Kashi Kshetra (Varanasi) - Moksha Puri, Created by Lord Shiva, Jyotirlinga and Shakti Peetha
• Meditation:
► Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga: I meditate on Lord Shiva creating the city of Kashi and abiding there as Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga.
► Varanasi Shakti Peetha: I meditate on the Varanasi Shakti Peetha where the Kundala (Ear-Ring) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Vishalakshi and the Bhairava is called Kalabhairava.
• Greatness:
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Kashi Kshetra (Varanasi) - Moksha Puri, Created by Lord Shiva, Jyotirlinga and Shakti Peetha:
• Kashi(Varanasi)(Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh):Kashi (Varanasi) is a puranic kshetra on the bank of river Ganga which was created by Lord Shiva himself, and where Lord Shiva abides as a Jyotirlinga. Kashi is mentioned in Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda and other texts. According to the Puranas, Kashi does not get destroyed during dissolution, but Lord Shiva holds Kashi on his trident. Also, Lord Shiva gives Moksha to anyone dying in Kashi by uttering the Taraka Mantra in their ear. Kashi is also a Shakti Peetha associated with Devi Vishalakshi. Devi Vishalakshi is mentioned in Kashi Khanda as well as Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. Kashi Khanda mentions a list of Deities who abide in the Kashi Kshetra. They are Kalabhairava, Dandapani, 64 Yoginis, 12 Adityas, Lord Brahma, Shiva Ganas, 56 Vinayakas, Lord Vishnu, several Devis, 8 Bhairavas and 64 Vetalas. These Deities are associated with the story of king Divodasa who ruled Kashi for sometime and finally attained liberation. Sage Agastya had his hermitage in Kashi but had to leave towards the south to subdue the Vindhya mountain who was rose in height and obstructed the path of the Sun. Sage Agastya listened to the greatness of Kashi from Sri Skanda in the south. Some of the famous Deities mentioned in Kashi Khanda are: Kalabhairava, Dandapani, Lolark, Lord Brahma, Dhundiraj Vinayaka, Bindu Madhava, Devi Vishalakshi, Devi Vishwabahu, Devi Durga and others. Kashi Khanda gives a large list of Shiva Lingas of Kashi which are given below.
◍ Sacred Geography:
Kashi Ganga Aarti (Dashashwamedh Ghat)
▬ River Ganga flows (Aarti)
▬ River Varana flows
▬ River Asi flows
• River Ganga Ghats:
- Asi Ghat
- Harishchandra Ghat
- Kedar Ghat
- Dashashwamedh Ghat (Aarti)
- Meer Ghat
- Lalita Ghat (Vishwanatha Temple)
- Manikarnika Ghat
- Scindia Ghat
- Panchganga Ghat
- Trilochan Ghat
- Prahlad Ghat
... and many others
1. Presence of Lord Shiva in Kashi (from Shiva Purana):
• Kashi Vishwanath is identified with the Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga. Lord Shiva created Kashi and abided there as Jyotirlinga. (Vishwanath Temple)
3. Presence of Devi in Kashi:
• Kashi Vishalakshi is identified with the Varanasi Shakti Peetha. (Devi Vishalakshi Temple)
- Where the Kundala (Ear-Ring) of Devi had fallen here.
- The Devi is known as Vishalakshi and the Bhairava is called Kalabhairava.
• Kashi Vishalakshi is identified with the Varanasi Shakti Peetha. (Devi Vishalakshi Temple)
• Establishment of Devis in Kashi. (Devi Vishalakshi Temple) (Devi Vishwabahu Temple)
• Annapoorna Stotram of Adi Shankara. (Devi Annapoorna Temple)
◍ Sages:
• Sage Agastya had an ashrama in Kashi.
• Sage Agnibindu worshipped Lord Vishnu in Kashi (Bindu Madhava).
• Sage Jaigishavya worshipped Lord Shiva in Kashi (Jaigishavyeshwara Linga).
◍ Saints:
• Sri Trailanga Swami (1607 - 1887 CE) lived in Kashi.
• Baba Lokenath (1730 - 1890 CE) lived in Kashi for sometime with Sri Trailanga Swami.
Vishwanath Temple of Kashi is identified with the Vishwanath Jyotirlinga mentioned in the Shiva Purana. The Avimukteshwar Linga is also present within the Vishwanath Temple and is mentioned in the Shiva Purana. The Vishwanath Temple is located near the Lalita Ghat of Varanasi.
Temples of Lord Shiva and other Deities in Kashi (from Kashi Khanda):
► Kashi - River Ganga Ghats (Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh)
The list of Ghats of river Ganga in Kashi are given below:
Some of the famous Ghats are:
• Asi Ghat
• Harishchandra Ghat
• Dashashwamedh Ghat
• Manikarnika Ghat
• Panchganga Ghat
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple is located near the Lalita Ghat.
