Vishalakshi Shaktipeeth Temple is dedicated to the Goddess Parvati, It is a well-known Hindu temple located at the Meer Ghat on the sacred Gange River in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Vishalakshi Temple is commonly known as Vishalakshi Maa or the wide-eyed Devi. Another name for the Vishalakshi Temple is the Vishalakshi Gauri Temple. The Vishalakshi Temple is one of the holiest sacred places dedicated to Adi Shakti, the Hindu Divine Mother. This temple is considered one of the 51 main shaktipeeth temples. 

The story behind Vishalakshi Temple

The goddess of Dakshayani, Sati, Parvati, or Durga Hinduism’s most influential woman and most powerful deity is referred to as Shakti. Durga Devi, Mahakali, and Gowri are the three main manifestations of Shakti, the power goddess. She is Adi Shakti’s avatar.

Sati was the Prajapati Daksha’s daughter, and she married Lord Shiva despite Her father’s wishes. Prajapati Daksha once put together a massive yagya, but he didn’t call his daughter and son-in-law. Sati was very saddened by Her father’s actions. When she got there, her father ignored the Sati and insulted her. She could not bear insult to his husband (Lord Shiva) and she jumped into the fire of Yagya and committed suicide. She passed away, but her body didn’t burn. Lord Shiva had taken His Virabhadra Rupa out of rage. Daksha’s head was cut off by him, but in the end, He forgave him by bringing him back to life.

Lord Shiva, devastated, had taken Sati’s body and wandered the universe. Finally, Lord Vishnu used His Chakra to break the Sati’s body into pieces. Each body part transformed into Shakti Pitha. The temple had emerged where the body part had fallen to the ground. To safeguard the Shakti Pitha, Lord Shiva created 52 Bhairava for each one.

The temple is dedicated to Goddess Vishalakshi Devi, the divine form of Goddess Sati. According to legends, the earring of the goddess Sati has fallen on this holy spot of Varanasi. Another version says that this is a Shakti Peetha only because one of the three eyes of Goddess Sati (Akshi) fell here. As the divine eye can perceive the entire universe, Mother here is called Vishalakshi, the vast-eyed.

History of Vishalakshi Temple

Annapurna, the goddess of food and Shiva’s consort Parvati is known as Vishalakshi, the “wide-eyed” Devi. Her most famous temple is in Varanasi, where she is revered as the patron goddess. In the Skanda Purana, the sage Vyasa curses Varanasi because no one gives him food. Finally, Vishalakshi appears as a housewife and serves food to Vyasa. Vishalakshi, like Annapurna, provides food to her husband Shiva, who can eat what she provides.

Annapurna’s food makes Shiva happy, so he builds Varanasi and makes her its ruler goddess. Although Vishalakshi, the goddess of the Varanasi temple, was initially associated with Annapurna, she evolved into her entity over time, resulting in the goddess temples.

The “wide-eyed” goddess Vishalakshi is frequently associated with two other goddesses: Minakshi, the “fish-eyed” goddess of Madurai, and Kamakshi, the “love-eyed” goddess of Kanchipuram, are prominent due to their similar names. South Indians consider all three to be the most significant Goddess temples. While the other goddess temples are located in Tamil Nadu in the south of India, Vishalakshi lives in North India. South Indians have strong ties to the temple and have long revered Vishalakshi. In 1971, South Indian Tamils also contributed to the renovation of the temple.

Architecture of Vishalakshi Temple

Sri Vishalakshi Temple’s architecture is South Indian. At the entryway, there are numerous Shivlingams and a marvellous Gopuram. The four pillars in front of the main shrine are adorned with colourful sculptures.

In the Garbhagriha, there are two Goddess Vishalakshi idols: one smaller black stone idol known as Adi Vishalakshi, which is assumed to be the original idol on the left back side, and another black stone image with flowers and diamonds that was installed later. Adi Shankaracharya begged for the goddess’s and the temple’s powers to be restored after multiple invasions. He also planted a Sri Yantram here.

Facts about Vishalakshi Temple

• Mata Vishalakshi Mandir is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishalakshi Devi, an aspect of Parvati meaning ‘The one with wide eyes’ in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Bharata.
• Devotees bathe in the holy water of the Gange just before offering worship to the Vishalakshi Maa.
• As the goddess is believed to bring success and wealth, devotees believe that performing puja, jal, and song chanting to the goddess is highly profitable.
• Unmarried women venerate the Goddess Vishalakshi to find a husband, a childless mother to have a child and unfortunate people to receive good fortune.

Famous Festivals In Vishalakshi Temple

Millions of people visit this temple every year to celebrate all of the festivals that are held here. Some major festivals held here are

• Durga Puja. (Winter) – Devotees celebrate Navaratri at this temple in the month of Ashwin (Sep-Oct) as well as celebrate the triumph of the Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon (Mahishasura).
• Navaratri. (Summer) – They celebrate other Navaratri in the fortnight of the Chaitra (March-April). At each nine days, they worship Navadurga (nine Durgas).
• Kalika Teej – Vishalakshi Temple is known for the festival of Kajali Tij, held on the third day during a waning fortnight in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada.

How to Reach Vishalakshi Temple

Vishalakshi Temple is a Hindu temple located near Mir Ghat on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, 5 kilometres from Varanasi Junction. It is close to Kashi Vishwanath Mandir.

By Air: Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at a distance of nearly 24.6 kilometres from Vishalakshi Devi Temple.

By Rail: Varanasi Cantt. Railway Station at a distance of nearly 5.5 kilometres from Vishalakshi Devi Temple.

By Road: This temple can be reached by state-run private taxis, e-rikshaws and local cars.

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