Stuti & Sloka for the Temple
The meaning of Kedar refers to the place where the crop of liberty grows and in Varanasi kedareshwar temple is where people got freedom from their sins. The importance of the Varanasi kedareshwar temple is equivalent to the Jyotirling Kedar in the Himalayas. According to the Kashu Maharma lord, kedareshwar performed his fifteen arts (kalas) in Kashi and the last one means sixteen he performed in Himalayas Kedar. When king Mandhata had organized bhojan for Sanyasis on Makar Sankranti, at last after feeding all the Sanyasis when the king himself sat for bhojan a weak and old sanyasi walked in but unfortunately no food was left till then. King Mandhata did not want to disappoint the Sanyasi hence he divided his bhojan in two halves to share with the Sanyasi. But in actuality the Sanyasi was lord Shiva himself and he appeared from the bhojan along with Parvati, Ganesh and Kartikey to give darshans to King Mandhata. The King asked Shiva to always give the darshan to him in this form and the equally divided bhojan got consecrated into a Swayambhu Shivling half of which is Gauri and the other half Kedar.
Story of the Temple
Varanasi, one of the Saptpuri of India, stands as the oldest living city globally, renowned for its narrow lanes, ancient sites, and centuries-old shrines. It unfolds a tapestry of cultural colors, blending religious, holy, hippie, urban, and mythological vibes. According to religious scriptures, Varanasi is divided into three sections - Omkar Khand, Vishweshwar Khand, and Kedar Khand. In Kedar Khand lies the Kedareshwar Mahadev Temple, also known as the Gauri Kedareshwar Temple.
This temple, often compared to Kedarnath Temple in the Himalayas, survived Aurangzeb's destruction in the 17th century, boasting a superstructure older than the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Nearby, the revered Gauri Kund, known as the Adi Manikarnika, holds immense significance.
The Gauri Kedareshwar lingam stands unique among other 'shivalingams,' divided into two parts representing Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati and Lord Narayana & Goddess Laxmi. Worship rituals differ, with priests performing aarti wearing unstitched clothes and offering bael-leaf, milk, Ganga water, and khichdi as bhog.
Legend has it that Kedareshwara manifested in Kashi from khichri offered by sage Mandhata, transforming into a stone shivlingam. Despite Muslim invasions attempting destruction, scars on the temple's Nandi bull remain visible. Queen Ahilya Bai Holkar rebuilt the temple in the 18th century, also constructing a dharmashala of 365 rooms.
Devotees frequent the temple, especially on religiously significant days like Ekadashi, Pradosh, and Purnima. The sacred ritual of Anna Abhishekam, covering the shivlingam with cooked rice, is performed annually. Offering puja after bathing in Gauri Kund or Ganga is considered highly auspicious, particularly on Mondays of the Shravan month.
Regular pujas are conducted by Kumaraswamy Mutt of Tamil Nadu, with four aartis held daily at 4 AM, 10 AM, 4 PM & 9 PM. The temple, situated above Kedar Ghat, welcomes devotees through both land and ghat entrances, embodying a profound spiritual legacy in the heart of Varanasi
Importance of the Temple
1. The temple has massive significance and it is written in the Shiv Mahapuran that one who enters into the Garba Griha of this temple never has to enter into Garba again i.e from darshan itself the devotee obtains liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
2. According Skand Puran darshans of Jyotirlinga Kedar in Himalayas 7 times and darshans of Gauri Kedar in Kashi one time are both equal and there is no discrimination made in Kashi between the Kedar Shiv Linga and Vishwanath Linga.
3. As the swayambhu shiv linga is made on Anna in this temple, the ritual of Annadan holds immense signficance amongst the devotees.
4. As the deity in the temple naturally exists in Ardhanarishwar swaroop i.e the presence of Shiv and Shakti at one place, the temple becomes highly significant for Shiv and Devi bhakti.
Pujas Performed in the Temple
Auspicious tithis & festivals of temple
Kedar Ghat, bustling with activity, stands out with its distinctive red and white steps, drawing thousands of visitors each year to pay respects at the Gauri Kedareshwar temple. Accessible by boat or through the narrow lanes of Bengali Tola, the temple houses a renowned replica of the Kedarnath lingam from the Himalayan shrine.
The irregularly shaped lingam, made of stone, is encased within a copper railing, adding to its allure. Devotees observe a sacred ritual of bathing in the Gauri Kund, an adjoining pond along the river, before entering the temple premises. Embrace the spiritual ambiance and reverence at Kedar Ghat, a significant landmark along the sacred Ganges