Sri Kashi Vishalakshi Mata Shaktipeeth Temple, Uttar Pradesh

Address

Sri Kashi Vishalakshi Mata Shaktipeeth Temple, Kashi Lahori Tola Near Ganpati Guest House Meer Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001

Diety

Shakti: Visalakshi, Bhairava: Kalbhairav, Body part or ornament: Ear with Earrings

Introduction

The Vishalakshi Temple or Vishalakshi Gauri Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Vishalakshi at Mir Ghat on the banks of the Ganges at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is generally regarded as a Shakti Pitha, Mother. Visalakshi temple is known for the Kajali Tij festival, which was held on the third day during the fortnight in the Hindu month of Bhadrapad (August) on the third day. This temple is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths of Mother. S Bhairav is worshiped as Patron or Kaal Bhairav.

Puranic Significance

Lord Vishnu divided the body in 51 parts using his Sudarshan chakra. Out of those 51 parts, from which the EARRING of Sati fell to this place. Hence this place is also called ‘Manikarnika Ghat’. ANOTHER STORY OF SATI: In Hindu mythology, the son of Brahma, King Prajapati Daksha had a daughter named Sati. Princess Sati grew up adoring the legends and tales of Shiva, and when finally her age of getting married came, she knew it was only the ascetic Lord Shiva of Kailash where her heart and soul resided. Soon enough, Daksha’s daughter left her father’s luxuries and palace and began her meditation to win Shiva’s heart. She performed intense penance in dense forests and renounced food completely. When she finally pleased Shiva through her austerities, the lord of Kailash appeared in front of her and agreed to marry her. The legend goes that Sati and Shiva were happy in their marital bliss, but their marriage had not gone down too well with King Daksha, who considered ascetic Shiva nothing short of an uncouth lad who lives a hermit’s life not worthy of his daughter. So when Daksha organized a great yajna, he invited all the deities, gods and sages–but consciously excluded his son-in-law Shiva to insult him. Hurt by her father’s decision, Sati decided to visit her father and demand the reason for not inviting them. When she entered Daksha’s palace, she was bombarded with insults directed towards the Shiva. Haughty and proud King Prajapati Daksha called him all sorts of names right from a dishevelled god who hung out in graveyard to the supposed ‘lord of the beasts’. Unable to bear anything against her husband, a devastated Goddess Sati threw herself in the glowing scared fire of yajna. When Shiva’s attendants informed him about the demise of his wife, he grew enraged and created Veerbhadra from a lock of his hair. Veerbhadra created havoc in Daksha’s palace and killed him. Meanwhile, mourning his beloved soulmate’s death, Shiva tenderly held Sati’s body and started his dance of destruction (taandav). To save the universe and bring back Shiva’s sanity, Lord Vishnu cut Sati’s lifeless body using Sudharshan Chakra into 51 pieces.

Beliefs

It is believed that karna kundala is merely an ornament and not part of the body. Therefore this place can at best be considered as an upapeetha, a minor or sub-centre. As the divine eye can perceive the entire universe, Mother here is called Vishalakshi, the vast-eyed.

Special Features

According to another narrative, Mother Annapurna, whose blessings, all the creatures in the world receive food, they are ‘Vishalakshi’. According to the legend of ‘Skanda Purana’, when the sage was not offering any food in Varanasi, then Vishalakshi appeared in the role of a housewife and gave food to the sage Vyas. The role of Visalakshi was very similar to Annapurna.

Festivals

Shri Vishalakshi Temple, especially the special puja on the festival of Kajali Teej, Durga Puja and Navaratri. On this day, the temple is decorated with flowers and lights. The spiritual atmosphere of the temple provides peace to the heart and mind of the devotees.