Abhisheka of Khasi Viswanath temple, Varanasi, Was Done After 228 years In 2018 By A Devotee from Chettinad, TN

Navrang India December 23, 2024

Kasi Viswanath Mandir, UP, krazybuttufly.com

Kasi Viswanath temple, Varanasi, UP. radient-living.net

Kashi / Varanasi in UP, North India. one of the few  oldest living cities  in the world as cited by  ancient Sanskrit literature for its 3500 year history, is famous for  Kashi Viswanathar temple .  Being   the foremost holiest temple in India,  every day tens of thousands of pilgrims arrive here from across India   to worship the  deity and to perform ''Thithi'' or Shartham'' in honor of their fore fathers.  The first Jyotirlinga is said to have been appeared out  of the earth's crust here and flared towards heavens in the form of a huge column of Agni (fire) as God Shiva manifested his supremacy. The famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple was built here and it remains  a center of  Saivaism  - people who worship the cosmic dancer as the primary God. Vishvanatha or Vishveshwara - meaning the ruler of the Universe.


The  Kasi Viswanatha temple, heavily damaged several times in the past by the Muslim invaders from NW, was again destroyed in 1669 by Aurangzeb, the most treacherous Mogul ruler of Delhi and the remnants of it can be seen behind the Gyanvapi mosque. 

During the reign of Mogul ruler Akbar, the present temple  was built by Ahalya Bai of Indore in 1776. The consecration was done in 1780 in a simple manner.  The unique  Sivalinga,  60 cm tall and 90 cm in circumference, is made of black stone and is housed in an altar made of silver. The unique feature is gold plated sanctum and 15.5 meter high gold spire and gold dome. There are three domes each made up of pure gold!!  The temple (Shri Vishwanath Mandir) was finally completed in 1966.

Recently, I read  an interesting article in The Hindu of 27 July 2018 by Geetha Venkatramanan on the recent  Maha-kumbabishekam of Sri Vishvanath Temple at Varanasi.  That it  was done  after 238  long years  was a surprise news to me. In  most South Indian Hindu temples  and  around the world, Kumbabishekam or consecration ceremony is done once in every 12 years.  Hindus celebrate this event on the consecration day as the witnessing gives  a thousand "punya" or good karma.  Normally, in all temples of Tamil Nadu  consecration of the temple  is normally done along with white-washing,  repair works, etc. 
Khasi Viswanath temple, UP .varanasibest.com

All these years why is  consecration of this very important Hindu  temple not done so far is a moot question.  Does it mean temple priests and pundits associated with  this popular temple have no knowledge of Hindu temple traditions and Agama Sastras?

Kasi Visvanath temple, varanasi Shiva lingam in the sanctum.
Jyotirlinga Temples

gold-plated tower. Old Kashi Vishwanath Temple TripAdvisor

The recent consecration of Khasi Visvanath temple was held on the 5th July 2018 under the care of one Subbu sundaram, from a prominent Nattukottai Chettiar business community.  Shri Kashi Vishvanath Temple Trust  announced Mr. Subbu was the  Convenor for the consecration. Nagarathars,  are ardent devotees of Lord Shiva . Their monetary contribution to Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu  is vast. Their community manages 7 rich temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and others in Nattukottai.   Being quite familiar with the Hindu temple traditions and related rituals, etc., this rich experience  helped him  undertake a tough task
 Mr. Subbu got full cooperation from the various authorities,  including Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust  in Varanasi. Right from Ganapathi Homam to construction of scaffolding close to the tower with a platform for performing puja, to the Kumbha (kalasam)  and to making arrangement for Yagasala, etc.,  it was a daunting task.

 Fifty priests from Tamil Nadu coordinated with the local priests and  took care of everything associated with Kumbabisekam, including collecting holy Ganga water in pots to be placed in Yagasala (later to be poured  over the Kumbam on the Shikara), chanting of various mantras, etc.  They all did a free service  to the deity here. As part of this great event the authorities, at last,  allowed 150 coconuts (after scanning them for security reason) to be used for Puja, etc., for the first time. They are essential items for puja and consecration.
Mr Subbu, his wife and family members  from Tamil Nadu were really fortunate that the consecration  of such a famous temple at Varanasi had  to be done under the guidance of their family head  Mr, Subbu and, indeed, it was a divine dispensation.  

Sri Modiji's Khasi Viswanath corridor project , Varanasi, pinrest.com

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2021 inaugurated   the ambitious Khasi Viswanath corridor in the heart of Varanasi for the tourists, connecting the temple to the banks of the Ganges.
The state government’s flagship scheme to promote traditional, signature crafts and products specific to particular districts, such as brass work of Moradabad, woodcraft of Saharanpur and carpets of Bhadohi.
The cost of project is Rs.700 crores and it includes 24 buildings  communal kitchen, auditorium, etc. A boost to tourism and religious pilgrimage.

This article is based on 2018 post:
centuries/article24529478.ece