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{{Infobox Hindu temple | {{Infobox Hindu temple | ||
| name = Shri Vishwanath Mandir | | name = Shri Vishwanath Mandir | ||
| image = | | image = New Vishwanath Temple (BHU).jpg | ||
| alt = | | alt = | ||
| caption = | | caption = from the main gate | ||
| map_type = India Uttar Pradesh Varanasi | | map_type = India Uttar Pradesh Varanasi | ||
| map_caption = | | map_caption = | ||
| coordinates = {{coord|25.266034|82.987847|type:landmark_region: | | coordinates = {{coord|25.266034|82.987847|type:landmark_region:BHU|display=inline,title}} | ||
| native_name = | | native_name = | ||
| country = {{flag|India}} | | country = {{flag|India}} | ||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
| temple_tank = | | temple_tank = | ||
| tower = | | tower = | ||
| festivals= [[Mahashivratri]]<br />[[Nag Panchami]]<br /> | | festivals= [[Mahashivratri]]<br />[[Nag Panchami]]<br />Shravan<br />[[Navratri]]<br />[[Makar Sankranti]] | ||
| architecture = | | architecture = | ||
| temple_quantity = Seven | | temple_quantity = Seven | ||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
| year_completed = 1966 | | year_completed = 1966 | ||
| creator = [[Birla family]] | | creator = [[Birla family]] | ||
| website = | | website = {{URL|https://www.bhu.ac.in/Site/UnitHomeTemplate/1_3316_5937_Sri-Vishwanath-Temple-Home|bhu.ac.in/svt}} | ||
}} | |organizational_status=|organisational_status=Administered by [[BHU]]}} | ||
{{Hinduism}} | {{Hinduism}} | ||
'''Shri Vishwanath Mandir''' also known as '''Vishwanath Mandir''', '''Vishwanath Temple''', '''New Vishwanath Temple''' and '''Birla Temple''' is | '''Shri Vishwanath Mandir''' also known as '''Vishwanath Mandir''', '''Vishwanath Temple''', '''New Vishwanath Temple''' and '''Birla Temple''' is another prominent [[Hindu]] temple in the holy city of Varanasi. Hindus across India and abroad visit this particular [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]] temple to offer prayer to the Lord [[Shiva|Vishwanath]] for the well-being of their families, and eternal peace. Every Hindu must perform a specific ritualistic homage for the departed souls of their ancestors this requires them to undertake pilgrimage to the holy city of Varanasi. The temple is situated near the [[Banaras Hindu University]]. Therefore, the temple site and the neighbourhood is a major attraction among Hindu students and visitors touring [[Varanasi]]. | ||
Shri Vishwanath Mandir has the tallest temple tower in the world with the [[List of tallest Gopurams#Tallest Vimana|Shikhara's height]] being around 250 feet.<ref name="Brief description">{{cite news|title=Brief description|publisher=[[Benaras Hindu University]] website|access-date=7 March 2015|url=http://www.bhu.ac.in/VT/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526232342/http://www.bhu.ac.in/VT/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="The temples">{{cite news|title=The temples|publisher=[[Benaras Hindu University]] website|access-date=7 March 2015|url=http://www.bhu.ac.in/Centre/temples.htm|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923184350/http://www.bhu.ac.in/Centre/temples.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Vishwanath Temple">{{cite news|title=Vishwanath Temple|publisher=Wikinapia|access-date=7 March 2015|url=http://wikimapia.org/142627/Vishwanath-Temple-BHU|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114624/http://wikimapia.org/142627/Vishwanath-Temple-BHU|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="New Vishwanath Temple">{{cite news|title=New Vishwanath Temple|publisher=[[Varanasi]] city website|access-date=7 March 2015|url=http://www.varanasicity.com/temples/new-vishwanath-temple.html|archive-date=14 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314221734/http://varanasicity.com/temples/new-vishwanath-temple.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Birla Temple">{{cite news|title=Birla Temple|publisher=varanasi.org.in|access-date=7 March 2015|url=http://www.varanasi.org.in/birla-temple|archive-date=15 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315074925/http://www.varanasi.org.in/birla-temple|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="History">{{cite news|title=History|publisher=Eastern [[Uttar Pradesh|U.P.]] Tourism website|access-date=7 March 2015|url=http://www.easternuptourism.com/New-Vishwanath-Temple.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402191101/http://www.easternuptourism.com/New-Vishwanath-Temple.jsp|archive-date=2 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The temple is colloquially called VT, an acronym of Vishwanath Temple.