Manikarnikeshvar Temple

Overview

Vishalakshi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Vishalakshi (goddess with wide eyes) or the Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva. Vishalakshi Temple is also known as the Vishalakshi Gauri Temple. It is the most famous Hindu temple located at the Meer Ghat on the banks of the holy River Ganga in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The Vishalakshi Temple is considered as one of the Shakti Peethas. Shakti Peethas are the most significant temples in Hindu culture as they are dedicated to the Divine Mother, Aadi Shakti.

About the Temple

The Vishalakshi Temple of Devi Sati, wife of Lord Shiva stands at Meer Ghat behind Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, India. Vishalakshi Devi temple is a powerful Shakti Peeth and any pooja, charity, recitation of devi mantras performed in this premises is considered to yield very high results. Unmarried girls worshiping Vishalakshi Devi are sure to get married, childless couple will certainly be blessed with a child, and even the most unfortunate ladies will find themselves blessed.

About the Deity

The presiding deity is VISHALAKSHI who is also known as Manikarni or Manikarnika.

Legend and stories

It is considered that either the earrings or the eyes of the Devi Sati have fallen in the Varanasi at this sacred spot. Kajali Tij, the most important Hindu festival for the Indian women, is celebrated at the Vishalakshi Temple very grandly. This festival is held at the third day of the fortnight festival during the Hindu month of Bhadrapada falling in August.

Goddess Sati was the daughter of Prajapati Daksha. She got married to Lord Shiva against her father's wish. Once, Prajapati Daksha had organized a great yagna but he did not invite his daughter (Sati) and his son in law( Lord Shiva). Sati was very upset with this and Though Lord Shiva warned her not to go there uninvited, she went to the Yagna. She was insulted by her father as he ignored Sati. She could not bear the insult of her husband (Lord Shiva) and jumped into the sacred fire of yagna and committed suicide. Miraculously Devi Sati's dead body did not burn. Lord Shiva was furious and took his Virabhadra form. He cut the head of Daksha but finally forgave him by blessing him his life again. The heartbroken Lord Shiva wandered in the universe with Sati’s corpse. Finally, Lord Vishnu cut the corpse of Sati into 52 parts by His Chakra. Each of the places where the part fell became a Shakti Peetha. Lord Shiva created 52 Bhairavas for each Shakti Peetha as a guardian to secure the Shakti Peetha. It is considered that Goddess Sati's eyes or earrings had fallen in Varanasi, hence the name Vishalakshi Temple.

There are six points as a temple in the Varanasi which symbolize Shastanga (six-fold) yoga. These are Vishalakshi Temple, Kala Bhairava Temple, Vishwanath Temple, holy River Ganga, Dandapani temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva) and Dhudiraj Temple ( dedicated to Lord Ganesha).

Festivals

Devotees celebrate Navaratri at this temple in the month of October as well as celebrate the triumph of the Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon (Mahishasura). They celebrate other Navaratri in the fortnight of the Chaitra maasa in March. All the nine days devotees ardently worship Navadurga (nine forms of Goddess Durga).

Accommodation

Varanasi being an important tourist destination for both pilgrims as well as other tourists has lots of economic class hotels as well as luxury hotels and guest houses. Hotel such as Taj Ganges, Hotel Surabhi International, Hotel Varanasi Ashok, Hotel De Paris, and Hotel M M Continental are all situated within a short distance from Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Significance

Devotees take a dip in the holy water of the Ganga just before offering worship to Vishalakshi Maa. The devotees believe that offering puja, Jal ( water) and chanting songs of the goddess is very auspicious and pleasing to the Goddess and she will provide prosperity. Unmarried girls worship Goddess Vishalakshi to find suitable groom for themselves, childless mothers worship for a child and unfortunate people for their bright fortune.

Accesibility

Air

Babatpur Airport, also known as Varanasi Airport or Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (IATA - VNS, ICAO - VIBN), is the nearest airport situated 18 kms to the north-west of Varanasi city. Varanasi lies on the daily air tourist shuttle route linking other major tourist places in India such as Khajuraho, Agra and Delhi.

Rail

The city is linked by trains with all metros and major cities across the country - New Delhi (760 Kms.), Bombay (1509 Kms.), Calcutta (735 Kms.), Madras (1970 Kms.) , Lucknow (286 Kms) . There are three railway stations - Kashi, City and Varanasi Junction (also known as Varanasi Cantonment), which is the main station and has computerised booking. There are not many trains running directly from here to Delhi or Calcutta but most Delhi to Calcutta trains do pass through Mughal Sarai, 18 kms south of Varanasi. This is about 45 minutes by bus or shared autorickshaw. From Varanasi Junction, expresses take 13 to 16 hrs. to Delhi and 13 hours to Calcutta. Other expresses take 28 hrs. to Bombay, 39 hrs. to Madras, 3 hrs. to Allahabad, 41/2 hrs. to Patna, 5 hrs. to Lucknow.

Road

Varanasi is connected with Calcutta (677 Kms.), Delhi (765 Kms.), Madras (1901 Kms.), Bangalore (1763 Kms.) and to the rest of the country by good motorable, all-weather roads.

Address

Manikarnikaa Ghaat,
Vaaraanasee,
Uttra Pradesh,
India