Shree Kashi Karvat Mandir

Last updated

The Shri Kashi Karvat Mandir (or Kashi Karont) is one of the Dwadesh Jyotirlingas temple. It is a few meters away from the famous Blue Lassi shop of Kashi and Kashi Vishwanath Temple. It is an ancient Shiva temple. It is an important temple and visited by many Hindu devotess who visit Kashi Vishwanant Temple.

Contents

In ancient times the temple used to have a saw (Karont or Karvat). Before British period, people used to come there and throw themselves down the hole and blade, thus killing themselves. [1] They are believed to go straight to heaven. There have also been many stories that claim that later the priests started scaring the pilgrims and throwing them with blades, [2] robbing them of their valuables. And the dead bodies were thrown into the Ganges through a secret canal in the basement. The crypt is now confined to the priests and their families, who have been caring for it for the last 25 generations, and Karvat was taken to UK by the British people.

History

The religious teachers of the Hindu religion tell the sadhana seekers society that scripture is not certified. Due to this, the sadhaks did not get any benefit from God, which was expected from devotion.

The religious leaders of Kashi made a reprehensible and criminal plan that Lord Shiva ordered that the door of heaven would open for the one who sacrificed his life in Kashi city. He will go to heaven without any hindrance.

One who dies in Maghar Nagar (near Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh presently in District- Sant Kabir Nagar (Uttar Pradesh), will go to hell or get the body of a donkey.

Due to the misconception that one who dies in Maghar will go straight to the birth of a pig, that is, hell, and those who die in Kashi will go straight to heaven. That's why everyone used to spend their last days in Kashi only. [3]

The people of the surrounding villages used to hand over their parents to the selfish Pandit in Kashi in their old age. They used to keep them on a rental basis. Then gradually, the number of older people increased, so the selfish Pandits and priests started worrying that if one could not be served, how would they serve them all? Then to kill them forcefully, they made a huge brick cave on the banks of the river Ganga [4] and then got a saw-like object installed in the middle of that cave, which the people of that time used to call Karont. Then those older people were told that whoever wanted to go to heaven soon should get his head cut off by Karont in this cave; he would go straight to heaven. This is Guruji's order; [5] after saying this, all the elders were already troubled by sorrow and pain, so they all said yes to getting rid of this sorrowful life. And everyone was beheaded one by one. [6] Whenever that saw got stuck, the older adult would be told that God's order had not yet been given to him. Then that older adult would go back, crying, and after some time, again provide fees to the priests to get the head cut off from Karont. One of the Holy scripture of Hinduism, Bhagavad Gita, explains in Chapter 17 Verse 23 that one can only attain salvation only after taking the actual mantras of the Almighty God given by a complete saint. In this way, the number of those older adults served by religious leaders was reduced cruelly. [7]

Architecture

A plaque at the small gate in bright maroon and yellow colours says "Only followers of Sanatana Dharma are allowed to enter". [8] The interior has been redone with Tylo. There is a small hole inside the temple from where you can see the Shiv ling in the basement. In the basement, where you can see the Shivalinga, it is said that in ancient times there was placed a saw (Karvat or Ara), which was suspended from the ceiling of the temple and was believed to spontaneously fall on those chosen by the Lord Shiva, for his blessings. Since suicide is not allowed in Hinduism, the act was arranged with the help of a priest. Gradually this practice was banned, and saws were removed from the room.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kashi Vishwanath Temple</span> Hindu temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. It is located in Vishwanath Gali, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is a Hindu pilgrimage site and is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines. The presiding deity is known by the names Vishwanath and Vishweshwara, literally meaning Lord of the Universe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benares State</span> Indian kingdom and later princely state (1740–1948)

Banaras State initially known as Banaras kingdom or Kashi Kingdom was a kingdom and later princely state under the Narayan Dynasty in what is today Uttar Pradesh, India. On 15 October 1948, Benares' last ruler signed the accession to the Indian Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vishalakshi Temple</span> Hindu goddess temple in Varanasi, India

The Vishalakshi Temple or Vishalakshi Gauri Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Vishalakshi, at Mir Ghat on the banks of the Ganges at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is generally regarded as a Shakti Pitha, the most sacred temples dedicated to the Hindu Divine Mother.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annapurna (goddess)</span> Hindu goddess of food and nourishment

Annapurna, Annapurneshwari, Annada or Annapoorna is a manifestation of Parvati and is known as the Hindu goddess of food and nourishment. Worship and offering of food are highly praised in Hinduism, and therefore, the goddess Annapurna is regarded as a popular deity. She is a manifestation of the goddess Parvati, the consort of Shiva, and is eulogized in the Annada Mangal, a narrative poem in Bengali by Bharatchandra Ray. The Annapurna Sahasranam is dedicated to the goddess and praises her one thousand names, while the Annapurna Shatanama Stotram is dedicated to her 108 names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudranath</span> Hindu temple in Uttarakhand, India