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-23|title=Vishwanath Temple (VT) opened in "New Normal"|url=https://www.bhuexpress.in/vishwanath-temple-vt-opened-in-new-normal/|access-date=2022-01-24|website=BHU Express|language=en-US|archive-date=24 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124135319/https://www.bhuexpress.in/vishwanath-temple-vt-opened-in-new-normal/|url-status=live}}</ref> The temple is under direct administration of the BHU.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Banaras Hindu University, [BHU], Varanasi-221005, U.P., India. - Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. |url=https://www.bhu.ac.in/Site/Page/1_3316_5941_Sri-Vishwanath-Temple-The-Committee |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=www.bhu.ac.in}}</ref> | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
[[Kashi Vishwanath Temple|Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir]] | In the past 900 years [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple|Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir]] was destroyed by multiple invaders, however, the locals supported by their Hindu patrons reconstructed this ancient temple as many times. First reported temple destroyer was the founder of the slave dynasty [[Qutb-ud-din Aibak]]. He was obsessed by the fellowship of his master [[Mahmud Ghori]] the tyrant. On 1194 CE [[Qutb-ud-din Aibak]] entrusted his nomadic soldiers to ruthlessly kill locals, maraud their city, enslave young girls and boys, torture the wealthy, kill the Hindu priest, damage ancient scriptures, malign sacred idols, and burn the holy temple to ashes and rubbles. Such an extreme show of power and hatred against the locals of Varanasi was just the beginning of the curse which continued for the next 600 more years. Many more notorious invaders followed footsteps of [[Qutb-ud-din Aibak]]. Time failed to heal the scars left by the likes of [[Hussain Shah Sharqi]] between 1447 and 1458 CE, and then [[Aurangzeb]] in 1669 CE. Hindus still remember how their ancestors survived centuries of tyranny, religious and social persecutions. Even to this day local poetry, religious texts, preserved Hindu paintings, and anecdotal stories remind people how certain intolerant fanatical individual's used incomprehensible, inhumane military tactics against innocent Hindus, their beloved deities and their holy sanctuaries such as the [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple|Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir]]. Following the first invasion many eminent Hindus made unconditional efforts to revive the architecture of the destroyed [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple|Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir]] to its glory days. All their sacrifices indeed helped preserve the temple history, Hindu faith and the legend of the Lord Vishwanath. | ||
Finally, after a period of 700 years, in 1930s, [[Madan Mohan Malaviya|Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya]] planned to replicate [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple|Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir]] in the campus of [[Benaras Hindu University]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Top Ten Temple Towns of India|publisher=Mark Age Publication|first=S.C.|last=Karkar|location=Kolkota|isbn=978-81-87952-12-1|year=2009|page=12}}</ref> The [[Birla family]] undertook the construction and foundation was laid in March 1931. The temple (Shri Vishwanath Mandir) was finally completed in 1966.<ref name="Brief description"/><ref name="The temples"/><ref name="Vishwanath Temple"/><ref name="New Vishwanath Temple"/><ref name="Birla Temple"/><ref name="History"/> | |||
==Construction== | ==Construction== | ||
Shri Vishwanath Mandir's construction took thirty-five years to complete (1931-1966). The temple is one of the tallest in India. Total height of the temple is approximately 77 meters. Temple's design was inspired by [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple|Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir]] and is made mostly of [[marble]]. | |||
Shri Vishwanath Mandir | Though the Shri Vishwanath Mandir is primarily dedicated to Shiva, consists of nine shrines within one temple and is open to people from all castes, religions and religious beliefs. The Shiva shrine is in the ground floor and the [[Lakshmi Narayan]] and [[Durga]] shrines are on the first floor. Other shrines within Shri Vishwanath Mandir are [[Nataraj]], [[Parvati]], [[Ganesha]], [[Sadasiva|Panchmukhi Mahadev]], [[Hanuman]], [[Saraswati]] and [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]]. Entire text of [[Bhagavad Gita]] and extracts from sacred Hindu scriptures are inscribed with illustrations on the inner marble walls of the temple.<ref name="Brief description"/><ref name="The temples"/><ref name="Vishwanath Temple"/><ref name="New Vishwanath Temple"/><ref name="Birla Temple"/><ref name="History"/> | ||
