SIDDHI ASHTAKESHWAR
Kashi Khand, Chapter 67 mentions about various deities in several places in Kashi.
Towards the north of Mandakini Teerth devotees can find Siddhi Ashtakeshwar. Besides, there is one Siddhi Ashtak Kund.
Devotees who worship Siddhi Ashtakeshwar will attain eight types of Siddhi and divine powers. There will be all round prosperity in their homes.
Sidhi Ashtakeshwar
Devotees who bathe in Siddhi Ashtak Kund and perform rituals for their forefathers will receive all sorts of blessings.
LOCATION OF SIDDHI ASHTAKESHWAR
Siddhi Ashtakeshwar is located at K-58/101, Lohatia in the premises of Bara Ganeshji. When devotees face Bara Ganesh, the Shiv Ling will be to the right of the devotees and to the left of Ganeshji. The Shiv Ling is installed with a marble enclosure and there is an inscription in the marble on the front side. Devotees can travel upto Lohatia by auto rickshaw or cycle rickshaw and reach this temple on foot. Bara Ganesh is a famous temple.
TYPES OF POOJA
The Bara Ganesh temple is a stand alone temple and widely worshipped. The temple is open from 04.45 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. Mangala Aarti is held at 04.45 a.m., Bhog at 10.30 a.m. and Shayan Aarti at 10.30 p.m. Wednesday is a special day when special Aarti is held at 11.30 p.m.
POOJARIES OF THE TEMPLE
Shri Subhash Chandra Tiwari is one of the Poojaries of the temple and he can be contacted in his Cell No. (0)9415446300 for performing any special pooja etc.
SOMESHWAR
Kashi Khand, Chapter 100 states that devotees should undertake religious tour (Yatra) of several deities situated within the main area of Kashi. This Yatra is known as Antargrihi Yatra and should be undertaken daily.
Someshwar
One such deity among the deities to be worshipped is Someshwar. It is worth mentioning that Someshwar is symbolic of Somnath Jyotir Ling.
People who worship this deity will always be blessed with happiness and prosperity.
Many people undertake Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Yatra in Kashi (Dwadasa means twelve). Someshwar represents Somnath of Saurashtra which is the first among the twelve jyotirlings. Even otherwise, old timers say that devotees in Kashi, who cannot travel upto Somnath in Gujarat, can worship this Shiv Ling, Someshwar, in Kashi and they will derive the same amount of blessings.
LOCATION OF SOMESHWAR
Someshwar is locted at D.16/34, Manmandir Ghat. Devotees can travel upto Dasaswamedh Vishwanath Gully by rickshaw, enter the gulli and immediately take a right turn and proceed further for about 150 yards. They may seek guidance from the locals at that place to reach the Varahi temple and proceed further. Someshwar is located in the vicinity of Varahi temple.
Location of Someshwar temple as per Google Map is given in the following Link.
Please watch our YouTube Video about Someshwar at following Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OSYpqeUaVI&t=9s
TYPES OF POOJA
The temple remains open for worship from 05.00 a.m. to 09.00 a.m. and from 05.00 p.m. to 09.00 p.m. The timings are flexible. During closed time, devotees can have darshan from outside.
SOOKSHMESHWAR
According to Kashi Khand, Chapter 69, the place where Lord Shiva wore the skin of Gajasur after slaying the latter, was called Rudra Vasam. (Kindly refer to Krithi Vaseshwar).
Once the Lord, in his form as Krithi Vaseshwar, was sitting alongwith Goddess Uma Devi when Nandi offered his prayers and stated that there are 68 places of worship dedicated to Lord Shiva in this holy place. Various idols/Shiv Lings have been brought from several other places by Nandi and installed in Kashi.
From Aamrathakeswara Kshetra one Ling by name of Sookshmeshwar has appeared in the Holy city of Kashi, which is in the vicinity of Vikata Danta Vinayak.
Sookshmeshwar
Devotees who worship this ling will have their wishes fulfilled. They will develop a sharp brain to enable them to solve any sort of problem.