Rudranath is a Hindu temple dedicated to God Shiva, located in the Garhwal Himalayan mountains in Uttarakhand, India. Located at 3,600 metres (11,800 ft) above sea level, this natural rock temple is situated within a dense forest of rhododendron dwarfs and Alpine pastures. The temple is the second temple to be visited in the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit, comprising five Shiva temples in the Garhwal region to be visited in a strict pecking order starting with Kedarnath at an altitude of 3,583 m, the Tungnath (तुंगनाथ)(3,680 m or 12,070 ft), Rudranath (रुद्रनाथ), Madhyamaheshwar (मध्यमहेश्वर) and Kalpeshwar (कल्पेश्वर).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madhyamaheshwar</span> Hindu temple in Gaundar village, Uttarakhand, India

Madhyamaheshwar or Madmaheshwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in Gaundar, a village in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, India. Situated at an elevation of 3,497 m (11,473.1 ft), it is one of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuits, comprising five Shiva temples in the Garhwal region. The other temples in the circuit include: Kedarnath, Tungnath and Rudranath which are culturally visited before Madhyamaheshwar and, Kalpeshwar generally visited after Madhyamaheshwar. The middle (madhya) or belly part or navel (nabhi) of Shiva is worshipped here. The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandavas, the central figures of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalpeshwar</span> Hindu temple in Uttarakhand, India

Kalpeshwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located at an elevation of 2,200 m (7,217.8 ft) in the Urgam valley in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state in India. The temple's ancient legend linked to the Pandavas, heroes of the epic Mahabharata, is the fifth temple of the Panch Kedar of Shiva's five anatomical divine forms; the other four temples in the order of their worship are Kedarnath, Rudranath, Tungnath and Madhyamaheshwar temples; all in the Kedar Khand region of the Garhwal Himalayas. Kalpeshwar is the only Panch Kedar temple accessible throughout the year. At this small stone temple, approached through a cave passage, the matted tress (jata) of Shiva is worshipped. Earlier it was approachable only by 12 km (7.5 mi) trek from the nearest road head of Helang on the Rishikesh-Badrinath road but now the road goes up to Devgram village from where the trek now is just 300 metres. The road is accessible to bicycles and small cars except in monsoons.

Guptakashi, Gupta Kashi or Guptkashi is a fairly large town located at an elevation of 1,319 metres (4,327 ft) in the Kedar-khanda, in Garhwal Himalayas of Rudraprayag district in Uttarakhand, India. It is known for its ancient Vishwanath Temple dedicated to the god Shiva, which is similar to the one in Varanasi (Kashi). The other well known temple here is dedicated to Ardhanareshvara, a half man half woman form of Shiva and Parvati. The name Guptakashi has legendary significance linked to the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Its religious importance is considered next to that of Varanasi, believed to be the most pious of all Hindu pilgrimage sites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghats in Varanasi</span> Riverfront steps leading to the banks of the Ganges river

Ghats in Varanasi are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the Ganges river. The city has 84 ghats. Most of the ghats are bathing and puja ceremonial ghats, while two ghats, Manikarnika and Harishchandra, are used exclusively as cremation sites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gyanvapi Mosque</span> Mosque and former Hindu temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

The Gyanvapi Mosque is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was constructed by Aurangzeb c. 1678, a decade after his demolition of an old Shiva temple. The site is under a decades-old litigation, which gained momentum in 2022 after some Hindu women sought the right to worship on the outer wall of the mosque complex. Previously, until 1993, the Hindu devotees were allowed to worship there in Chaitra Navaratri. The Gyanvapi mosque stands adjacent to the redeveloped Kashi Vishwanath Temple complex.

In religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a very long journey or search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred area or shrine of importance to innate faith. Members of every major religion participate in pilgrimages. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doleshwor Mahadeva Temple</span> Hindu temple in Nepal

Doleshwor Mahadeva is a Hindu Temple of Lord Shiva located in Suryabinayak, south eastern part of Bhaktapur District, Nepal, and is believed to be the head part of Kedarnath temple located in Uttarakhand, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Varanasi</span> Metropolis in Uttar Pradesh, India

