Kashi Vishwanath Temple
The Kashi - Vishvanath Temple ( Hindi: काशी विश्वनथ् मंदिर ) is one of the most famous Shiva temple dedicated in India. He stands in the holy city of Varanasi.
Myth
According to legend, fought Brahma, the creator, and Vishnu, the preserver, about who was the bigger of the two. In the course of bursts forth a light - Linga from the earth. You decide the beginning and end of the phenomenon to fathom. Brahma transforms into a boar and digs through the earth deep into the underworld Vishnu, however, becomes a swan and flies the infinite sky. Both, however, can not find the end or the beginning of the light - lingas. When they return to their starting point again occurs Shiva emerge from the light -pillar. Vishnu, Shiva recognizes omnipotence, adored him instantly, Brahma asserts, however, he would have found the end of the light - lingas and even shows a flower that had fallen against him, claiming he had found at the top. To punish Brahma for lying Shiva suggests that from the fifth head. However, since Brahma is regarded as Brahman, Shiva attached from now on the very great sin of Brahmenenmordes to. The head of Brahma therefore remains attached to Shiva's hand and can not be removed. After a course of atonement head falls again only in the city of Varanasi from the hand of God.
The themed Mythos light - Linga is regarded as the archetype of the Lingas Shiva prompted that it will small so that the people could worship it. The Mythology According to Varanasi, this is the place where the original Linga Shiva manifested. However, many other places claim this circumstance also in itself, but this is not a contradiction in the Hindu faith, since exclusivity is not claimed. In Varanasi there are three Lingas are to be the original light - Linga: One of them is in Kashi - Vishvanath Temple. It is referred to as Visvanatha or Vishveshvara.
History
Today Kashi - Vishvanath temple was built under the patronage of Queen Ahalyabai Holkar of Indore in 1780. Earlier temples that had the linga of Shiva previously preserved, were razed in the checkered history of Varanasi's always in conflict with Islamic rulers and desecrated. So today stands on the foundations of the last Vishvanath temple for example, the Gyanvapi Mosque, which was built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1670 there. In 1839, one of the temple towers of King Ranjit Singh of Lahore was gilded. In 1857, the system of Maharani Khaneti, wife of Sudarshan Shah was renovated. Since 1983, the temple is managed by the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Location
The temple is located on the western side of the Ganges, near the river. He stands between narrow rows of houses, in the middle of a rectangular court.
Structure & Architecture
The temple has a dome and two towers. One of the towers is gilded.
On the temple grounds are adjacent to the Shiva linga also shrines of Vishnu, Vinayaka Avimukta, Avimukteshvara, Nikumbha, Mahakala, Dandapani, Virupaksa and many other higher and lower deities. The Shiva linga is housed in a silver altar that is sunk into the floor of the building. The Linga itself stands on a pedestal that is also made of silver.
Religious Life
The Kashi - Vishvanath temple may be entered only by Hindus. As is common in Hinduism offerings of flowers and sweets are offered. As the Ganges is in close proximity, the Shiva linga is bathed with holy river water. In the evening it is decorated with flowers. The temple is open daily 2:30 to 23:00. This period is divided into sections, etc. for public darshan and for the full pull of rituals.