people think that Lord Shiva did spend some time here, based on the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga story.
- At Vishwanath Dham, three passenger facilitation facilities have been set up where pilgrims can use amenities like lockers, ticket booths and shops selling puja goods.
- In the space between the temple and a mosque, is a “Well of Wisdom”. According to legend, when word of Aurangazeb’s intention to destroy the temple emerged, the Shiva idol was buried in a well.
- During ancient times, the king of Kashi (Kashi Naresh) would visit the temple for worship on major occasions like Shivaratri, when no one else was permitted to access the temple grounds.
These were some surprising-yet-interesting facts about Kashi Vishwanath temple you must know before paying your visit.
How To Reach Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga?
Reach Kashi Vishwanath By Air
The Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Babatpur is the closest airport to the temple. The distance to the temple from there is about 25 kilometres or less than an hour by car. Private and municipal buses and taxis are how to reach Kashi Vishwanath jyotirlinga from the airport.
Reach Kashi Vishwanath By Railway
The temple is itself close to several railway stations and Varanasi city is well-linked by rail. The distance between Varanasi City station and the temple is only 2 km and 6 km, respectively. Although Maduadih station is only 4 km away, Mughalsarai Junction station is 17 km away. The majority of these stations have good connections to the main metros in India.
Reach Kashi Vishwanath By Road
There are frequent private & public buses as well as various forms of road transportation from Varanasi to all of the major towns and cities in Uttar Pradesh. You can take an autorickshaw or a taxi to the temple via Vishwanath Gali, a street well-known in Varanasi for its stores selling delectable sweets, puja supplies, clothing, and fashionable jewellery.
Temple Of Kashi Vishwanath – Significance
It is stated that visiting this Jyotirlinga shrine is equivalent to visiting all eleven locations.
In brief, the Kashi Vishwanath shrine is regarded as the most important since it personifies India’s cultural and spiritual qualities. And the significance of this temple is anticipated to grow further with the opening of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, which includes several historic structures, later today.
Also, Read- Narendra Modi To Be Inaugurating The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is the Kashi Vishwanath temple popular?
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the beating heart of this heavenly place if Kashi is the centre of Hinduism. One of the most sacred places known to exist in the nation is this celestial refuge. In fact, this shrine is so revered that the Skanda Purana, an old Hindu text, makes note of it. Due to its popularity, numerous Hindus visit this temple and watch the live darshan of Kashi Vishwanath, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- Who built Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga?
Rani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore constructed the current Kashi Vishwanath temple in the 18th century, directly south of the mosque. It evolved into one of the most well-known and beloved Hindu religious centres over the years.
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