Kashi Vishwanath Temple
The Kashi Vishvanath Temple ( Hindi : काशी विश्वनाथ मंदिर) is one of the most famous Shiva temples in India . It is in the holy city of Varanasi .
myth
According to legend, Brahma the Creator and Vishnu the Preserver argued over which of the two was the greater. In the course of this, a light linga breaks out of the earth. You decide to fathom the beginning and end of the apparition. Brahma transforms into a boar and digs his way down through the earth into the underworld, while Vishnu becomes a swan and flies up into the infinite sky. However, neither of them can find the end or the beginning of the light linga . When they return to their starting point, Shiva emerges from the pillar of light. Vishnu, who acknowledges Shiva's omnipotence, worships him immediately, whereas Brahma claims he has found the end of the light linga and even shows a flower that fell towards him, claiming that he found it at the upper end. In order to punish Brahma for his lie, Shiva cuts off the fifth head. However, since Brahma is considered a Brahmin , Shiva attaches the particularly great sin of Brahmin murder from now on. Brahma's head therefore remains hanging on Shiva's hand and cannot be removed again. After an atonement, the head only falls from the hand of the god in the city of Varanasi .
The light linga, which is themed in the myth, is considered to be the archetype of the lingas : Shiva caused it to become small so that people could worship it. According to the mythology of Varanasis , this is where the original Linga Shivas manifested. Many other places also claim this fact for themselves, which is not a contradiction in the Hindu faith , as exclusivity is not claimed here. In Varanasi there are three lingas that are said to be the original light linga : One of them is in the Kashi Vishvanath temple. It is known as Vishvanatha or Vishveshvara .
history
Today's Kashi Vishvanath Temple was built in 1780 under the patronage of Queen Ahalyabi Holkar of Indore . Earlier temples, which had previously preserved the Linga of Shiva , were repeatedly razed and desecrated in the eventful history of Varanasi in conflict with Islamic rulers . For example, the Gyanvapi Mosque , which was built there by Mughal ruler Aurangzeb around 1670, stands on the foundations of the last Vishvanath temple . In 1839 one of the temple towers was gilded by King Ranjit Singh of Lahore. In 1857 the complex was renovated by Maharani Khaneti , wife of Sudarshan Shah . Since 1983 the temple complex has been administered by the government of Uttar Pradesh .
location
The temple is located on the western side of the Ganges , near the river. He stands between narrow rows of houses, in the middle of a rectangular courtyard.
Structure & architecture
The temple has a dome and two towers. One of the towers is gilded.
In addition to the Shiva - Linga, there are also shrines of Vishnu , Avimukta Vinayaka , Avimukteshvara , Nikumbha , Mahakala , Dandapani , Virupaksa and many other higher and lower deities on the temple grounds . The Shiva - Linga is located in a silver altar that is set into the floor of the building. The linga itself stands on a base that is also made of silver.
Religious life
The Kashi Vishvanath Temple is only allowed to be entered by Hindus . As is common in Hinduism , offerings such as flowers and sweets are made. Since the Ganges is in the immediate vicinity, the Shiva - Linga is also bathed with holy river water. In the evening it is decorated with flowers. The temple is open daily from 2:30 am to 11:00 pm. This period of time is divided into sections for public darshan and for performing rituals, etc.
Remarks
- ^ Kashi-Vishwanath-Temple-Website-General , accessed November 29, 2012
- ↑ There are two other temples of the same name in Varanasi
- ↑ there are different versions of this legend
- ^ Diana L. Eck: Benares. City of light. First edition. Insel Verlag, Frankfurt am Main / Leipzig 2006, pp. 134–137.
- ^ Diana L. Eck: Benares. City of light. First edition. Insel Verlag, Frankfurt am Main / Leipzig 2006, p. 150.
- ↑ North-India-Tours.net ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed November 29, 2012
- ^ Diana L. Eck: Benares. City of light. First edition. Insel Verlag, Frankfurt am Main / Leipzig 2006, p. 151.
- ^ Diana L. Eck: Benares. City of light. First edition. Insel Verlag, Frankfurt am Main / Leipzig 2006, p. 153.
- ^ Diana L. Eck: Benares. City of light. First edition. Insel Verlag, Frankfurt am Main / Leipzig 2006, pp. 152–53.
- ↑ Kashi Vishwanath Temple website , accessed November 28, 2012
Web links
Coordinates: 25 ° 18 ′ 38.8 " N , 83 ° 0 ′ 38.2" E