Shiva Shakti - Part 4

 

Who is Goddess Vishalakshi in Kashi (Varanasi) and do we had any information about her shaktipeetha in Varanasi  ?

Shri Matreya Kashi Vishalakshi sametha Shri Kashi Vishwanatha SadaShiva Mahadeva sharanam parpadye !!!!!!!!

Here me an Amma's bhakta going to present something about her. Being from Varanasi, she is our queen and she is our supreme mother. We sing glories of her. Our divine Maa Vishalaskshi.

Mantra :-

विशालाक्षी विख्याता वर्णाश्याम शिवपार्श्व |
नृत्तनप्रदात्री च निर्भयज्ञजनोतिनी ||

Vishaalaakshee vikhyaata
varnaashyaam shivapaarshva |
nrttanapradaatree ch nirbhayagyajanotinee ||

Location :-

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, near from Kashi Railway station,Varanasi.

It is present on the bank of the river Ganga.

Temple :-

The temple is very small. The temple style is in Dravidian architecture. She is also known as Annapurna, Parvati, Uma, etc. However mostly known as Annapurna only. This temple is among the main Shaivitie and Shakta teerthas so one should at least visit here once in his/her life.

About her from Puranas :-

Maa Visalakshi is one among the fifty one Shakti peethas. As because Mata Sati's eye lids fell here. She is generally described with 4 hands. In one hand she holds the divine Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlingam, in other she holds Lord Ganesha, in other two hands she has a Rudraaksha Maala and a Kamandal from which the Abhishekam of Jyotirlinga is done. She is Maa Gauri herself and is actually Maa Annapurna. Her story is described in various Puranas but significantly its in Skanda Purana’s Kaashi khanda where the place is glorified as the most auspicious Shakti Peetha. This Shakti Peetha is among the main 18 Maha Shakti Peetha.

She is the main presiding deity in the Annapurna Mandir in the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir. The Karna kundala (Ear ring) of Vishalakshi Devi also fell here.
She is the Shakti of Lord Vishwanath. Her protecting Bhairava is Shri Kaal Bhairava.
The word Visalakshi means the one who has big eyes. She is described as the one who rules the world.

Her consort is Vishwanatha Mahadeva and protector Bhairava is Kaal Bhairava. Just like in Vaishnodevi, Shiva and Shiva’s avatar (Lord Shiva and Hanuman) and also in Ambaji Shaktipeeth Lord Shiva in his Batuk Bhairav roop and Lord Hanuman both live together, same here Rudra and Rudransh (Lord Shiva and Kaal Bhairava) both live together. Lord Shiva is in Vishwanatha swaroop here. Her brother is Lord Adi Keshawa Narayana.

She is among the Trio of most powerful Incarnations of Maa Parvati Devi.
Kashi Vishalakshi, Kanchi Kamakshi and Madurai Meenakshi. She symbolizes both Yogic and Grihani power of a Woman.

Her temple was several times destroyed by the barbaric invaders and was not allowed by British Empire to be rebuilt. However with the help of Tamil Community, the temple was again restored here but due to low budget and area, the temple is also very small. However many people like our own PM Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi and CM of Uttar Pradesh Shri Adityanatha Yogi are trying their level best to make it a grand temple by a project of restoring Kashi.

The puja paddati (style of worshiping) is a mixture of Purvanchali and Tamil style of worshiping. However many customs of both match so it's mostly look like South Indian style of worshiping.
You will get a packet of Kumkum in her prasadam. She is an important Hindu deity and is very very special for Shaiva community.

Jay Vishalakshi Vishwanatha !!!!