Mokshapuri Kashi
Mokshapuri Kashi
Mokshapuri Kashi
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HOM E
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n a m a H
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Vishwanatha
Omkareshwara
Krttivaseshwara
Kapardishwara and
Madhyameshwara
Sri Omkareshwara is also called Panchayataneshwara as this Linga represents the Samashti or totality of the Panchayatana - Aditya, Ambika, Ganesha, Vishnu and Sadashiva.
Worshipping this Linga grants one the merit of a lifetime of Panchayatana Puja.
Lord destroyed Gajasura, wore his skin as cloth and came to be known as Krttivaseshwara in Varanasi. One who worships Krttivaseshwara attains Kaivalya even while living in a
physical body. One attains Ashta Siddhis by worshipping this Linga and ascends to Kailasa. The secret place in Kashi which houses this sacred Linga is known only to advanced
Yogis.
Kapardishwara Linga is also called Papanasheshwara as mere remembrance of this Linga destroys one's sins. By taking bath in Pishacha Mochana Kunda and worshipping
Kapardishwara, even the greatest of sins like Brahma Hatya Dosha are destroyed. Kapardishwara is considered as important as Sri Vishwanatha in Kashi.
Originally, the city of Kashi has been described as Panchakroshapura and the Linga situated in the centre of the city is called Madhyameshwara. Lord Shiva is ever present in this
Linga along with Sridevi and Rudra Ganas. Krishna is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva at this place. Taking a bath in Mandakini and worshipping Sri Madhyeshwara grants one the
merit of one hundred Maha Yagnas.
Traditionally, the city of Kashi is said to begin with Madhyameshwara and end with the shrine of Dehali Vinayaka. Visiting Kashi is a sacred duty for all followers of Sanatana Dharma.
The prime duty for a person visiting Kashi has been described in Kashi Khanda as below:
yAtrAdwayaM prayatnena kartavyaM prativAsaram |
Adau swargataraMgiNyaH tato vishweshituH dhruvam ||
Yatri should take bath in Ganga and visit Sri Vishwanatha everyday while at Kashi. According to Kashi Rahasya:
chakrapuShkariNItIrthe snAtavyaM prativAsaram |
patraiH puShpaiH phalaistoyaiH pUjyo vishweshwaraH sadA ||
Yatri should take bath in Manikarnika and worship Sri Vishwanatha everyday while at Kashi.
snAtvA mumukShurmaNikarNikAyAm mR^iDANigaMgAhR^idaye tadAsye |
vishweshwaraM pashyati yo.api ko.api shivatmamAyAti punarna janma ||
Sri Manikarnika represents the heart of Ganga and the face of Bhavani. One who takes bath in Manikarnika and sees Lord Vishwanatha is freed from the cycle of birth and death.
Hence, Kashi Yatra is also called ekAyatana yAtrA. Taking a bath in Manikarnika during the noon is considered more sacred than in the morning according to Linga Purana - prAtaH
paMchanadIH snAtvA madhyAhne maNikarNikAm.
According to Shiva Rahasya, one should bath in Dashashwamedha Ghat during the morning and in Manikarnika during the noon [prAtardashAshwamedhe cha madhyAhne
maNikarNikAm]. Taking a bath only in Manikarnika is considered Eka Tirtha Yatra, both in Pancha Ganga and Manikarnika as Dwi Tirtha Yatra and in Pancha Ganga - Manikarnika and
Dashashwamedha as Tri Tirtha Yatra. Tri Tirtha Yatra is considered uttama or best. According to Linga Purana:
kAshyAM tIrthatrayI shreShThA sevyA nityaM prayatnataH |
Adau snAtvA prayAge tu paMchagaMgA tataH param |
tataH puShkariNItIrthe snAtvA muchyeta bandhanAt ||
One should first take a bath in Dashashwamedha, then in Pancha Ganga and lastly in Manikarnika. By doing this, one is liberated from bondage.
The procedure for Kashi Yatra is prescribed thus in Kashi Darpana: One should first take a bath in PilipilA Tirtha (the confluence of Ganga - Yamuna and Saraswati, also called
Trilochan Ghat), offer Pitr Tarpana, then take a bath in Pancha Ganga and Manikarnika and finally in Jnana Vaapi before worshipping Sri Vishwanatha. This is the Prayashchitta
prescribed for getting rid of the greatest of sins. Those who are capable, can bath in Pancha Tirthas - Asi Sangama, Dashashwamedha, Padodaka Tirtha near the Sannidhi of Adi
Keshava, Pancha Ganga and Manikarnika. This is called Pancha Tirtha Yatra and accomplishing the same grants one the merit of worshipping the five faces of Sadashiva (Tatpurusha
etc.) Along with Gauri Kunda (Kedar Ghat) and Pilipila Tirtha (Trilochan Ghat), the Yatra becomes Sapta Tirtha Yatra.
We have already discussed the details of Ekayatana Yatra. According to Nandikeshwara Purana, taking a bath in Manikarnika, worshipping Manikarnikeshwara (on Manikarnika Ghat),
taking a bath in Jnana Vapi and worshipping Sri Vishwanatha - this constitutes Dwirayatana Yatra. Worshipping the Lingas of Avimukteshwara, Swarlineshwara and Madhyameshwara
along with Sri Vishwanatha is called Tryayatana Yatra. Worshipping Shaileshwara, Sangameshwara, Swarlineshwara and Madhyameshwara Lingas along with Sri Vishwanatha is
called Chaturayatana Yatra. Worshipping Omkareshwara, Kapardishwara, Krttivaseshwara, Madhyameshwara and Vishwanatha Lingas constitutes of Panchayatana Yatra. One who
completes both Panchayatana and Pancha Tirtha Yatras, attains oneness with Lord Mahadeva.
