Kashi Vishwanath Tirthyatra
Kashi Vishwanath Tirthyatra
Kashi Vishwanath Temple in the Vishwanath Galli of Varanasi by the western bank of the sacred river Ganga. Sri Kashi Vishwanath is one of teh tree presiding Deities of Kashi or Varanasi. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the icon of cultural & religious history of Sanatana Dharma. It is the pinnacle of one’s life. Every citizen born in the holy city of India wants to visit Kashi and touch the sacred Vishwanatha Linga in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
The temple house the Jyotirilinga among the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga of India. Jyotitlingas are those lingas of Lord Shiva where he personally appeared as a column of light. Being a Jyotirlingas, the temple attains prominence amongst the temples of Lord Shiva as well as in Varanasi.
The Current temple was built in 1780 by Maharani Ahalya Bai Holkar of Indore. The temple has been demolished many times by Muslim kings and then rebuilt. The temple has been mentioned in the Vedic literature especially the kahsi Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Kashi Vishwanath Linga Origin
The Kashi Khanda of Skanda Purana narrates that the Vishwanath Jyotrilinga is exactly the same linga which appeared as the columan of light to Lord Brahma Lord Vishnu in response to their enquiry about who is greater. Althought the original and the first shivalinga of Kashi is Lord Avimukteshwara, the Vishwanath Jyotirlinga is much famed due to its being the Jyotirlinga. Even a touch of this jyotirlinga can award the results of performance of thousands of Rajasuya Yajnas.