LOCATION OF SOOKSHMESHWAR
Sookshmeshwar is located at Dhoop Chandi locality in Dhoomavati Devi temple. The Ling is located adjacent to Vikata Dwaja Vinayak which is at the back side of Dhoomavati Devi.
TYPES OF POOJA
The place of worship is open from 06.00 a.m. to 01.30 p.m. and from 05.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. Aarties are performed in the morning and evening.
POOJARIES OF THE TEMPLE
Shri Munna Lal Goswami is the Poojari of the temple and he can be contacted on his Cell No. (0)9616884959 for performing any special pooja etc.
SWARLEENESHWAR
Out of various Yatras prescribed for Kashi Devotees, Swarleeneshwar Ling forms a part of third Fourteen Ling Yatras. (Kashi Khand, Chapter 100). It is mentioned that devotees should take bath in Varuna River, have darshan of Shaileshwar, then take bath in Varuna Ganga Sangam (Confluence), have darshan of Sangameshwar.
After the above rituals, they are advised to take bath in Swarleen Teerth (Pond) and have darshan of Swarleeneshwar.
Swarlineshwar
In Kashi Khand, Chapter 33, Swarleeneshwar Ling is described where Lord Shiva has become immersed in this Ling to fulfil the desires of his devotees.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE
The temple is located at A-11/30, Naya Mahadev, Panchagni Akhada, Rajghat. It is approachable by Road where devotees can travel upto Prahlad Ghat Chauraha by Rickshaw and then on foot. Alternatively, they can take a boat ride upto Rajghat (Panchagni Akhada Ghat) and climb the steps.
TYPES OF POOJAS
The temple is open from 06.00 a.m to 9.00 p.m. Aarties are performed at 07.00 p.m. Abhishek is done by Ganga Jal.
POOJARIS OF THE TEMPLE
Shri Shankaranand is the poojari of the temple.
SWARG DWARESHWAR
Kashi Khand Chapter 94 describes various important Shiv Lings in the vicinity of Chakra Pushkarini Teerth (Manikarnika).
Swarg Dwareshwar
A devotee who worships Swarg Dwareshwar Ling in Kashi is certain to get his sins cleansed and reach heaven after death.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE
Swarga Dwareshwar is located at Ck.10/16, Brahmanal. Just opposite Pulaheshwar towards the south side is a house with a flight of steps leading upwards. After climbing the steps there is a garden like open space and Swargdwareshwar Ling is located in a small temple thereat.
Great importance has been attributed to this Ling and this locality is known as Swarg Dwari.
TYPES OF POOJA
The place is open for worship from 07.00 a.m. to 09.00 p.m. Devotees can perform pooja etc. by their own.
TIL PARNESHWAR
After the few batches of Shiv Gans failed to return, Lord Shiva sent few more batches of Shiv Gans from Mandarachal to Kashi. (Regarding deputation of Shiv Gans to Kashi, devotees are requested to refer to Kukkuteshwar Ling).
These Shiv Gans also decided to settle down in Kashi and they installed Shiv Lings which came to be known after their names. One Shiv Gan named Til Parn installed a Shiv Ling and started worshipping Lord Shiva. This Ling came to be known as Til Parneshwar. Kashi Khand, Chapter 53 states that a devotee who worships Til Parneshwar is absolved of all his sins.
Til Parneshwar
Devotees may not be able to perform pooja of all Shiv Lings in detail. They are advised to carry some Ganga Water and Bilva Patras alongwith them. (Bilva Patra are leaves of Bilva tree where the leaves come in trios). Devotees can pour sacred Ganga Water on Shiv Ling and place one Bilva Patra over the Ling. Great importance is attached to such act.
LOCATION OF TIL PARNESHWAR
Til Parneshwar is located just near the main entrance of Durga Devi Temple at Durga Kund, towards the right side, near a shop selling bangles. Durga Kund is a famous landmark and people can travel upto this place by cycle rickshaw/auto or car.
Please watch our YouTube Video about Til Parneshwar at following Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4j53uVdNwo
TYPES OF POOJA
The temple is open for worship throughout and people can perform pooja on their own.