Varanasi is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world. The city has a syncretic tradition of Islamic artisanship that underpins its religious tourism. Located in the middle-Ganges valley in the southeastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi lies on the left bank of the river. It is 692 kilometres (430 mi) to the southeast of India's capital New Delhi and 320 kilometres (200 mi) to the southeast of the state capital, Lucknow. It lies 121 kilometres (75 mi) downstream of Prayagraj, where the confluence with the Yamuna river is another major Hindu pilgrimage site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maheswarnath Mandir</span> Hindu temple in Mauritius

Maheswarnath Mandir is a Hindu temple located in the town of Triolet, Mauritius. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shiva. The temple was founded in 1888 by Pandit Shri Sajeebunlall Ramsoondur, who came from Calcutta. The temple is famous for its association with the first pilgrimage to Ganga Talao, the sacred lake found in the center of Mauritius. The temple is the biggest and one of the oldest Hindu temples on the island along with the Kovil at Bon Espoir Piton (1830), Sinatambou Kovil at Terre Rouge (1850), Murugan Kovil at Clemencia (1856), the Shivala at Gokoolah (1867), Rameshwarnath Shivala at Terre Rouge (1867) and Jharnath Shivala at l'Aventure (1881). There also old Mandaps and Kalimayes dedicated to Durga and Kali, like the one at Antoinette Phooliyar and a Durga Mandap at Cinema Casse in Triolet itself (1882).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mrityunjay Mahadev Mandir</span> Hindu Temple in Uttar Pradesh, India

Ravaneshwar Mandir is one of the most famous temples in the holy city of Varanasi. This temple has great historical and cultural importance in Hinduism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shri Vishwanath Mandir</span> Hindu Temple in Uttar Pradesh, India

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. The temple is colloquially called VT, an acronym of Vishwanath Temple. The temple is under direct administration of the BHU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annapurna Devi Mandir</span> Hindu Temple in Uttar Pradesh, India

Annapurna Devi Mandir, also known as Annapurna Mata Mandir and Annapurna Mandir, is one of the most famous Hindu temples (Mandir) in the holy city of Varanasi. This temple has great religious importance in Hinduism and is dedicated to the goddess Annapurna. Annapurna is the Hindu goddess for nourishment and is a form of the goddess Parvati. The current Annapurna Mandir was constructed in the 18th century by Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I.

Lalita Gauri Mandir, also known as Lalita Mata Mandir, is one of the important and historic temples in the holy city of Varanasi. This temple has great religious importance in Hinduism and is dedicated to the goddess Lalita Gauri. The Mandir was constructed in early 19th century. The temple was constructed between 1800–1804 by Rana Bahadur Shah. Lalita Gauri Mandir is situated on the Lalita Ghat and the ghat was named after this temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ratneshwar Mahadev temple</span> Temple in India

Ratneshwar Mahadev Mandir is one of the most photographed temples in the holy city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple, while apparently well-preserved, leans significantly towards the back side (north-west), and its garbhagriha is generally below the water much of the year, except for a few months during the summer. The Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple is situated at Manikarnika Ghat, Varanasi. The temple has developed a nine-degree slant.

References

  1. Hamilton, Alexander (1744). "A New Account of the East Indies, giving an exact and copius description of the Situation, Product, Manufactures, Laws, Customs, Religion, Trade, andc. of all the Countries and Islands which lie between the Cape of Good Hope and the Island of Japon, interspersed with an entertaining relation not only of the principal Events. which happened during the Author's Thirty Years Residence in those Parts; but also of the most remarkable Occurrences and Revolution in those vast Dominions for this Century past; comprehending also many curious and interesting Particulars relating to our Commerce with those Countries and the Affairs of the East India Company, in Two Volumes, Vol. II". C. Hitch (London). Retrieved 4 June 2021.[ dead link ]
  2. Parry, Jonathan (1980). "Ghosts, Greed and Sin: The Occupational Identity of the Benares Funeral Priests". Man. 15 (1): 88–111. doi:10.2307/2802004. JSTOR   2802004 . Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  3. Justice, Christopher (1997). Dying the Good Death: The Pilgrimage to Die in India's Holy City. SUNY Press. ISBN   978-1-4384-0811-8.
  4. Greaves, Edwin (1909). "Kashi the city illustrious, or Benares". California Digital Library. Allahabad : Indian Press. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  5. Parry, Jonathan P.; PhD, Professor of Anthropology Jonathan P. Parry (7 July 1994). Death in Banaras. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-521-46625-7 . Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  6. Heber, Reginald (1829). "Narrative of a journey through the upper provinces of India, from Calcutta to Bombay, 1824-1825". Philadelphia, Carey, Lea & Carey. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  7. "NOMADIC LAD: The Suicide Temple of Varanasi". Nomadic Lad. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  8. "Mysterious Suicide Temple of Varanasi". Varanasi Guru. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2021.