Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga

Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga: Lord Shiva creating Kashi and abiding there as Avimukteshwara Linga:

(Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 22 to 23)

► वाराणस्यां विश्वेशम् (Varanasyam Vishvesham)

• Meditation: I meditate on Lord Shiva creating Kashi and establishing it in the mortal world by placing it from his trident; then abiding there as Avimukteshwara Linga.

• Lord Shiva creating Kashi: Shiva, in the form of Chidananda (Consciousness and Bliss), who is without vikaras (modifications), who is advitiya (one without a second) and sanatana (eternal), once willed of becoming saguna (with attributes). It split into male and female forms. The male form is known as Shiva (as saguna) and the female form is known as Shakti. Thereafter a divine voice emerged from the nirguna Paramatman which told them (Purusha and Prakriti) to perform tapas for starting the creation. Purusha and Prakriti told the (nirguna) Shiva: There is no place to perform tapas, so where should we perform tapas as commanded by You? Then the (nirguna) Shiva from the essence of its tejas created a beautiful city extending five kroshas.

• Lord Vishnu performing penance in Kashi (Manikarnika): Then Shiva established Vishnu in that city for creation. Vishnu performed tapas there for a long time. By that tapas several streams emerged. At that time everything was shunya and nothing else was visible. Vishnu saw this strange sight (of nothingness) and shook his head (in surprise). Then a mani (gem) fell from his ear. That mani turned into a great tirtha known as Manikarnika.

• Lord Shiva holding Kashi on the tip of his trident: When the streams of water flowed and spreads upto five krosas, Shiva held the city on the tip of his trident.

• Emergence of Lord Brahma and creation of Lokas: Then Vishnu slept there with Prakriti as his wife. By the command of Shiva, from the navi (navel) of Vishnu was born Brahma seated over a lotus. By the command of Shiva, Brahma created fourteen lokas in the Brahmanda.

• Lord Shiva establishing the Avimukta Linga: The living beings born within the lokas of Brahmanda are bound by karma. So how can they attain me? Thus thinking Shiva separated the Panchakrosi (holding it on his trident). This place bestows auspiciousness, destroys the karmas, and thus reveals the illumination of Moksha. The place bestows divine knowledge and is very dear to Shiva. Shiva the Paramatman established the Avimukta Swayambhu Linga in that kshetra (in the tip of his trident) and said: This kshetra is part of my amsha (part), so I will never leave it.

• Lord Shiva placing Kashi on the mortal world (with Avimukta Linga): Thus uttering Shiva placed Kashika from his trident on the mortal world. Kashi does not get destroyed even after a day of Brahma. At that time, Shiva holds it on his trident. When Brahma again recreates, Kashi is again established on the earth. The Avimukteshwara Linga of Kashi liberates one from grave sins. At other places, one attains only Sarupya Mukti while at Kashi one attains Sayujya Mukti. Kalagni Rudra and Avimukta prayed to Lord Shiva to abide in Kashi for the welfare of all. Thereafter Shiva for the benefit of the people abided in Kashi. The city then became greater than ever before. Devi Parvati asked about the greatness of Kashi to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva said that anyone who dies in Kashi will get liberation irrespective of them being saints or sinners. However, the sinners will have to suffer for their sins before getting liberated.

- Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga (Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 22 to 23)
- Kashi Vishwanath (Ganga, Varana, Asi) (Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh)