Varanasi Temples

JARASANDHESHWAR

According to Chapter 97 of Kashi Khand, in the vicinity of Vishalakshy is the Jarasandheshwar Ling. By worshipping this Ling, the devotee may be cured of any illness. This Ling has been described as Jwara Nashak (Fever eradicator).

In ancient times there was not much medical advancement and people used to worship various deities for being cured of any disease. Nowadays

lot of pathological and diagnostic tests are available to determine the exact type of ailment. Our enquiries reveal that even now devout people worship this deity for riddance from fevers etc.

LOCATION OF JARASANDHESHWAR

Jarasandheshwar is located at D-3/71, Mir Ghat, Bare Hanuman Temple. Devotees can travel upto Dasaswamedh Vishwanath Gully by rickshaw and walk on foot to this place through Vishalakshi Gauri Temple, which is a famous landmark. Alternatively they can travel by boat upto Mir Ghat and walk up the steps and reach the place.

TYPES OF POOJA

The temple is open from 07.00 a.m. to 01.00 p.m. and from 04.00 p.m. to

09.00 p.m. Aarties are held in the morning and evening.

POOJARIES OF THE TEMPLE

Shri Rajeshwar Prasad is the poojari of the temple.

According to Kashi Khand, Chapter 14, there was a religious place called Eeshan Puri where Lord Shiva’s devotees resided.  Eleven of the staunch devotees of Lord Shiva reached Kashi,  installed a Shiv Ling called Eeshaneshwar and started praying that Ling.  They offered special prayers on Ashtami and Chaturdasi days (eighth and fourteenth day respectively after Amavasya and Poornima).

Eeshaneshwar

Kashi Khand states that if a devotee undertakes fast on Chaturdasi, remains awake the whole of the night, praying to Eeshaneshwar, he will be blessed with all happiness and will attain Moksha (release from rebirth).

LOCATION OF EESHANESHWAR

Eeshaneshwar is located at Deepak Cinema compound at Bansphatak.  The Cinema  hall has been demolished and a Shopping Mall is under contruction.  The Mall authorities are preserving the temple and they were kind enough to allow the compiler to offer prayers at this temple.

Enquiries revealed that presently darshan is allowed only through the wall from the by-lane nearby.

It is expected that once the construction of Mall is fully completed, darshan will become easy as the devotees will have easy access to the temple.

TYPE OF POOJA

Presently the temple is open from morning to evening.  After the Mall becomes fully operational, there may be some timings attached to the temple.  Devotees can perform pooja on their own.

According to Kashi Khand, Chapter 97, Lord Shiva was narrating various Teerths (Sacred Ponds) and Shiv Lings in Kashi.

In the vicinity of Someshwar Ling, there is mention of Ganeshwar Ling.  Devotees who worship this Ling will derive happiness and prosperity.

Ganeshwar (Rameshwar)

On all India basis there are twelve Jyotirlings and there are twelve important Shiv Lings in Kashi which represent the aforesaid twelve Jyotirlings.  Ganeshwar is also known as Rameshwar and is worshipped as Rameshwar Jyotirling (Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu).

LOCATION OF GANESHWAR

Ganeshwar also known as Rameshwar is located at D.16/34, Manmandir Ghat. Devotees can travel upto Dasaswamedh Vishwanath Gully in a rickshaw and immediately after entering the gully, they should take a right turn and walk for about 60 yards.  They may ask for directions of Varahi Devi temple which is very famous and quite close by.

Please watch our YouTube Video about Rameshwar at following Link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVskyJmzxGQ&t=13s

TYPES OF POOJA

The place of worship is open from 06.00 a.m. to 12.00 Noon and from 05.00 p.m. to 09.00 p.m.  Devotees can worship as per their convenience.

Lord Skanda was narrating various incidents about Kashi to Sage Agasthya. Mighty river Ganga entered Kashi and started flowing with all the might.  Ganga is considered pious and is regarded as Goddess Ganga Devi. She learnt about the divinity in installing a Shiv Ling in Kashi.  Accordingly, she installed a Shiv Ling somewhere towards the east of Visweshwar Ling.

