Sacred Facts · At a Glance
- Element
- earth
Primary Scriptures
0 sourcesNo primary scriptures are catalogued for this entry yet. If you know of scriptural references we have missed, please contribute them.
vahana: "Nandi (sacred bull)" sacred_colours:
- saffron
- white
- gold sacred_flowers:
- lotus
- tulasi
- jasmine sacred_flowers:
- lotus
- tulasi
- champaka sacred_trees:
- peepal
- bilva (bael)
- tulasi sacred_animals:
- Nandi (sacred bull)
- peacock
- elephant sacred_colours:
- saffron
- white
- gold
vahana: "Nandi (sacred bull)"
primary_scriptures:
- title: "Skanda Purana — temple kshetra mahatmya" type: "purana" festival_dates:
- "Maha Shivaratri (Feb–Mar)"
- "Diwali (Oct–Nov)"
Kashi Vishwanath Temple — The City of Light
Moksha in Kashi
The holiest of the 12 Jyotirlingas, located on the western bank of the Ganges. It is believed that dying within the temple's boundaries grants liberation (moksha) — making Kashi the ultimate pilgrimage for Hindus seeking release from rebirth.
From Destruction to Resilience
The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times — most famously by Aurangzeb in 1669, who built the Gyanvapi Mosque on its site. The current golden spire (3.5 tonnes of gold) was donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 19th century.
The Gyanvapi Well
The Gyanvapi Well ("Well of Wisdom") inside the temple complex is believed to contain the original Shiva lingam that was hidden during Aurangzeb's destruction. Devotees believe the water from this well has healing properties.
Sources & provenance
- 📜Primary sourceBookDiana L. Eck. Banaras: City of Light (1982)
- 📜
