Kashi Vishwanath Ki Kahani: The City on Shiva's Trishul

Mark Twain once wrote that Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend. For Hindus, Kashi is more than a city — it is the place where Shiva himself lives, as Vishwanath, the Lord of the Universe.

The city on the trishul

Devotees believe Kashi rests on the tip of Shiva's trishul, so that even when the universe ends in pralaya, Kashi is not destroyed. It is one of the seven moksha-puris, and the Kashi Vishwanath lingam is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.

Manikarnika: the fire that never goes out

At Manikarnika Ghat, cremations go on day and night. Many believe the sacred fire here has been burning without stopping for centuries. It is said that at the moment of death in Kashi, Shiva himself whispers the Taraka mantra into the ear of the departing soul, giving moksha. That is why many elders come to spend their last days in Kashi.

Destroyed and rebuilt

The Vishwanath temple was destroyed several times in history. The present temple was built in 1780 by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. In 1835, Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab donated about a tonne of gold to plate its domes — which is why it is often called the Golden Temple of Kashi.

The new Kashi Vishwanath Dham

In December 2021, the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor was opened, connecting the temple directly to the Ganga at Lalita and Manikarnika ghats. Where narrow lanes once made darshan difficult, there is now an open courtyard where yatris can sit and rest.

The Ganga Aarti

Every evening at Dashashwamedh Ghat, priests perform the Ganga Aarti with large brass lamps, conches and bells. Watching it from a boat on the river, with diyas floating past, is one of the most moving experiences in India.

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