Varanasi : Home of Shiva

For Shiva follower, Varanasi is the most important place to visit, because this city build by Lord Shiva seven thousand years ago. That’s why I found a lot of “lingam” here. Lingam represents the beginningless and endless Stambha pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva

Shiva Purana say’s Varanasi is not destroyed when the rest of the world is destroyed. Shiva himself raises it on the point of his trident and protects it while destruction rages all around. When the world is re-created. Shiva replaces Varanasi to its appointed place.

Many people come to this city to offer Puja for Lord Shiva. There is one sacred temple that be a pilgrim destination in Varanasi , Kashi Vishwanath Temple , due to this 15.5m high golden spire, this temple famous with the name Golden Temple.

This temple is rebuild by Rani Ahilyabai (shiva follower) after she saw Lord Shiva come to her dream and say’s

"you are a great devotee of me and so I want to give you one responsibility. I’m always staying in Varanasi beside the bank of the Holiest river Ganga, as Lord Viswanath - the most auspicious part of my twelve ‘Jyotirlings’ in India . I was living there in holy ‘Gyanvapi’ temple. People worshiped me with a great devotion. But some greedy culprits destroyed my holy temple. For the sake of my all devotees let you build another Temple for me beside the same place so that people can worship me again with a great devotion. Go and take bath in the holy river ‘Narmada’. There you will get one SHIVLING from the bed of the river. Establish that SHIVLING into the new temple. This very temple will be famous as KASHI VISHWANATH TEMPLE.

Millions of devotees say that if somebody offer Puja with a holy mind to Lord Shiva of Kashi Viswanath with Ganga Water , Billa Patra, Akanda or Dhutra, Lord shiva get immensely satisfied with him / her and blessed for fulfilling his / her secret desire. He sets him/her free from all distress and give Shanti , peace in mind.

No picture allow inside the temple, and many many security around the temple after some bomb explosion near the Ghat last year.

Now , I realised why in this city many cow free roam around. Yes,Cow is manifest of Nandi the Shiva Vahana (transport). Wherever Shiva is Nandi will be there, like a coin with two side. Always inherent in a single section.

So, let recite the Mantra inside His home..

ॐ त्रियम्बकं यजामहे, सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनं
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मोक्षिय मामृतात्

"..Om tryambhakam yajamahe, sugandhim pushtivardhanam
urvarukamiva bandhanan, mrityor mukshiya maamritat.."

“O praise to the Three-Eyed One, who increases prosperity, who has a sweet fragrance, who frees the world from all disease and death – liberate me, as the cucumber is easily severed from the vine. O Shiva, grant me immortality!”