DN Darshan: Kashi Vishvanath Temple, Varanasi

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New Delhi/ 24 July 2016. The holy month of Shravan began on Wednesday. According to mythology this month is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva.

Dynamite News brings you a series of most glorious places of Lord Shiva. Today we take you to Kashi Vishvanath temple situated on bank of the holy river Ganga in Varanasi. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. 

Jyotirlinga in  Vishwanath temple has an extraordinary and exclusive importance in the religious history of India. It attracts devotees from all across the world.
The Temple has references in Hindu Scriptures for a long time and is a central part of worship in the Shaiva philosophy. 

History 
The temple has been mentioned in the Puranas including the Kashi Khanda of Skanda Purana. 

Passing through many upheavals, the current temple was constructed by Late Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore in 1780. The two domes of the temple were covered by the gold, offered by the Punjab Kesari Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in 1839. And the third dome was gold plated by the Ministry of Cultures and Religious Affairs of UP Government.

Architecture
The temple complex consists of a series of smaller shrines, located in a small lane called the Vishwanatha Galli. 

The venerable linga is made up of black colored stone, and is enshrined in the sanctum, placed on a silver platform. 

Structure of the temple is composed of three parts. The first compromises a spire on the temple of Lord Vishwanath or Mahadeva. The second is gold dome and the third is the gold spire atop the Vishwanath carrying a flag and a trident.

The main temple is quadrangle and is surrounded by shrines of other gods. There are small temples for Kaalbhairav, Dhandapani, Avimukteshwara, Vishnu, Vinayaka, Sanishwara, Virupaksha and Virupaksh Gauri in the complex.

There is a small well in the temple called the Jnana Vapi also spelled as Gyaan vapi, the wisdom well. 

How to reach there
The city of Varanasi is well linked by rail and road. The nearest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi which is about 25 kms from the temple.