Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, situated on the western bank of the sacred Ganges River in Varanasi — one of the world's oldest living cities — is among the most important Jyotirlinga shrines in all of Hinduism.
Traditional associations
Peace & Inner Clarity
Traditional Rudra worship at Kashi Vishwanath is associated with prayers for peace.
Documented by Shri Kashi Vishwanath Official Web Portal.
Wealth & Prosperity
Traditional worship at Kashi Vishwanath includes prayers associated with prosperity.
Documented by Shri Kashi Vishwanath Official Web Portal.
Relationships & Family
Traditional worship at Kashi Vishwanath includes prayers for family welfare.
Documented by Shri Kashi Vishwanath Official Web Portal.
Health & Wellbeing
Specific traditional Shiva practices at Kashi Vishwanath are associated with prayers concerning health.
Documented by Shri Kashi Vishwanath Official Web Portal.
Alignment reflects tradition and belief — not outcomes or guarantees.
Temple details
- About this temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva in his form as Vishweshwara, the Lord of the Universe, it is believed that a single darshan (sighting) of the Jyotirlinga here is more auspicious than visiting all other Jyotirlingas combined. The temple carries enormous spiritual weight: Hindu tradition holds that those who die within Kashi receive moksha (liberation) directly from Lord Shiva himself. The current structure was built in 1780 by Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, and the iconic gold-plated dome and spire were donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab (820 kg of gold). In 2021, the grand Kashi Vishwanath Corridor was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi, linking the temple directly to the Ganges Ghats. The temple now receives over 45,000 pilgrims daily. It has been visited by luminaries such as Adi Shankaracharya, Swami Vivekananda, and Guru Nanak. A pilgrimage to this temple represents the quintessential Hindu spiritual journey.
- Deity
Lord Shiva (Vishwanath / Vishweshwara – Lord of the Universe)
- Temple type
Jyotirlinga
- Architectural style
Nagara (North Indian)
- Established
Ancient; current structure 1780 CE
- Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri
- Dev Deepawali
- Shravan Month Mondays
- Rangbhari Ekadasi
- Akshaya Tritiya
- Diwali (Annakoot)
- Navaratri
- Managed by
Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust (Government of Uttar Pradesh)
Location
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India