Getting a darshan of Gangeshwar Ling is somewhat difficult.  On Dussehara day (Vijay Dasami day), if a person performs pooja of Gangeshwar Ling, his sins accumulated over several years will be washed away.  Let alone having darshan of Gangeshwar Ling and benefiting out of it, if a devotee reads or listens about Gangeshwar Ling, he will earn the punya which will accrue to him by bathing in Holy River Ganga. (Kashi Khand, Chapter 91)

Gangeshwar

Kashi Khand and other important texts covering Kashi have attached great importance to Ganga and bathing in River Ganga.  A person worshipping Gangeshwar will reach heaven after his death and all his desires will be fulfilled.

LOCATION OF GANGESHWAR

Gangeshwar is located at Ck.13/78. (Reference “Varanasi Vaibhav” by Pt. Kuber Nath Sukul). When a devotee proceeds from Pasupateshwar towards Sankata Devi temple, by taking a right turn, just opp. House No. Ck.13/68, one can find Gangeshwar Ling in the corner house.  If people do not carefully observe, they are bound to miss it.  Kashi Khand has aptly put it that getting darshan is difficult.

TYPES OF POOJA

The Ling is situated in the external place of a premises with a grill window.  Devotees can have darshan throughout. There is no specific pooja or poojari connected with this Ling. 

Garudeshwar

Garuda released his mother Vinata from the clutches of slavery (Kindly refer to Khakholkh Aditya – Surya temples).  Later, Vinata told her son Garuda that she must have committed some sin which made her  a slave.  She desired to go to Kashi for atonement of her sins. Garuda took her to Kashi  where Garuda installed a Shiv Ling and started praying ardently. Lord Shiva appeared in person and blessed Garuda stating that the latter would be known by everyone in the world as the vehicle/ride (vahana) of Lord Vishnu.

Garuda

Lord Shiva further blessed Garuda that those devotees who worship Garudeshwar will be blessed with Ultimate Knowledge. (Kashi Khand, Chapter 50).

LOCATION OF GARUDESHWAR

Garudeshwar is located at D-31/43, Jangambadi Teliana. When approached from Godowlia Cross Road (Chauraha) on the way to Sonarpura, devotees will have to take a left turn after Bengali Tola Post Office.  Garudeshwar is located adjacent to Purana Durga Badi at Jangambadi, which is a famous landmark.  Devotees can travel Jangambadi by  rickshaw and walk on foot to the temple. 

TYPES OF POOJAS

The temple is open for worship from 07.00 a.m. to 07.30 p.m.   For doing special pooja, it is advisable to consult the Poojari before hand. 

POOJARIES OF THE TEMPLE

Shri Surendra Prasad Pandey is the Poojari of the temple and he can be contacted on his Telephone number  0542-2454732 for doing any special pooja etc. 

Kashi Khand, Chapter 97 mentions various Shiv Lings all around Kashi.

Among various Lings, Kashi Khand mentions one important Shiv Ling named Gautameshwar in the vicinity of Muchkundeshwar. This Shiv Ling is supposed to have been installed by Sage Gautam.

Gautameshwar

Devotees who worship this Ling will derive all happiness and will attain Moksha.

LOCATION OF GAUTAMESHWAR

Gautameshwar is located at D.37/33, Kashinaresh Shivala, Godowlia. This comes in the proximity of Marwari Hospital and is quite famous. According to old timers, there was intense dispute regarding worship of this deity and matter was referred to the then Kashi Raja, who after protracted legal cases, acquired the entire area and constructed the temple. Therefore, this temple is known as Kashi Naresh Shivala.

Please watch our YouTube Video about Gautameshwar at following Link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmi58I4NvYI&t=2s

TYPES OF POOJA

The place of worship is open from 04.00 a.m. to 12 noon and from 04.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. Aarties are conducted in the morning and evening. Shayan Aarti is conducted just before closure of the temple.

POOJARIES OF THE TEMPLE

Shri Ram Dayal Pathak and Vindhyachali Devi are attached to the temple and their turn comes in rotation for period of one year each.

Lord Shiva was describing the various sacred Teerths (Ponds), Koop (Wells) and places of worship in Kashi.  Lord Shiva described such places with pleasure (Kashi Khand, Chapter 97).