TRIAMBAKESHWAR
According to Kashi Khand, Chapter 69, the place where Lord Shiva wore the skin of Gajasur after slaying the latter, was called Rudra Vasam. (Kindly refer to Krithi Vaseshwar).
Triambakeshwar
Once the Lord, in his form as Krithi Vaseshwar, was sitting alongwith Goddess Uma Devi when Nandi offered his prayers and stated that there are 68 places of worship dedicated to Lord Shiva in this holy place. Various idols/Shiv Lings have been brought from several other places and installed in Kashi.
From Trisandhyam Teerth one Ling by name of Triambak has appeared in the Holy city of Kashi, which is called Triambakeshwar. By worshipping this deity, the devotee will get the respect normally given to Lord. (In other words, he will be held in high esteem).
On all India basis there are twelve Jyotirlings and there are twelve important Shiv Lings in Kashi which represent the aforesaid twelve Jyotirlings. The above deity is worshipped as Triambakeshwar (Nashik, Maharashtra).
LOCATION OF TRIAMBAKESHWAR
Triambakeshwar (also known as Triloknath) is located at D-38/21, Hauj Katora. If a devotee proceeds from Godowlia towards Chowk, immediately after Spice KCM cinema, he should take a left turn and after walking a few yards, he should take a right turn. This temple also houses the idol of Purushottam (Lord Vishnu) and many people know this temple by the name of Purushottam.
Please watch our YouTube Video about Triambakeshwar, Kedareshwar and Grishneshwar at following Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLauertky2c&t=24s
TYPES OF POOJA
The place of worship is open from 06.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. and from 05.00 p.m. to 09.00 p.m. Aarties are held in the morning and evening.
TRIPURANTAKESHWAR
According to Kashi Khand, Chapter 69, the place where Lord Shiva wore the skin of Gajasur after slaying the latter, was called Rudra Vasam. (Kindly refer to Krithi Vaseshwar).
Once the Lord, in his form as Krithi Vaseshwar, was sitting alongwith Goddess Uma Devi when Nandi offered his prayers and stated that there are 68 places of worship dedicated to Lord Shiva in this holy place. Various idols/Shiv Lings have been brought from several other places and installed in Kashi.
From Shri Shail Mountain one Ling by name of Tripurantak has appeared in the Holy city of Kashi, which is called Tripurantakeshwar. By worshipping this deity, the devotee derives the benefit of worship the Holy Shri Shail Mountain. A devotee who worships Tripurantakeshwar will attain Moksha and need not worry about rebirth.
Tripurantakeshwar
On all India basis there are twelve Jyotirlings and there are twelve important Shiv Lings in Kashi which represent the aforesaid twelve Jyotirlings. Tripurantakeshwar is worshipped as Mallikarjun Jyotirling (Sri Sailam, Andhra Pradesh).
LOCATION OF TRIPURANTAKESHWAR
Tripurantakeshwar is located at D.59/95, Sigra Tila (Mount of Mud). If devotee travels from Sigra towards Mehmoorganj, after about 100 yards towards the left side he will come across Union Bank of India and further onwards one commercial complex called Siddharth. Just ahead of this is Shitla Devi immediately after which there is a left turn. After taking a left turn devotees will come to Sigra Tila over which this temple is located. In the same premises, devotees can find Trimukh Vinayak.
Two more deities are worshipped in Varanasi symbolic of Jyotirlings of their respective Jyotirlings elsewhere. Grishneshwar located at Kamakhya temple and Baijnatheshwar located nearby are worshipped for Grishneshwar (Ellora/Maharashtra) and Baijnath (either Parli Maharashtra or Bihar) respectively.
Grishneshwar
Baijnatheshwar
Please watch our YouTube Video about Mallikarjun at following Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OSYpqeUaVI&t=9s
TYPES OF POOJA
The place of worship is open from 06.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 05.00 p.m. to 09.00 p.m. The timings are flexible. Devotees can perform their religious rituals with absolute peace of mind at this temple since the place is quite away from any kind of noise pollution.
