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	[[Category:Hindu temples in Varanasi]]		[[Category:Hindu temples in Varanasi]]
	[[Category:Shakti Peethas]]		[[Category:Shakti Peethas]]

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{{short description|Hindu goddess temple in Varanasi, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Vishalakshi Temple
| image = காசி விசாலாட்சி கோயில்.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Entrance to the temple
| map_type = India Uttar Pradesh
| map_caption = Location within Uttar Pradesh
| coordinates = {{coord|25|18|32|N|83|0|39|E|type:landmark_region:IN_scale:5000|display=inline,title}}
| native_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| district = [[Varanasi district|Varanasi]]
| locale = [[Mir Ghat]], [[Varanasi]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Vishalakshi
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Mandir]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =1893AD
| creator =[[Nagarathar]]
| website = [http://www.vishalakshi.org/ vishalakshi.org]
|architecture_type=Tamil Architecture}}

The '''Vishalakshi Temple''' or '''Vishalakshi Gauri Temple''' is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to the goddess Vishalakshi (''Viśālākshī'', {{lang-sa|विशालाक्षी}}, "she who has large eyes"),<ref>Bangala Bhasar Abhidhaan ( Dictioanary of the Bengali Language), Shishu Sahitya Samsad Pvt Ltd., 32A, APC Road, Kolkata – 700009, Volume 2, p.1600. (ed. 1988)</ref> (an aspect of the goddess [[Parvati]]/Gauri) at [[Mir Ghat]] on the banks of the [[Ganges]] at [[Varanasi]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]], India.{{Sfn|Eck|1982|p=229}}<ref name = "site"/> It is generally regarded as a [[Shakti Pitha]], the most sacred temples dedicated to the Hindu Divine Mother.

The earrings of the goddess [[Sati (goddess)|Sati]] are said to have fallen on this holy spot of Varanasi. The temple is situated by the famous cremation grounds of [[Manikarnika Ghat|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).

==Religious significance==
[[File:Dakshayani.jpg|thumb|left|Shiva carrying the corpse of Sati.]]

The daughter of ''[[Prajapati]]'' [[Daksha]], [[Sati (goddess)|Sati]] was married to the god [[Shiva]] against his wishes. Daksha organized a great [[yajna]], but did not invite Sati and Shiva. Uninvited, Sati reached the yajna-site, where Daksha ignored Sati and vilified Shiva. Unable to withstand this insult, Sati jumped into the sacrificial fire and committed suicide. Sati died, but her corpse did not burn. Shiva (as [[Virabhadra]]) slew Daksha for being responsible for Sati's death and forgave him, resurrecting him. The wild, grief-stricken Shiva wandered the universe with Sati's corpse. Finally, the god [[Vishnu]] dismembered the body of Sati into 51 parts, each of which became a Shakti Pitha, temple to a form of the Goddess. Shiva is also worshipped at each Shakti Pitha in the form of [[Bhairava]], the male counterpart or guardian of the presiding goddess of the Pitha.<ref name="Jones 2007">{{cite book|last1= Jones |first1= Constance |last2= Ryan|first2= James D.|title= Encyclopedia of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC&pg=PA545|access-date=14 November 2012|year=2007|publisher= Infobase Publishing |isbn=9780816075645|pages=401–402}}</ref> Sati's eye or earring is believed to have fallen at Varanasi, establishing Vishalakshi as a Shakti Pitha.{{Sfn|Eck|1982|p=173}} However, if one asks at the temple there today, the priest and all others aver that the body part that fell was Her face, which is hidden behind the murti.

In the sacred geography of Varanasi, six points are said to symbolize [[Pranāma|Shastanga]] (six-fold) [[yoga]], which is performing by visiting the six sites. They are the [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple|Vishwanath Temple]] (the most important temple of Varanasi - dedicated to [[Shiva]]), the Vishalakshi Temple, the Ganges, the [[Kaal Bhairav Mandir, Varanasi|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).{{Sfn|Eck|1982|p=323}}

==In Shakti Peetha lists==
Vishalakshi (Sanskrit: विशालाक्षी) or Varanasi figures in most standard lists of Shakti Peethas.{{Sfn|Eck|1982|p=172}}

