VISHWAKARMESHWAR
Long time back, there was a boy called Vishwakarma who stayed in the Gurukul (residential school) for his education. As was the practice, a student was required to carry on domestic chores and do service to his Guru (Teacher), Guru Patni (Teacher’s wife) and their family.
Once the teacher asked Vishwakarma to construct a shelter which should never become old. Teacher’s wife asked him to stitch one dress for her without using any cloth. The dress should neither be big nor small. The teacher’s son asked Vishwakarma to prepare one slipper which should not be made of leather and it should be convenient for the wearer to run very fast in water. The teacher’s daughter asked him to prepare one pair of golden ear tops. Further, he was asked to prepare girls’ play things made of ivory. There were several such demands from the Teacher’s family. The demands went on increasing from all quarters.
Vishwakarma was flabbergasted. In those days, respect to Guru was accorded highest priority and any refusal or disrespect was viewed seriously. Vishwakarma left the Guru’s house without telling anyone and reached a forest, not knowing what had to be done. In due course, he came across an ascetic and he fell at the latter’s feet. Vishwakarma narrated his woes to the ascetic, who told him to go to Kashi and worship Lord Visweshwar. Since Vishwakarma did not know the way to Kashi, the ascetic offered to take him there.
Both of them reached Kashi and the ascetic took leave of Vishwakarma. Some intuition told Vishwakarma that the ascetic was none other than Lord Shiva. Vishwakarma soon installed a Shiv Ling and started worshipping Lord Shiva intensively for several years. At last Lord Shiva appeared before him and granted him a divine wish. Vishwakarma told him of his woes pertaining to his teacher and his family.
Lord Shiva was highly pleased with the veneration that Vishwakarma had for his Guru. He blessed the latter with all the divine powers which will enable him (Vishwakarma) to produce/make/manufacture various machineries, weapons, idols, necklaces and all other things which are needed by mankind. By the divine powers, Vishwakarma would also be able to construct various temples/buildings and beautify existing temples/palaces etc.
Vishwakarma was extremely happy with Lord Shiva’s generosity. Lord Shiva also stated that the devotees who worship the Ling installed by Vishwakarma will attain Moksha. Lord Shiva further stated, he will be available in the Ling which is called Vishwakarmeshwar and devotees will always be blessed by the Lord. (Kashi Khand, Chapter 86). The above chapter in Kashi Khand also speaks about the respect which students should have for their teachers.
Vishwakarma later on became the celestial architect. Even today, Vishwakarma Jayanti is celebrated in North India and Bengal and on this day all factories remain closed. The workers perform pooja of machinery and other tools/equipments etc. and give a respite to their tools. Vishwakarma’s idol is installed at various places/workshops and after pooja/archana etc. the idol is immersed in the Ganges/River.
Vishwa Karmeshwar
LOCATION OF VISHWAKARMESHWAR
Vishwakarmeshwar is located at Ck.7/158 in the premises of Atma Veereshwar temple. The location is as given in the book by Pt. Kedar Nath Vyas and confirmed by the authors during their personal visit. However, Pt. Kuber Nath Sukul in his book “Varanasi Vaibhav” has given the location as Brihaspateeshwar temple which is opposite the above location. On enquiries with the locals, they confirmed the first location. This place can be reached by boat through Scindia Ghat. Alternatively one can travel in cycle rickshaw upto Chowk and walk down the gullies to reach the temple.
LOCATION OF ATMA VEERESHWAR TEMPLE AS PER GOOGLE MAPS IS GIVEN BELOW
TYPES OF POOJAS :
The temple is open for worship 05.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 12.30 p.m. to 9.30. Special Aarti is held from 07.00 to 8.30 p.m. For doing special pooja, it is advisable to consult the Poojari before hand.
VRISHESHWAR
According to Kashi Khand, Chapter 69, the place where Lord Shiva adorned the skin of Gajasur after slaying the latter, was called Rudra Vasam. (Kindly refer to Krithi Vaseshwar).
Vrisheshwar
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 Vrishabhdwaju Teerth, one Ling by name of Vrishabheshwar (Vrisheshwar) has appeared in the Holy city of Kashi. Devotees who worship this Ling will always be pleasant (happy).
LOCATION OF VRISHESHWAR
Vrisheshwar is located at K.58/78, Gorakhnath Maidagin. People can travel upto this place by rickshaw. There is a Ved Patshala in this premises and Vrisheshwar Ling is located below the ground level.
TYPES OF POOJA
The place of worship is open from 07.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 05.30 p.m. to 06.30 p.m. Timings are flexible.
POOJARIES OF THE TEMPLE
Shri Krishna Prasad Shavkota is available in the temple premises and for performing any special pooja etc. he may be contacted at (0)9792544991.
VYAGHRESHWAR
Once various learned Brahmins were offering intense prayers to appease as well as to invigorate various Gods. Precisely at that time, Prahlad’s maternal Uncle, known as Dundubhi Nihrad, who always wanted to conquer Devas, developed some evil designs. He thought he would destroy all the Brahmins who were performing pooja etc. at religious places, thus the devas would lose their powers and could ultimately be conquered easily. Thus he started killing the Brahmins one by one.
