In ancient times, there were only three temples in Kashi, the first was Kashi Vishwanath, the second was Maa Annapurna and the third was Durga Temple. In this, Durga Temple Varanasi is an important place for the praise of Mother Durga. It is believed that Mother Durga rested here after killing the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. It is said that Mother Goddess resides here in the form of Adi Shakti and this temple has been there since ancient times. Some people also perform Tantra puja here. Havan is performed every day in the Havan Kund located here. Whenever Swami Vivekananda ji used to come to Varanasi, he used to visit this temple. -Acharya Teknarayan Upadhyay Senior Archak Srikashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi
History of the temple
The history of this Durga temple of Varanasi is age old. The temple was built by Kashi king Raja Subahu. The reason behind the construction of the temple and the pond located here was a war. According to mythological beliefs, thousands of years ago, King Subahu organized a Swayamvar for his daughter’s marriage, but in the first dream of the Swayamvar, the princess saw herself getting married to Prince Sudarshan of Ayodhya. When the princess told this to her father, he discussed it with the kings who had come to the swayamvar. The kings considered this an insult and declared war against Sudarshan.
Prince Sudarshan, who received education by staying in the ashram of Rishi Bhardwaj in Prayagraj, accepted the challenge of the kings and sought blessings of victory from Mother Durga. When Sudarshan reached the battlefield to fight, Adi Shakti herself reached there and killed his opponents. Due to this fierce battle, a pool of blood was formed. This pond was called Durga Kund. Mother Durga herself ordered the marriage of the princess with Sudarshan. After this, King Subahu built the divine temple of Maa Durga at this place. It is said that even after killing Shumbha and Nishumbha, Maa Durga rested at this place.
mythological beliefs
According to mythological beliefs, wherever Mother Durga appears, her symbols are worshipped. This place is also one of them. Here the mask and Charan Paduka of Maa Durga have been consecrated. This Durga Kund temple of Varanasi is based on Bisa Yantra. Bisa Yantra means a Tantric structure with 20 angles on which the foundation of this Durga temple has been laid. This temple is also known for Tantra Sadhana. Mata Kushmanda is worshiped on the fourth day of Navratri and special worship is organized in the temple on this day.
temple structure
This Durga Kund temple of Varanasi is built in the famous Nagar style. The structure of this temple made of red stone is so beautiful that the devotees who come here for darshan get mesmerized just by seeing the temple. Although the history of this temple is ages old, but the present visible temple was established in 1760 by Queen Bhavani of Bengal. At that time the construction of the temple had cost more than Rs 50000. The description of the temple is also found in the Kashi section. Apart from Maa Durga, idols of Baba Bhaironath, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati and Mahakali are also installed in the temple. The dedicated devotee of Maa Durga and the priest of the temple also have a dedicated place in the temple. According to beliefs, in ancient times the priest of the temple received the boon of Maa Durga, since then the priest is seen along with Maa Durga in the temple. There is also a Havan Kund in the temple premises itself, where Havan is performed every day for Maa Durga.
The temple is situated on Bisa Yantra
According to mythological belief, the idol is not installed where the Mother Goddess herself appears. In such temples only the icon is worshipped. Durga temple also falls in the same categories. Mother’s mask and Charan Paduka are worshiped here. The Durga temple of Kashi is based on the Bisa Yantra. Bisa Yantra means a twenty-angled mechanical structure on which the foundation stone of the temple is placed.
