Welcome to Varanasi Temples

        Varanasi has over two thousand temples - some are gigantic monuments, others only wayside-shrines. In Varanasi, even A pile of sculpted temple, remains under it tree receives devout offerings. And almost every home and every lane has its own shrine. The temples of varanasi cannot lay claim to any great antiquity, having been ravaged by Muslim invaders time, and time Again. Yet, the conqueror's sword has not been able to erase tlneir spiritual resonance.

                 Vishwanath Temple
        Vishwanath Temple, one of the most important Shiva temples in India, is the pre-eminent shrine of Varanasi. viskwanath in Sanskrit means Lord or natha of the Universe or vishwa, and it is only correct that Shiva should be known by this name in his own city.
The present Vishwanath Temple does not have any architectural grandeur in 1785, Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore built the temple that is standing today. It is located in a narrow, winding gali off Dasashwamedh Ghat, Next to it is Gyanvapi Mosque built by Aurangzeb when his armies destroyed the temple in the 17th century.
A carved gateway leads to the white marble temple, topped by golden spires. The spires were plated in 1835, using 820 kg of gold donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh ruler of Punjab. For the pilgrim who may have traveled a thousand miles. the sanctity of the temple is only heightened by the teeming crowds, the chanting of mantras and the continuouringing of bells. Wrought silver doors lead to the sanctum. The linga of smooth black stone is set in a square silver altar.
Within the courtyard stand many smaller shrines, and a 2.1-metre high figure of Shiva's bull, Nandi. Between the temple and Aurangzeb's mosque stands Gyanvapi, the Well of Knowledge, when the ancient Shiva linga is said to have been hidden when Aurangzeb attacked the city. Almost every twist in the lanes of Varanasi reveals a wayside shrine Pilgrims drink from this well to gain knowledge and wisdom.

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