Vishalakshi Temple
It has been suggested that Visalakshi be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2023. |
Vishalakshi Temple | |
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MandirTamil Architecture | |
Creator | Nagarathar |
Completed | 1893AD |
Website | |
vishalakshi.org |
The Vishalakshi Temple or Vishalakshi Gauri Temple is a
The earrings of the goddess
Religious significance
The daughter of
In the sacred geography of Varanasi, six points are said to symbolize Shastanga (six-fold) yoga, which is performing by visiting the six sites. They are the Vishwanath Temple (the most important temple of Varanasi - dedicated to Shiva), the Vishalakshi Temple, the Ganges, the Kala Bhairava temple (dedicated to Varanasi's guardian deity and Vishalakshi's Bhiarava), the Dhundiraj Temple (dedicated to the god Ganesha - son of Shiva and Parvati) and the Dandapani temple (dedicated to an aspect of Shiva).[6]
In Shakti Peetha lists
Vishalakshi (Sanskrit: विशालाक्षी) or Varanasi figures in most standard lists of Shakti Peethas.[7]
The Tantric work Rudrayamala, composed before 1052 CE, mentions 10 principal Shakti Peethas, which includes Varanasi as the fifth one. The Kularnava Tantra mentions 18 Pithas and mentions Varanasi as the sixth one. The Ashadashapitha (18 Peethas) ascribed to Shankaracharya (interpreted as Adi Shankara, however probably Shankara Agamacharya, Bengali author of the Tara-rahasya-vrittika) enumerates 18 names along with their presiding deities or Pitha-devis including Vishalakshi of Varanasi as the fifth Pitha. In the Kubjika Tantra, Varanasi is third in 42 names. There are the two lists of Pithas in the Jnanarnava, one with 8 names and the other with fifty names. The 8-name list does not mention Varanasi, but the other list names Varanasi in the second spot.[8] Vishalakshi of Varanasi is mentioned as first of 108 Shakti Pithas in the list in the Devi Bhagavata Purana. The face of Sati is described to have fallen here. This is the only instance where a body part is related to the Shakti Pitha in the text. The Devi Gita within the same text gives a long list of Pithas, where Vishalakshi is mentioned as dwelling in Avimukta (Varanasi). No body part is related to the Pitha in this list.[9][10][11] In the non-scripture 16th century Bengali work Chandimangal, Mukundaram lists nine Pithas in the Daksha-yajna-bhanga section. Varanasi is the last Peetha described to be the place where Sati's chest fell and the presiding goddess being Vishalakshi.[12] Lakshmidhara also includes Vishalakshi in his 12th-century list.[7]
The Pithanirnaya or Mahapithanirupana section from the Tantrachudamani originally listed 43 names, but names were added over time making it 51 Peethas. It details the Pitha-devata or Devi (name of goddess at the Pitha), the Kshastradishas (Bhairava, consort of the goddess) and the anga-pratyanga (limbs including ornaments of Sati). Manikarnika at Varanasi with Vishalakshi as the presiding goddess comes in at number 23. A kundala (earring) is the anga-pratyanga and Kala-Bhairava (Kala) is the consort. In some later versions of the text, Varanasi is not included in the chief 51/52 Pithas. In one of the versions, it is demoted from a Pitha to an upa-Pitha (subordinate Pitha). Here, the kundala is said to be anga-pratyanga, but two Pitha-devatas and Bhairavas are mentioned. First, Vishalakshi with Kala-Bhairava and secondary Annapurna with Vishweshvara. Vishweshvara is the presiding deity of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the most important temple in Varanasi and the Annapurna temple is nearby.[13]
History
Vishalakshi, the "wide-eyed" goddess is often associated two other goddesses:
Worship and festivals
Devotees often bathe in the holy Ganges nearby before offering worship at the temple. The
Two most important festivals in the temple, as well as all other goddess temples in Varanasi, is two Navaratris ("nine nights"). The Ashwin Navatri or simply called
The yearly temple festival of Vishalakshi Temple is celebrated on Kajali Tij (Black Third), the third lunar day (tij) of the waning fortnight in
See also
- Hindu temples in Varanasi
Notes
- ^ Bangala Bhasar Abhidhaan ( Dictioanary of the Bengali Language), Shishu Sahitya Samsad Pvt Ltd., 32A, APC Road, Kolkata – 700009, Volume 2, p.1600. (ed. 1988)
- ^ Eck 1982, p. 229.
- ^ a b c d Varanasi Temples
- ISBN 9780816075645. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ a b Eck 1982, p. 173.
- ^ Eck 1982, p. 323.
- ^ a b Eck 1982, p. 172.
- ^ Sircar 1998, pp. 17–20.
- ^ Sircar 1998, pp. 25–7.
- ISBN 978-1-877795-13-8. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-7914-3940-1. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ^ Sircar 1998, pp. 32–3.
- ^ Sircar 1998, pp. 35–41.
- ISBN 978-81-7022-897-4. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ^ ISBN 978-81-7017-431-8. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
- ^ Eck 1982, p. 174.
- ^ Eck 1982, p. 263.
- ^ Eck 1982, p. 266.
References
- Jones, Constance; Ryan, James D. (2007). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Infobase Publishing. pp. 401–402. ISBN 9780816075645. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- Sircar, Dines Chandra (1998). The Śākta Pīṭhas. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 4–6, 12.13 & 24–26. ISBN 9788120808799. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ISBN 9788120808799. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- Vanamali, Diana L. (2008). Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother. Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. pp. Review page. ISBN 9781594771996. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- Bartaman, a Bengali magazine Sharad Sankhya 1410 (Bengali year) - details mentioned in the article Kashir Vishwanath Vishwanather Kashi by Suman Gupta at page 60.