Kardameshwar Mahadeva Mandir, Varanasi

The Kashi Panchkoshi Parikrama Kshetra

Varanasi as we all know is the Nagara(city) that lies between the rivers Varuna and Assi. The other river obviously is the Ganga. Varanasi is famous as the city where the Ganga flows north (Uttarvahini Ganga).

The Kashi Panchkoshi Parikrama Kshetra is best described in the Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana.

It is the holiest place on earth, it is the place that was first inhabited by Purusha and Prakriti(the primeval male and female).

The Panchkoshi Kshetra in Varanasi is described in the Skanda Purana in these words: "Though it is on the earth, it has no contact with it. Being higher than the heavens, yet it is established on the earth. Even though it is made of the five elements it gives Moksha to everyone. Everyone who dies here becomes immortal Brahmas. That which is renowned in the 3 Lokas as the city on the bank of the Ganga. Even the Devas worship this land. The capital city of Tripurari Mahadev...

The Parikrama

MahaShivratri is the most important festival of Varanasi. At least 5 lakh people do the Parikrama on MahaShivratri. The Parikrama starts from Manikarnika Ghat with a sankalp. The yatris proceed along the ghats to the Assi Ghat and then go to the Parikrama Marg and proceed to Kardameshwar Mahadev in Kandwa.
The next stop is the Mandir of Devi Bheem Chandi at Bangalipur. This is my personal favorite. There is a beautiful sarovar just before the Mandir.
From Bheem Chandi we move to Rameshwar Mahadev Mandir where the Varuna River enters Varanasi. Rameshwar Mahadev was established by Shri Rama himself.

The next stop is the Pancha Pandava Mandir established by the Pandavas. It lies in Shivpur.

Last and 5th is the Kapil Dhara Mandir the famous school of Tantra and the dwelling place of Kapil Muni. 


This blog is about my personal experiences growing up and living in the city. I leave with some photographs of Varanasi.

Har Har Mahadeva.