TRISANDHYESHWAR
Lord Vishnu was describing various religiously important places, teerths etc. to Sage Bindu (Kashi Khand, Chapter 61).
Trisandhyeshwar
Devotees should bathe in Trisandhi Teerth and perform Sandhya Vandan. Those people who have undergone Sacred Thread Ceremony (Upanayanam) have to perform Sandhya Vandan three times a day viz. in the morning, noon and evening. The afternoon ritual is called Madhyannikam.
A devotee who takes bath in Trisandhi Teerth and performs Trisandhya (the above rituals) without fail and worships Trisandhyeshwar, will derive the benefits accruing out of learning three Vedas.
Though Kashi Khand has mentioned this very briefly, it needs to be elaborated. Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda are four Vedas. The three Vedas mentioned here may mean any three of the four Vedas or the first three Vedas. Learning even one Veda is a huge and herculean task and there may be only a handful of people in the world in the present day who may be gifted with this knowledge. Therefore, learning three Vedas is indeed a great thing.
One more thing needs to be mentioned here. In performing Sandhya Vandan, the devotee has to perform about 15-20 pranayams (inhaling, exhaling and retention of breath), prayer to Lord Surya by offering Arghya, recitation of Gayatri Mantra and some amount of physical activities by prostrating before the Lord. If the above ritual is performed three times a day, the physical activity involved is thrice. If a person does this regularly with devotion, even scientifically looking at it, he will remain healthy.
Trisandhi Teerth is dried up and devotees may take bath in river Ganga nearby.
LOCATION OF TRISANDHYESHWAR
Trisandhyeshwar is located at Ck.34/10, Lahouri Tola, Phoote Ganesh. People can travel upto Dasaswamedh Vishwanath Gully by rickshaw and then on foot to this place. Lahouri Tola Phoote Ganesh is an important landmark. Phoote Ganesh is a huge Vinayak Idol and Trisandhyeshwar is located just behind the Ganesh.
TYPES OF POOJA
The place is open from morning to night and devotees can perform pooja on their own. Wherever regular poojari is available, the details have been given. Devotees are advised to carry some Ganga water and Bilva Patra and they can perform the Abhishek and offer Bilva Patras to Lord Shiva in his form of Shiv Ling and we are sure the Lord will be pleased to bless his devotees.
UP SHANTESHWAR
Goddess Parvaty requested Lord Shiva to described various Teerths (sacred ponds/lakes) and deities in Kashi. Lord Shiva told her all Lings are carrying the divine powers of Teerths.
Up Shanteshwar
Lord Shiva described the divine powers of Bhadreshwar. Towards the north eastern direction of Bhadreshwar is the Up Shanteshwar Ling. By merely touching this Ling, the devotee will get ultimate mental peace. By worshipping this Up Shanta Ling, the devotee is cleansed of his sins accumulated over a long period. (Kashi Khand Chapter 97).
“U” in Up Shanteshwar is pronounced as “U” in put.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE
The temple is located at House No. Ck.2/4, Patani Tola, Bhosala Ghat, Varanasi. One can travel upto Chowk in cycle rickshaw and walk to this place via Sankata Devi Temple (famous landmark). Another famous landmark is the Gangamahal Building. Alternatively, devotees can approach the place by boat upto Bhosala Ghat and climb up the stairs.
TYPES OF POOJAS
The temple is open from 06.00 am to 9.00 p.m. Unlike many other temples in Kashi, devotees are not allowed inside the Sanctum Sanctorum in this temple. This is in variance with what has been mentioned in Kashi Khand where people were allowed to touch the Shiv Ling. According to old timers, the Ling is considered very powerful and probably due to this reason, now devotees are not allowed to touch the Ling.
While regular poojas are conducted by the Priest, Special poojas are performed on important days like Shivratri and certain Ekadasi days. Aarti is performed daily at morning, afternoon and night.
POOJARIS OF THE TEMPLE
Shri Gopalji Tripathi is the Poojari of the temple.
