The Varanasi Heritage Dossier/Vishalakshi Temple

Detailed description of each heritage Site - Adi Vishvanatha, Vishvanatha, Vishalakshi Kshetra

Vishalakshi temple

Location
25º 18.591’ North and 83º 00.746’ East.

Exact location on a map
Mir Ghat, near Dharmakup, D 3 / 85

Area
0.008ha

Historical/cultural/natural significance
-- Vishalakhi is one among the 51 Shakti Pithas, the sacred sites associated with the body parts of Shiva’s wife, Sati, which fell when the grieving Shiva danced wildly through the country carrying her corpse. In the next life Sati was reborn as the goddess Parvati. Taken as a whole, these pithas comprise the full body of the Goddess. According to the Puranas, it was her eye (aksh) that fell here. 6.Authenticity (as according to article 24 to 34 of operational guidelines): Of course the worship of Vishalashi goes to 12th century, it became more popular seat of attraction by 19th century by the devotees from the south India. The temple has strong connection with people from Tamil Nadu who patronised the renovation of the temple in 1971. Says the Kashi Khanda (70. 17) “Worshipped, heard or seen in Kashi, Vishalakshi fulfils the desires of women and men desirous of the greatest liberation”.

Description
One can reach the temple by following the Godaulia-Chauk road, then turning to the right from Bansphatak towards the Ganga, and walking through the narrow lane. Not far from Vishvanatha toward the Ganga river is the “Wide-Eyed goddess”, Vishalakhi. There are two other goddess sites in India associated with the symbolic eye: one is Kamakshi, the “Love-Eyed” goddess at Kanchi in Tamil Nadu (South India) and also at Kamaksha in Guwahati, Assam (northeast), and Minakshi, the “Fish-Eyed” goddess from Madurai in the south.

History and development
An annual ritualised decoration (shringara) and day of special festivity of Vishalakshi is the third day of the waning fortnight in the Bhadrapada (August-September). This festival is called “Kajali Tij”, “the Black Third”. On this day devotees also celebrate in the nearby temple of another goddess, Vindhyavasini, “Dweller in the Vindhya Mountain”.

Present state of conservation
There is no such specific organisation to take care of preservation and conservation.

Specific measures being taken for conserving the specific property
No specific measures are taken to conserve and preserve the monastery, however cleanliness, repairing and white washing are carried at regular basis.

Ownership
The temple-monastery is administered and managed by the temple trust.