The most elaborate and sacred Yatra procedure prescribed by the Puranas is the Pancha Krosha Yatra. On the day previous to undertaking the Pancha Krosha Yatra, one should take
bath in Ganga, worship Sri Vishwanatha and Sri Dhundhi Vinayaka and perform a Sankalpa for the Yatra. The Yatra involves Tirtha Snana in the following Ghats and the worship of
the following deities:
First Day
Manikarnika Ghat - Siddhi Vinayaka and Manikarnikeshwara
Lalita Ghat - Lalita Devi and Ganga Keshava
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Somanatheshwara
Sindhorodhasa Tirtha
Jansa Village - Kalanatha and
Kapardishwara
Chaukhandi Village - Kameshwara
Ganeshwara
Virabhadra
Chaturmukha Ganapati
Bhatauli Village - Gananatheshwara
Dehali Vinayaka
Sixteen Ganeshas (Shodasha GanapatayaH)
Bhuyli village - Uddanda Vinayaka
Hirarampur - Rameshwara
Utkaleshwara and Rudrani Devi
Varuna Nadi Rameshwara - Offer Tarpanas here
Someshwara
Bharateshwara
Lakshmaneshwara
Shatrughneshwara
DyavAbhUmishwara
Nahusheshwara
One should conclude the day's Yatra by offering Shweta Tilakshata and bilva to Rameshwara.
Fourth Day
Varuna River - Innumerable Tirtha Lingas
Karoma Village - Devasandheshwara
Draupadi Kunda
Dharmeshwara
Bhimeshwara
Arjuneshwara
Nakuleshwara
Sahadeveshwara
Sadar Bazar - Pashapani Ganapati
Kahjuri Village - Prthvishwara and
Saranga Sarovara
Dinadayalupur - Yupa Sarovara
Kapiladhara Village - Kapiladhara Tirtha and
Vrshabhadhwajeshwara
Kapiladhara Tirtha is called Shivagaya and is considered more sacred than Gaya. ShrAddha, Tarpana and Brahmana Bhojana performed here grant Akshaya Shivalokavasa to one's
ancestors.
Fifth Day
Katova Village - Jwala Nrsimha
Varuna Sangama - only Marjana here and not Snana
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Adi Keshava
Sangameshwara
Kharva Vinayaka
Prahlad Ghat - Prahladeshwara
Trilochan Ghat - Trilochana Mahadeva
Pancha Ganga Ghat - Pancha Ganga Tirtha
Bindu Madhava
Gabhastishwara
Mangala Gowri
Sankata Ghat - Vasistheshwara and
Vamadeveshwara
Manikarnika Ghat - Maheshwara and Siddhi Vinayaka
Saptavarana Vinayaka
One should conclude the Pancha Krosha Yatra by taking a bath in Manikarnika, worshipping Sri Vishwanatha, Annapurna, Mahavishnu, Dandapani, Dhundhiraja and Kalabhairava.
One who thus completes Pancha Krosha Kashi Yatra is liberated even while living and attains Shiva Sayujya. By thus doing a Pradakshina of Kashi, one gets the merit of going round
all the Tirtha Kshetras on earth.
kAshI pradakShiNA yena kR^itA trailokyapAvan |
saptadwIpA sAbdhishailA kR^itA tena pradakShiNA ||
Antargriha Yatra is yet another significant Yatra prescribed by scriptures like Kashi Rahasya and Kashi Darpana. On the decided day, one should keep the vow of silence, worship
Pancha Vinayakas and perform the Samkalpa for Antargriha Yatra. The Yatra should begin with a bath in Manikarnika and worship of Manikarnikeshwara and Siddhi Vinayaka. The
Devetas to be worshipped during this Yatra are:
Sankata Ghat - Vasukishwara, Parvateshwara
Lalita Ghat - Sri Lalita Devi and Ganga Keshava
Mir Ghat - Jarasandheshwara
Manmandir Ghat - Adi Varaheshwara, Somanatha, Dalabhyeshwara
Balmukund Chauraha - Brahmeshwara
Agastya Kund - Agastyeshwara
Jangamvadi - Kashyapeshwara, Harikeshaveshwara
Kodayi Chauki - Vaidyanatheshwara, Dhruveshwara, Gokarneshwara
Hatakeshwara - this is considered to be a very secretive spot not revealed to all.
Hastikshepa Tataka - this was lost during floods in Ganga.
Raj Darwaza - Kikaneshwara
Govindpur - Bharabhuteshwara, Chitragupteshwara
Chanduki Gali - Chitraghanta Devi
Pashupatishwara
Pitamaheshwara - Shitla Gali
Brahmapur - Kalasheshwara
Siddheshwari mandir - Chandreshwara
Vira Tirtha - Vireshwara
Nimvali Brahmapuri - Vidyeshwara
Agnishwar Ghat - Agnishwara
Bhonsle Ghat - Nageshwara
Sankata Ghat - Harishchandreshwara, Chintamani Vinayaka, Sena Vinayaka, Vasistheshwara, Vamadeveshwara, Sima Vinayaka
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