Standing
on the western bank of India's holiest rever Ganges, Varanasi is the oldest
surviving city of the world and the cultural capital of India. It is in the
heart of this city that there stands in its fullest majesty the Kashi Vishwanath
Temple in which is enshrined the Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha.
Here gravitate the teeming millions of India to seek benediction and spiritual
peace by the darshan of this Jyotirlinga which confers liberation from the bondages
of maya and the inexorable entanglements of the world. A simple glimpse of the
Jyotirlinga is a soul-cleansing experience that transforms life and puts it
on the path of knowledge and bhakti.
Vishweshwara jyotirlinga has a very special and unique significance in the spiritual
history of India. Tradition has it that the merits earned by the darshan of
other jyotirlinga scattered in various parts of India accrue to devotee by a
single visit to Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Deeply and intimately implanted in
the Hindu mind, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple has been a living embodinent of
our timeless cultural traditions and highest spiritual values. The Temple has
been visited by all great saints- Adi Shankaracharya, Ramkrishna Paramhansa,
Swami Vivekanand, Goswami Tulsidas, Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati, Gurunanak and
several other spiritual personalities. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple attracts
visitors not only from India but abroad as well and thereby symbolises man's
desire to live in peace snd harmony with one another.
Vishwanath being a supreme repository of this spiritual truth thus strengthens
the bonds of universal brotherhood and fellow feeling at the national as wll
as global levels. On January 28, 1983 the Temple was taken over by the Govt.
of Uttar Pradesh and it's management eversince stands entrusted to a Trust with
Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh. Former Kashi Naresh, as president and an Executive
Committee with Divisional Commissioner as Chairman.
The
Temple in the present shape was built way back in 1780 by Late Maharani Ahilya
Bai Holkar of Indore. In the year 1785 a Naubatkhan was built up infront of
the Temple by the then collector Mohd. Ibrahim Khan at the instance of Governor
General Warren Hastings. In 1839, Two domes of the Temple were covered by gold
donated by Punjab Kesari Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. Third dome but was remained
uncovered, Ministry of cultures & Religious affairs of U.P. Govt. took keen
interest for gold plating of third dome of Temple.
Rituals
The Temple opens daily at 2.30a.m. in Mangala Aarati 3 to 4 a.m. ticket holders
are permitted to join. From 4 to 11 a.m. general Darshan is allowed. 11.30 to
12 a.m. mid day Bhog Aarati is done. Again 12 noon to 7 p.m. devotees are free
to have darshan. From 7 to 8.30 p.m. evening Sapta Rishi Aarati is done after
which darshan is again possible uptill 9 p.m. when Shringar/Bhog Aarati starts.
After 9 p.m. Darshan from out side only is possidle. Shayana Aartis starts at
10.30p.m.The Temple closes at 11p.m.
Most of the prasad,milk,clothes and other such offerings are given to the poors.
Best
of India Holidays