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Standing on the western bank of India's
holiest river Ganges, Varanasi is the oldest
surviving city of the world and the cultural
capital of India. It is in the heart of this
city that there stands in its fullest
majesty the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in which
is enshrined the Jyotirlinga of Shiva,
Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha. Here gravitate
the teeming millions of India to seek
benediction and spiritual peace by the
darshan of this Jyotirlinga which confers
liberation from the bondages of maya and the
inexorable entanglements of the world. A
simple glimpse of the Jyotirlinga is a
soul-cleansing experience that transforms
life and puts it on the path of knowledge
and bhakti. Vishweshwara Jyotirlinga has a
very special and unique significance in the
spiritual history of India. Tradition has it
that the merits earned by the darshan of
other jyotirlinga scattered in various parts
of India accrue to devotee by a single visit
to Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Deeply and
intimately implanted in the Hindu mind, the
Kashi Vishwanath Temple has been a living
embodinent of our timeless cultural
traditions and highest spiritual values. The
Temple has been visited by all great saints-
Adi Shankaracharya, Ramkrishna Paramhansa,
Swami Vivekanand, Goswami Tulsidas, Maharshi
Dayanand Saraswati, Gurunanak and several
other spiritual personalities. The Kashi
Vishwanath Temple attracts visitors not only
from India but abroad as well and thereby
symbolises man's desire to live in peace snd
harmony with one another. Vishwanath being a
supreme repository of this spiritual truth
thus strengthens the bonds of universal
brotherhood and fellow feeling at the
national as well as global levels. On
January 28, 1983 the Temple was taken over
by the Govt. of Uttar Pradesh and it's
management ever since stands entrusted to a
Trust with Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh. Former
Kashi Naresh, as president and an Executive
Committee with Divisional Commissioner as
Chairman. The Temple in the present shape
was built way back in 1780 by Late Maharani
Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore. In the year
1785 a Naubatkhana was built up in front of
the Temple by the then Collector Mohd.
Ibrahim Khan at the instance of Governor
General Warren Hastings. In 1839, Two domes
of the Temple were covered by gold donated
by Punjab Kesari Maharaja Ranjeet Singh.
Third dome but was remained uncovered,
Ministry of cultures & Religious affairs of
U.P. Govt. took keen interest for gold
plating of third dome of Temple.
Rituals
The Temple opens daily at 2.30a.m. in
Mangala Aarati 3 to 4 a.m. ticket holders
are permitted to join. From 4 to 11 a.m.
general Darshan is allowed. 11.30 to 12 a.m.
mid day Bhog Aarati is done. Again 12 noon
to 7 p.m. devotees are free to have darshan.
From 7 to 8.30 p.m. evening Sapta Rishi
Aarati is done after which darshan is again
possible uptill 9 p.m. when Shringar/Bhog
Aarati starts. After 9 p.m. Darshan from out
side only is possible. Shayana Aarti starts
at 10.30p.m.The Temple closes at 11p.m.
Most of the Prasad,milk,clothes and other
such offerings are given to the poors.
Contribution in cash or kind towards
development or specific purposes are
accepted giving due thought and a receipt
thereof is issued and the donation is used
for the desired seva. Devotees are requested
to record complaint/suggestions,if any,on
the complaint/suggestion book at the
counter. Matters requiring quick action can
be brought to the notice of the Chief
Executive Officer directly.
Aarti Darshan
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Mangla : 3.00 A.M.
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Bhog : 1.30 NOON
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Sandhya : 7.00 P.M.
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Sringar : 9.00 P.M.
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Shayan : 10.30 P.M. |
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