Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga

Seventh Jyotirlinga — the Lord of Kashi, where Shiva is believed to grant liberation to devotees.

दर्शन महत्व: The renewed temple corridor and eternal Ganga aarti make this the spiritual heart of India for many.

यात्रा का सर्वश्रेष्ठ समय: Oct–Mar

History

Kashi Vishwanath is the seventh Jyotirlinga — Shiva as Vishwanatha, Lord of the Universe, in Varanasi. The present temple was rebuilt by Ahilyabai Holkar in 1780 after earlier destructions; a new corridor now opens the shrine toward the Ganga. Kashi is counted among the seven moksha-puris, and dying here is believed to grant liberation.

Legends

• Tradition holds that Shiva never leaves Kashi; he whispers the taraka mantra in the ear of those who pass here.
• The jyotirlinga is the pillar of light that Brahma and Vishnu could not measure — Vishwanath is that infinite light worshipped as a lingam.