Somewhere towards the east of Aadi Mahadev is Gopreksheshwar Ling.

Gopreksheshwar

Devotees who worship Gopreksheshwar will derive benefit of Godaan (giving donation of a cow to a deserving person).

LOCATION OF GOPREKSHESHWAR

Gopreksheshwar also known as Gauri Shankar is located at K-4/24, Lal Ghat Gauri Shankar, near Birla Sanskrit Vidhyalaya, Birla House.  If devotees travel in a rickshaw, they can reach Gaighat locality and walk on foot upto this place, by asking directions.  Alternatively, they can travel by boat upto Lal Ghat and climb the steps.

Please watch our YouTube Video about Gopreksheshwar at following Link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zhg8dmD8V8&t=4s

TYPES OF POOJA

The temple is open from 07.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.  Aarties are held in the morning.

POOJARIES OF THE TEMPLE

Shri K.K. Mishra is available nearby and can be contacted for making arrangements of pooja etc., at his Cell No. (0)9889291651.

According to Kashi Khand, Chapter 73, Lord Shiva told Goddess Parvaty that there are thousands of Shiv Lings in Kashi Kshetram.  While some of them are Swayambhu (appeared by themselves), many others have been installed by Gods, deities and devotees and planets.

In the process, Lord Shiva hinted to a group of fourteen Lings which are very powerful. Gayaneshwar Ling is one of them. The fourteen Shiv Lings are equivalent to invaluable treasure.

Gyaneshwar

People who worship Lord Shiva in the form of Gyaneshwar will always be happy, acquire ultimate knowledge and will attain Moksha.  Let alone worshipping these fourteen Lings, merely by reciting the names of these Lings, a devotee can free himself from all the sins committed knowingly or unknowingly.

LOCATION OF GYANESHWAR

Gyaneshwar Ling is located at No. D.10/32, Lahori Tola in the premises of Gyaneshwar Silk Factory.  Devotees will have to descend the steps in the premises as the Ling is located under the ground level.  The place of worship is well maintained.  People can travel upto Dasaswamedh Vishwanath Gully by rickshaw and then on foot to this place. Lahouri Tola is an important landmark. 

TYPES OF POOJA

The place of worship is open from 06.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 05.00 p.m. to 09.00 p.m.  The timings are flexible.

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.

HARESHWAR

From Harishchandra Kshetra one Ling by name of Hareshwar has appeared in the Holy city of Kashi. By worshipping this deity, the devotee will always be victorious in his ventures.

LOCATION OF HARESHWAR

Hareshwar is located at A-37/51, Rajghat Fort, in the room which houses Gyan Keshav. Devotees can travel upto this place by autorickshaw or cycle rickshaw or car.

Please watch our YouTube Video about Hareshwar at following Link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtyJwXnJWgk&t=91s

TYPES OF POOJA

The place of worship is open from 06.00 a.m. to 12.00 Noon and from 04.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.  The timings may be flexible.

Kashi Khand, Chapter 100 has prescribed Antargrihi Yatra to be performed daily by devotees.  The Yatra (religious tour) covers various deities in the innermost divine place in Kashi.

Hari Kesheshwar

Among various deities mentioned in the above Yatra, Kashi Khand mentions Harikesheshwar in the vicinity of Agasthyeshwar.

Devotees who worship Harikesheshwar will find all happiness coming their way and they will attain Moksha.

LOCATION OF HARIKESHESHWAR

Harikesheshwar is located on the platform near House No. 35/273, behind Khari Kuan in the vicinity of Vimal Aditya.  If a devotee proceeds from Sonarpura to Godowlia, just after Jangambari Mutt there is a left turn going towards Khari Kuan (famous place).  Devotees should take that left turn and after travelling about 100 yards, they should take a right turn to reach this place.  They can enquire from the locals about the Surya Dev temple in that locality (Vimal Aditya).

Please watch our YouTube Video about Asha Vinayak at following Link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtyJwXnJWgk&t=91s

TYPES OF POOJA

The place of worship is open throughout and devotees can perform pooja as per their convenience.