Krittiwasheshwar Temple Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand

This temple named Krittivasheshwar is located near Vishwanath temple located in Uttarkashi. There is a story regarding Krittivaseshwar that in ancient times there was a huge elephant whose name was Gajasur, after receiving the boon of Lord Brahma, he became very powerful and almost immortal. He was blessed with the boon that no one could kill him who did not have Kamadeva under his control. Now he became intoxicated and set out to defeat Lord Shiva. Reaching Mahadev-Shiva, Gajasur said, O Mahadev, please subordinate yourself to me and come under my protection. Lord Shiva pierced it with the tip of his trident and sent it upwards into the sky. Hanging on the trident was an elephant much bigger than the trident, due to which the shape of the trident and the elephant became like an umbrella. The shadow of the elephant started falling on Lord Shiva and the area around him. Seeing himself hanging on the trident and finding Mahadev-Shiva beneath him, he said, “Finally! Mahadev-Shiva, you have come under my protection.” Mahashiv was pleased with his words and asked him to ask for a boon. He asked for a boon that Mahadev should take off his skin and wear it forever and bless him. On this Mahadev said that I respect your wish. Because you chose my death for yourself to attain salvation, I will wear your skin on my Shivalinga and will keep myself under the protection of a devotee like you forever. Your skin will become one with the Shivalinga, and you will be worshiped in my form in the name of Krittivashesvara. Trishul is installed in the Shakti temple near this temple in Uttarkashi. Krittivaseshwar is also situated at some distance from the temple. Darshan (worship) of Krittivaseshwar ji is mandatory with Kashi Vishwanath ji.