KASHI VISHVANATH TEMPLE
KASHI VISHVANATH TEMPLE sanandamanandavane vasanta manandakandam hatapapavrindam | varaasInAthamanAthanAthaM shrIvishvanAthaM sharaNaM prapadye ||
Location of Kashi Vishvanath Jyothirlinga
Where the Varana and Asi rivers join the Ganges, a beautiful city was
built there in the ancient times. It was named Varanasi. Varanasi, a
prime place of pilgrimage, a tribe called kasha used to live. Therefore,
Varanasi was also known as Kashi. Near Kashi, Ganga flows in the shape
of a bow. Hence it acquired special importance. A king called Deivodas
expanded this area.
Varanasi is located in Uttarpradesh, in the Gangetic plains.
Purana of kashi vishwanath jyotirlinga
Nirvikar cahitanya and Sanatan Brahma have assumed the form of Saguna
Vishwarupa from the initial Nirgun Roopa or form. The Shiva Shakti
roopa became the Purusha (man) and Stree (the woman) again. Prakriti and
Purusha (Nature and man) (Shiva-Shakti) were once ordained by Shiva to
do tapas in the universe in order to create the best being. He specified
the best place for this purpose. When a prayer was held, Nirgun Shiva,
with His own powers and aura, created a wonderful city called
Panchakoshi. Vishnu, who resided there, spent a lot of time praying to
Shiva after which several watersprings originated there. Vishnu was
amazed at this wonderous event, and even as he tilled his head, a
gemstone fell from his ear. Because of this place, it was also called
Manikarnika. The entire Panch Koshi area of Manikarnika waters were then
gathered into the Trident by Shiva. Then from the navel of Vishnu was
born a lotus flower with Brahma in it. Brahma was ordained by Shiva to
create a world, at which Brahma created this wonderful world. It had
fifty crore Yojanas of area and fourteen lokas. In order to save the
lives of these who are bound by their own actions or karma. Shiva kept
panchakoshi city away from the entire universe. In this city, Shiva
Himself established the saviour Muktidayak JyotirLinga, which He can
never leave. Shiva removed this very Kashi from His Trident and set it
in this mortal world. It was not to be destroyed when Brahma’s day ends,
but during Pralay i.e., final destruction of the world, Shiva saved it
by keeping it safe in his trident. So the kashi is called avimukta
kshetra. In Kashi, the Avimukteshwar Linga is there forever. Those who
can never hope for salvation, attain Moksha here.
This holiest city of Panchakoshi, with its capacity to destroy
every conceivable sin, is the vehicle of a special Moksha by the name
"Samyugha”. That is the reason why this city which is ruled by Brahma,
Vishnu and Mahesha, is the place, where even divines want to die.
Sarwaguna from inside and Tamoguna from outside, are the qualities of
Rudra here. When prayed to, Vishwanatha Bahagavan Sri Shankar made this
abode and resided there with Parvati.
Glory of Kashi
Kashi city is the place for Moksha and Ganga. Those who live here
attain Mukti or Salvation, even without having to travel to any place of
pilgrimage. Any one, be it a man, woman, young, old, Sahava, pure or
impure, Prasuta, Aprasuta, Swadesh, Andaja, Udibhaja, of whatever caste,
all attain Moksha. There is not an iota of doubt in this. Whatever a
person may be doing, eat, sleep or anything else, if he departs from
this world from Avimukteshwar, he definitely attains Moksha. Any small
act of goodness or Punyakarya, takes away all the sins. Good as well as
bad people are born on this earth. But by living in Kashi, both attain
Moksha. Later, several people came forward to build this temple. A king
by the name Banar developed this city of pilgrimage. About one and half
thousand beautiful temples were built here. The tower of the
Vishweshwara temple is a hundred feet high.
Kashi nagar is so great that even if the universe is to be
destroyed in Pralaya, it would remain intact. Dandapani and Kalabhairav
guard this city. They stay there forever. On the Ganga banks eighty four
bathing ghats are located. There are also several teerthkundas. They
have been there right from the times of Vedas.
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