Once a learned Brahmin devotee of Lord Shiva was performing pooja of a Shiv Ling near Jyeshteshwar on the day of Shivratri. The devotee was so immersed in his prayers that he did not know what was happening in the nearby places. Dundubhi soon approached the site, assumed the form of a tiger and was about to attack the brahmin, that Lord Shiva came out of the Ling and faced Dundhubi. In the fight that ensued. Lord Shiva took hold of the tiger and crushed him to death. Before dying, the tiger let out a deafening roar which was heard by the entire world (Kashi Khand, Chapter 65).
All the devotees nearby rushed to the site and they were glad to behold the death of the tiger. The devotees prayed to Lord Shiva and requested him to be always present in the Ling, which came to be known as Vyaghreshwar. Lord Shiva granted accordingly and stated that a devotee who worships Vyaghreshwar will find all his obstacles in life removed and he will be successful in all his ventures.
If a warrior devotee, after worshipping the Vyaghreshwar Ling, proceeds to battle ground, he will emerge victorious. Saying this, Lord Shiva disappeared into the Ling.
LOCATION OF VYAGHRESHWAR
Vyaghreshwar is located at K.63/16, Bhoot Bhairav Mohalla. (Reference Book by Pt. Kedarnath Vyas). Devotees can reach this place by travelling upto Kashi Devi temple/Bula Nala/Lohatia by rickshaw and walk on foot upto Jyeshta Gauri/Bhoot Bhairav.
Please watch our YouTube Video about Vyaghreshwar at following Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNjQ1lbIzmA&t=17s
TYPES OF POOJA
Darshan is possible through grilled gate throughout the day.
VYASESHWAR
Once Sage Vyas, who is credited with composition and recitation of eighteen Puranas including Mahabharata and Skanda Purana, entered into an argument with other Sages as to who is the Supreme Lord. Sage Vyasa insisted that Lord Vishnu is the supreme and none else. To prove his point he arrived at Kashi alongwith ten thousand disciples.
He took bath in Panchganga, offered worship at Bindu Madhav temple of Lord Vishnu and started singing praises of Lord Vishnu. Then alongwith his disciples he started reciting Vishnu Bhajans and reached Visweshwar temple. His recitations reached a crescendo and he started dancing around the temple, all the while singing praises of Lord Vishnu, with one hand raised. Hearing this, Nandi immobilized the raised hand of Sage Vyas and made the latter speechless. Soon Lord Vishnu arrived at the spot and told Sage Vyas that the latter had committed a crime. It is Lord Shiva who is the ultimate God and the divine powers which Lord Vishnu possesses have been given by the former.
Sage Vyas, through his gestures, expressed that his hand and tongue were immobilized and pleaded with Lord Vishnu for restoration of the movement of his limb and tongue. Lord Vishnu gently patted the larynx of Sage Vyas and the latter started singing praises of Lord Shiva. Nandi observed this and cast a glance at the immobilized hand of Sage Vyas and soon mobility returned to the hand as well.
Sage Vyas installed a Shiv Ling in Kashi near Ghanta Karna Pushkarini and started worshipping Lord Shiva. Since then Sage Vyas has never left Kashi. The Ling installed by Sage Vyas was called Vyaseshwar and a person who worships Vyaseshwar will attain ultimate knowledge in life and will reach heaven after demise.
Vyaseshwar
Kashi Khand has advised devotees to take bath in Ghanta Karna Pushkarini and worship Vyaseshwar.
LOCATION OF VYASESHWAR
Vyaseshwar is located at Karn Ghanta Pond and devotees can have darshan from a distance only. Karn Ghanta is a famous locality near Bulanala. During rainy season, the pond’s level rises and the Vyaseshwar Ling gets submerged. According to old timers, due to special divine powers, the pond has never dried up despite water being drawn therefrom for several decades, whereas several other Teerths/ponds have dried up. While Kashi Khand has attached importance to Ghanta Karna Pushkarini (Karna Ghanta Pond), people do not take bath at that place now. However, some ardent devotees take bath during Ashad poornima Day (Guru Poornima Day).
YAGYA VALKESHWAR
On the request by Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva narrated the various deities/ Shiv Lings/Teerths (Sacred Ponds) spread over the expanse of Kashi. (Kashi Khand, Chapter 97).
Yagya Valkeshwar
Towards the south of Krishneshwar is a Shiv Ling known as Yagya Valkeshwar. Devotees who worship Yagya Valkeshwar will be blessed with increase in Brahma Tejas (radiating energy for students).
This Ling is supposed to have been installed by Sage Yagya Valkya.
LOCATION OF YAGYA VALKESHWAR
Yagya Valkeshwar is located next to Krishneshwar at No. Ck.7/159. The Shiv Ling is facing the east and is in the corner of the building. Devotees can reach this place by travelling upto Chowk by rickshaw and walking on foot via Sankata Devi temple (famous landmark). Alternatively, they can take a boat ride upto Sankata Ghat and climb the steps.
Please watch our YouTube Video about Yagya Valkeshwar at following Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT9nJF6YNjE&t=8s
TYPE OF POOJA
This place of worship is open throughout and devotees can perform pooja by themselves.
