Kasi Viswanatha Temple

Kasi Vishwanath Temple: Is a Hindu temple in Uttar Pradesh, Is the holiest city in India. As Purana says Kashi Vishwanath Baba is divided in to 3 parts of Trishul are [1] Kedareshwar [2] Vishweshwar [3] MahaMritunjay. Every Hindu Must visit this temple in his life time, locates on the river Ganga.

         According to Purana the person who stays at the end of his life time gets moksha. Kashi Vishwanath gives tarak mantra to get moksha. People who live in Kashi get Aarth, Dharma, Karma, Moksha.The Temple are also known as the Golden Temple, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city.This is the holiest spot in the city.

          More than the Ghats and even the Ganga, the Shivalingam installed in the temple remains the devotional focus of Varanasi. Varanasi is said to be the point at which the first jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light by which Shiva manifested his supremacy over other gods, broke through the earth’s crust and flared towards the heavens.

           The original temple was destroyed by Aurangzeb who built a mosque in its place, but the traces of the old temple can be seen behind the mosque. The present temple was built by Maharani Ahilya Bai of Indore in the year 1776 and the gold plating on the towers of the temple was provided by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Indore.

           To the side of the temple is Gyan-Kupor (‘the well of Knowledge'). It is believed that the Shiva Lingam removed from the original temple was hidden in this well to protect it from Aurangazeb and it still lies there. Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple.

             New Vishwanath Temple:  This temple is situated in the premises of the university and has 'Geeta' engraved in its marble walls. It’s about a 30 minute walk from the gates of the university to the New Vishwanath Temple .This temple was planned by Pandit Malaviya and built by the wealthy Birla family of industrialists.

           Pandit Malaviya wished to see Hinduism revived without its caste distinctions and prejudices - accordingly, unlike many temples in Varanasi, this temple is open to all, irrespective of caste or religion.

        The interior has a Siva lingam and verses from Hindu scriptures inscribed on the walls. The temple is supposed to be a replica of the earlier Vishwanath Temple destroyed by Aurangazeb.