- The famous Ganga Aarti is held in Dashashwamedh Ghat.
Ravidas Ghat
Asi Ghat
Ganga Mahal Ghat 1
Reewa Ghat
Tulsi Ghat
Bhadaini Ghat
Janaki Ghat
Mata Anandamayi Ghat
Vaccharaja Ghat
Jain Ghat
Nishadraj Ghat
Panchakot Ghat
Prabhu Ghat
Chet Singh Ghat
Niranjani Ghat
Mahanirvani Ghat
Shivala Ghat
Gularia Ghat
Dandi Ghat
Hanuman Ghat
Karnataka Ghat
Harishchandra Ghat
Lali Ghat
Vijaynagar Ghat
Kedar Ghat: The Kedareshwar Temple is near this ghat.
Chauki Ghat
Kshemeshwar Ghat
Mansarovar Ghat
Narad Ghat
Raja Ghat
Pandey Ghat
Digpatia Ghat
Chausatthi Ghat
Rana Mahal Ghat
Darbhanga Ghat
Munshi Ghat
Ahilyabai Ghat
Shitala Ghat
Dashashwamedh Ghat: The famous Ganga Arati of Kashi is performed in the Dashashwamedh Ghat every evening.
Prayag Ghat
Rajendra Prasad Ghat
Manmahal Ghat
Varahi Ghat
Tripura Bhairavi Ghat
Meer Ghat: Dharmeshwar Temple (with the Dharmeshwar Linga and Dharmakoop within it) is near this ghat.
Lalita Ghat: Vishwanath Temple (with Vishwanath and Avimukteshwar Lingas) is near this ghat.
Jalshayi Ghat
Manikarnika Ghat: Manikarnikeshwar Temple is quite close to this ghat.
Scindia Ghat: Siddheswari Temple (with the Chandreshwar Linga and Chandrakoop within it) and Vireshwar Temple (with the Vireshwar Linga and Vishwakarmeshwar Linga) is near this ghat.
Sankata Ghat
Ganga Mahal Ghat 2
Bhonsale Ghat
Agnishwar Ghat
Ganesh Ghat
Mehta Ghat
Ram Ghat
Jatar Ghat
Gwalior Ghat
Balaji Ghat
Panchganga Ghat
Durga Ghat
Brahma Ghat
Bundiparkota Ghat
Shitala Ghat
Lal Ghat
Hanumangadhi Ghat
Gaay Ghat
Badrinarayan Ghat
Trilochan Ghat: Trilochan Temple and Mahadev Temple is near this ghat.
Gola Ghat
Nandishwar Ghat
Sakka Ghat
Teliyanala Ghat
Naya Ghat
Prahlad Ghat: Kameshwar Temple is quite close to this ghat.
Kalabhairava Temple is present in Varanasi. Sri Kalabhairava is considered as the Kotwal of Kashi. Sri Kalabhairava Temple is located in Vishweshwarganj area, around 1 km from Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
• Shakti Peetha: Kashi Vishalakshi is identified with the Varanasi Shakti Peetha.
- Where the Kundala (Ear-Ring) of Devi had fallen.
- The Devi there is known as Vishalakshi and the Bhairava is called Kalabhairava. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 30)
Devi Vishalakshi Temple of Varanasi is identified with the Varanasi Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. The Vishalakshi Temple is located near the Meer Ghat.
• Establishment of Devis in Kashi. (Devi Vishalakshi Temple) (Devi Vishwabahu Temple) (Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 70)
Devi Vishalakshi Temple of Varanasi is identified with the Varanasi Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. The Vishalakshi Temple is located near the Meer Ghat.
Devi Vishwabahu is identified with Devi Vishwabhuja mentioned in Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda. Devi Vishwabahu shrine is present within the Kashi Dharmeshwar Temple premises near Meer Ghat.
• Kashi has the Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga.
(1) Creation of Kashi.
► Kashi - Varanasi
(2) Creation of Manikarnika in Kashi.
(3) Advent of river Ganga in Kashi.
(4) Creation of Kalabhairava in Kashi.
(9) Appearance of 12 Adityas in Kashi.
(10) Appearance of Lord Brahma in Kashi.
(11) Appearance of Shiva Ganas in Kashi.
(12) Appearance of 56 Vinayakas in Kashi.
(16) Various Shiva Lingas in Kashi.
(18) Establishment of 8 Bhairavas in Kashi.
• Baba Lokenath (1730 - 1890 CE) lived in Kashi for sometime with Sri Trailanga Swami.