The [[Tantra|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-devi''s 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.{{Sfn| Sircar| 1998|pp=17-20}} 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.{{Sfn| Sircar| 1998|pp=25-7}}<ref name="Satyananda1996">{{cite book|author=Swami Satyananda|title=Devi Gita|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TqeK1wVsiTIC&pg=PA52|access-date=19 November 2012|date=1 July 1996|publisher=Devi Mandir|isbn=978-1-877795-13-8|pages=52, 192}}</ref><ref name="Brown1998">{{cite book|author=C MacKenzie Brown|title=The Devī Gītā: The Song of the Goddess|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OxayHczql9EC&pg=PA242|access-date=19 November 2012|year=1998|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-7914-3940-1|pages=242–6}}</ref> 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.{{Sfn| Sircar| 1998|pp=32-3}} Lakshmidhara also includes Vishalakshi in his 12th-century list.{{Sfn|Eck|1982|p=172}}

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 [[Kaal Bhairav Mandir, Varanasi|
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 Devi Mandir|
Annapurna temple]] is nearby.{{Sfn| Sircar| 1998|pp=35-41}}

==History==
[[File:Devi Vishalakshi - Devi Kamakshi - Devi Meenakshi.jpg|thumb|Vishalakshi (leftmost) with Kamakshi and Meenakshi.]]
According to the scholar Jones, the Shakti Pithas were originally part of [[Cult (religious practice)|cult worship]] by the [[tribals]] as local deities, which over the centuries were syncretised to Shakthi Peethas under the influence of the [[Brahmins]], and have now a permanent influence on the psyche of the people.<ref name="Jones 2007"/> In the syncretism of various religious beliefs in the country, as many as 108 goddesses were assimilated in the Shakti Pitha list.{{Sfn| Sircar| 1998|pp=24-5}}

[[Annapoorna devi|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.<ref name="Arundhati2001">{{cite book|author=P. Arundhati|title=Annapurna: A Bunch of Flowers of Indian Culture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cfK2LoH_j54C&pg=PA18|access-date=19 November 2012|date=1 January 2001|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-897-4|pages=17–21}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Subramanian2003"/> 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.{{Sfn|Eck|1982|p=173}}<ref name="site"/><ref name="Subramanian2003">{{cite book|author=V. K. Subramanian|title=Art Shrines Of Ancient India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LcMhnC9sYS8C&pg=PA30|access-date=20 November 2012|date=1 January 2003|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-431-8|page=30}}</ref>



==Worship and festivals==
Devotees often bathe in the holy Ganges nearby before offering worship at the temple. The [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]] (worship), offerings, 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.<ref name = "site">[http://varanasi-temples.com/category/devi-temples/vishalakshi-gauri/ Varanasi Temples]</ref>

Two most important festivals in the temple, as well as all other goddess temples in Varanasi, is two ''Navaratri''s ("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 mahatmya''s (texts narrating the greatness of the holy city of Varanasi/Kashi).{{Sfn|Eck|1982|p=174}}<ref name = "site"/> Devotees flock to the temple in the evening of the fifth day of Navatri.{{Sfn|Eck|1982|p=263}}

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.{{Sfn|Eck|1982|p=266}}

==See also==
*[[Hindu temples in Varanasi]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book|last1= Jones |first1= Constance |last2= Ryan|first2= James D.|title= Encyclopedia of Hinduism
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC&pg=PA545|access-date=14 November 2012|year=2007|publisher= Infobase Publishing |isbn=9780816075645|pages=401–402}}
*{{cite book|last= Sircar |first= Dines Chandra |title= The Śākta Pīṭhas
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=I969qn5fpvcC&pg=PA1|access-date=14 November 2012|year=1998|publisher= Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=9788120808799|pages=4–6, 12.13 & 24–26}}
*{{cite book|last= Eck |first= Diana L. |author-link=Diana L. Eck |title= Banaras: City of Light |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=J57C4d8Bv6UC&q=Vishalakshi+Temple+Varanasi&pg=PA426|access-date=14 November 2012|year=1982|publisher= Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=9788120808799|pages=239, 242, 365}}
*{{cite book|last= Vanamali|first= Diana L.|title= Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=N5Ju3nWR52UC&q=Shakthi+Peetha+in+Varanasi&pg=PA143|access-date=14 November 2012|year=2008|publisher= Inner Traditions / Bear & Co |isbn= 9781594771996|pages=Review page}}
*''[[Bartaman]]'', a [[Bengali language|Bengali]] magazine Sharad Sankhya 1410 (Bengali year) - details mentioned in the article ''Kashir Vishwanath Vishwanather Kashi'' by Suman Gupta at page 60.

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[[Category:Hindu temples in Varanasi]]
[[Category:Shakti Peethas]]

Vishalakshi Temple - Revision history

CleanupBot II: Removed empty portal template using script

imported>Redtigerxyz: /* Religious significance */ img