Vishalakshi Shakti Peetha

Wide-eyed Goddess near Manikarnika — earrings of Sati fell at this Kashi Shakti seat.

दर्शन महत्व: Quiet complement to Kashi Vishwanath; many complete both on the same Kashi yatra.

यात्रा का सर्वश्रेष्ठ समय: Oct–Mar

History

Vishalakshi in Varanasi, near Mir Ghat / Annapurna and not far from Manikarnika, is Kashi’s Shakti Peetha. Many pilgrims complete Vishwanath and Vishalakshi on the same Kashi yatra. The present temple is modest beside the great corridor, but its place in Shakta geography is central.

Legends

• The earrings (or eyes — vishalakshi, wide-eyed) of Sati fell in Kashi; she watches over the city of liberation with Shiva.
• A Kashi khanda tradition holds that without Devi’s grace, even Vishwanath darshan is incomplete.