==Location== | ==Location== | ||
| Line 49: | Line 51: | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, BHU 01.JPG|As seen from main entrance (East) of the temple | File:Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, BHU 01.JPG|As seen from main entrance (East) of the temple | ||
File:New Vishwanath Temple at BHU 2007.jpg|The main entrance (East wall) of the temple | File:New Vishwanath Temple at BHU 2007.jpg|The main entrance (East wall) of the temple | ||
File:Nandi (bull).JPG|Statue of [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] in North side of temple | File:Nandi (bull).JPG|Statue of [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] in North side of temple | ||
File:Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, BHU 05.JPG|Place in temple compound to do [[Homa (ritual)|havan]] | File:Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, BHU 05.JPG|Place in temple compound to do [[Homa (ritual)|havan]] | ||
File:Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, BHU 03.JPG|North side of the temple | File:Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, BHU 03.JPG|North side of the temple | ||
File:Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, BHU 04.JPG|Temple's [[Shikhara]]. | File:Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, BHU 04.JPG|Temple's [[Shikhara]] | ||
File:BHU_EVENING_VIEW.jpg|Temple's side view in the evening | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[Kashi Vishwanath Temple|Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir]] | *[[Kashi Vishwanath Temple|Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir]] | ||
*[[ | *[[Banaras Hindu University]] | ||
*[[Hindu temples in Varanasi]] | *[[List of Hindu temples in Varanasi]] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 68: | Line 71: | ||
{{Hindu Culture and Epics}} | {{Hindu Culture and Epics}} | ||
{{Hindu temples in Uttar Pradesh}} | {{Hindu temples in Uttar Pradesh}} | ||
{{Portal bar|India|Hinduism|Religion}} | |||
[[Category:Shiva temples in Varanasi]] | [[Category:Shiva temples in Varanasi]] | ||
[[Category:Birla Mandir]] | |||
[[Category:20th-century Hindu temples]] | [[Category:20th-century Hindu temples]] | ||
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1966]] | [[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1966]] | ||
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]] | |||
Latest revision as of 09:24, 24 January 2026
| Shri Vishwanath Mandir | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Varanasi |
| Deity | Lord Shiva |
| Festivals | Mahashivratri Nag Panchami Shravan Navratri Makar Sankranti |
| Administered by BHU | |
| Location | |
| Location | Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Country |  India |
  Shown within Varanasi district | |
| Coordinates | 25°15′58″N 82°59′16″E / 25.266034°N 82.987847°E |
| Architecture | |
| Creator | Birla family |
| Completed | 1966 |
| Specifications | |
| Temple | Seven |
| Elevation | 77 m (253 ft) |
| Website | |
| bhu.ac.in/svt | |
| Part of a series on |
| Hinduism |
|---|
 |
Shri Vishwanath Mandir also known as Vishwanath Mandir, Vishwanath Temple, New Vishwanath Temple and Birla Temple is another prominent Hindu temple in the holy city of Varanasi. Hindus across India and abroad visit this particular Lord Shiva temple to offer prayer to the Lord Vishwanath for the well-being of their families, and eternal peace. Every Hindu must perform a specific ritualistic homage for the departed souls of their ancestors this requires them to undertake pilgrimage to the holy city of Varanasi. The temple is situated near the Banaras Hindu University. Therefore, the temple site and the neighbourhood is a major attraction among Hindu students and visitors touring Varanasi. Shri Vishwanath Mandir has the tallest temple tower in the world with the Shikhara's height being around 250 feet.[1][2][3][4][5][6] The temple is colloquially called VT, an acronym of Vishwanath Temple.[7] The temple is under direct administration of the BHU.[8]
History[edit | edit source]
