Vishalakshi & Manikarni Temple

Shri Vishalakshi Mata Shaktipeeth Temple

The Vishalakshi Temple or Vishalakshi Gauri Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Vishalakshi (Viśālākshī, Sanskrit: विशालाक्षी, “she who has large eyes”),(an aspect of the goddess Parvati/Gauri) at Mir Ghat on the banks of the Ganges at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India.

It is generally regarded as a Shakti Pitha, the most sacred temples dedicated to the Hindu Divine Mother.

The earrings of the goddess Sati are said to have fallen on this holy spot of Varanasi. The temple is situated by the famous cremation grounds of Manikarnika. Vishalakshi Temple is known for its temple festival on Kajali Tij, held on the third day during waning fortnight in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August).There are 4 incarnations of Adi parashakti ( Kamakshi)is worshipped. Vishalakshi in North,Renukakshi

History

Annapurna, the goddess of food and form of Shiva’s consort Parvati, is given the epithet Vishalakshi, the “wide-eyed”. Her most famous temple stands at Varanasi, where patron goddess she is considered. The Skanda Purana narrates the tale of the sage Vyasa cursing Varanasi, as no one in the city offered him food. Finally, Vishalakshi appears in the form of a housewife and grants food to Vyasa. This role of Vishalakshi is similar to that of Annapurna, who offers food to her husband Shiva, whose hunger can be satiated by her food. Shiva gratified by Annapurna’s food, establishes Varanasi and appoints her as its presiding goddess. The goddess Vishalakshi of the Varanasi temple may have been identified with Annapurna in early times, however over time became a distinct goddess, resulting in the goddess temples.

Vishalakshi, the “wide-eyed” goddess is often associated two other goddesses: Kamakshi, the “love-eyed” goddess of Kanchipuram and Minakshi, the “fish-eyed” of Madurai, prominently because of their similar names.Together the three are regarded the most important Goddess temples by South Indians. While Vishalakshi dwells in North India, the other goddess temples are in Tamil Nadu, South India. South Indians venerated Vishalakshi for ages and have strong ties with the temple. South Indian Tamil people also helped renovate the temple in 1971.

Worship and festivals

Devotees often bathe in the holy Ganges nearby before offering worship at the temple. The puja (worship), offer

ings, recitation of hymns to the goddess and charity at the temple is considered highly fruitful because of the power of the presiding goddess. The goddess is especially worshipped by unmarried girls for a groom, childless couples for progeny and unfortunate women for the turn of their fortune. Two goddess images are housed side by side in the garbhagirha (sanctum): a smaller black stone image called Adi Vishalakshi on left back side and another taller black stone image installed at a later date. Devotees often visit the Vishwanath and Annapurna shrines with this temple.

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 Navaratri, culminating in Vijayadashami, falls in the waxing fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin (October) and celebrates the victory of the goddess Durga on the buffalo-demon Mahishasura. The other Navaratri is in the waxing fortnight of Chaitra (March). On each of nine days, one of Varanasi’s goddess temples – corresponding to one of the Navadurga (nine Durgas) or nine Gauris (Parvatis) – is recommended to be visited. The nine-temple circuit is described in various Kashi mahatmyas (texts narrating the greatness of the holy city of Varanasi/Kashi).

Devotees flock to the temple in the evening of the fifth day of Navatri.

The yearly temple festival of Vishalakshi Temple is celebrated on Kajali Tij (Black Third), the third lunar day (tij) of the waning fortnight in Bhadrapada, the last month of the Indian rainy season. Women sing “amorous” rainy season songs called kajali (black) around this time. The holy day is observed especially for the welfare of brothers by women.