In the past 900 years Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir was destroyed by multiple invaders, however, the locals supported by their Hindu patrons reconstructed this ancient temple as many times. First reported temple destroyer was the founder of the slave dynasty Qutb-ud-din Aibak. He was obsessed by the fellowship of his master Mahmud Ghori the tyrant. On 1194 CE Qutb-ud-din Aibak entrusted his nomadic soldiers to ruthlessly kill locals, maraud their city, enslave young girls and boys, torture the wealthy, kill the Hindu priest, damage ancient scriptures, malign sacred idols, and burn the holy temple to ashes and rubbles. Such an extreme show of power and hatred against the locals of Varanasi was just the beginning of the curse which continued for the next 600 more years. Many more notorious invaders followed footsteps of Qutb-ud-din Aibak. Time failed to heal the scars left by the likes of Hussain Shah Sharqi between 1447 and 1458 CE, and then Aurangzeb in 1669 CE. Hindus still remember how their ancestors survived centuries of tyranny, religious and social persecutions. Even to this day local poetry, religious texts, preserved Hindu paintings, and anecdotal stories remind people how certain intolerant fanatical individual's used incomprehensible, inhumane military tactics against innocent Hindus, their beloved deities and their holy sanctuaries such as the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir. Following the first invasion many eminent Hindus made unconditional efforts to revive the architecture of the destroyed Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir to its glory days. All their sacrifices indeed helped preserve the temple history, Hindu faith and the legend of the Lord Vishwanath. Finally, after a period of 700 years, in 1930s, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya planned to replicate Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir in the campus of Benaras Hindu University.[9] The Birla family undertook the construction and foundation was laid in March 1931. The temple (Shri Vishwanath Mandir) was finally completed in 1966.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Construction[edit | edit source]
Shri Vishwanath Mandir's construction took thirty-five years to complete (1931-1966). The temple is one of the tallest in India. Total height of the temple is approximately 77 meters. Temple's design was inspired by Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir and is made mostly of marble.
Though the Shri Vishwanath Mandir is primarily dedicated to Shiva, consists of nine shrines within one temple and is open to people from all castes, religions and religious beliefs. The Shiva shrine is in the ground floor and the Lakshmi Narayan and Durga shrines are on the first floor. Other shrines within Shri Vishwanath Mandir are Nataraj, Parvati, Ganesha, Panchmukhi Mahadev, Hanuman, Saraswati and Nandi. Entire text of Bhagavad Gita and extracts from sacred Hindu scriptures are inscribed with illustrations on the inner marble walls of the temple.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Location[edit | edit source]
Shri Vishwanath Mandir is situated 1.7 kilometers inside the campus of Benaras Hindu University (South-West from the main gate). It is 3.3 kilometers South-West of Durga Mandir, 7 kilometers South-West of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and 9 kilometers South of Varanasi Railway Station.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
As seen from main entrance (East) of the temple -
The main entrance (East wall) of the temple -
Statue of Nandi in North side of temple -
Place in temple compound to do havan -
North side of the temple -
Temple's Shikhara -
Temple's side view in the evening
.JPG)
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Brief description". Benaras Hindu University website. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The temples". Benaras Hindu University website. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Vishwanath Temple". Wikinapia. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "New Vishwanath Temple". Varanasi city website. Archived from the original on 14 March 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Birla Temple". varanasi.org.in. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "History". Eastern U.P. Tourism website. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ↑ "Vishwanath Temple (VT) opened in "New Normal"". BHU Express. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ↑ "Banaras Hindu University, [BHU], Varanasi-221005, U.P., India. - Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India". www.bhu.ac.in. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ Karkar, S.C. (2009). The Top Ten Temple Towns of India. Kolkota: Mark Age Publication. p. 12. ISBN 978-81-87952-12-1.
Template:Banaras Hindu University Template:Temples in Varanasi Template:Hindu Culture and Epics
