Kedareshwar Temple, Varanasi – Legends

Kedareshwar Temple, Varanasi – Legends

Kedareshwar:

As per legend, Sage Mandhata worshiped Lord Kedareshwar at Kedarnath. Pleased with his worship, Lord Kedareshwar appeared before him and asked his wish. Sage Mandhata requested Lord Shiva to show his Linga Roopa. But, Lord Shiva refused his wish and explained the reason behind his refusal. After cutting the fifth head of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and other celestial beings prayed to Lord Shiva to resuscitate Lord Brahma. As per their wishes, Lord Shiva revived Brahma life.

After getting life Brahma requested Lord Shiva to give him Linga Darshana so that he can get rid of the sin he made. But Shiva told that he had taken an oath and could not show the darshan. Instead, he suggested Lord Brahma to visit Kasi and perform ten Ashwa Medha Yagas so that his sin can be cleared. As suggested, Lord Brahma went to Kasi and did worship at Dasaswamedh ghat and got relief from his sin.

Similarly, Lord Shiva ordered Sage Mandhata to do worship at Varanasi. Mandhata went to Varanasi and continued his worship. Mandhata was strictly following Aththi puja. He used to have his lunch only after offering an Aththi. He used to visit Kedarnath daily with his Tapasya power. Once, some sages visited him and expressed their wishes in joining him in his visit to Kedarnath.

Sage Mandhata was pleased to accept their wish. He has not yet completed his Aththi Pooja for the say. He prepared a Naivedhya with rice mixed with purified green gram. Then a Bhikshu appeared before him asking meals. Mandhata separated the Naivedhya and kept a part of it for Naivedhya and the remaining part for Bhikshu. He went to bring water for the Bhikshu. In the meanwhile, both the parts got mixed up.

He became confused and worried about Shiva Naivedhya. All the Rishis and the Bhikshu had hurried him. He prayed to Lord Shiva to solve the problem. Lord Shiva in the disguise of Bhikshu mixed the Naivedhya. Naivedhya became a Shiva Linga. Lord Kedareshwar along with Annapurna appeared before Mandhata and other sages. He gave them Linga darshan and bestowed them with various boons.

Kashi Khand:

Kedareshwar is a Shiva temple in Himalayas which is one of the twelve jyotirlingas. According to Kashi Khand, one gentleman performed the Upanayanam ceremony of his son named Vashisht at Ujjain. The boy, Vashisht, was very religious and performed all poojas including Linga pooja etc. He used to visit Kedareshwar Temple in Himalayas along with his Guru regularly and perform pooja of Lord Kedareshwar.

Once, on the way to Kedareshwar, the Guru died unfortunately and since he had all along done only good deeds, he found a place for himself at Mount Kailas. Vashisht who was 12 at that time, got an enlightenment that those who go for having darshan of Kedareshwar are blessed with all punyas. He then went and settled down at Kashi.

But on all Chaitra Month Poornima days (March 20-April 21), Vashisht (who remained a Brahmachari) used to visit Kedareshwar Ling at Himalayas and this went on for 61 years. But due to old age, he could not move out

and he started praying to Lord Shiva at Kashi. Lord Shiva blessed him with a wish and Vashisht requested that Lord Shiva should kindly appear at Kashi itself as Kedareshwar.

Lord Shiva was overwhelmed with the sincerity and devotion of Vashisht and granted accordingly. He appeared as Kedareshwar at Kashi and told Vashisht that performing pooja at Kedareshwar at Kashi will yield seven times greater punya as compared to performing pooja at Kedareshwar at Himalayas (Kashi Khand, Chapter 77). Gauri Kund, Hans teerth and Mana Sarovar Teerth find mention in Kashi Khand in reference to Kedareshwar but now only Gauri Kund remains.

Mana Sarovar and Hans Teerth have dried up. People observe vrath (fast) on Chaitra Month (March 20-April 20) Shukla Paksha Chaturdasi and break their fast on Poornima day, the next day, after performing pooja of Kedareshwar. This is as stated in Kashi Khand where Vashisht used to pray Lord Kedareshwar on Chaitra Poornima days.

Place for Salvation:

Kashi is divided into three Khands, Omkar Khand, Vishweshwar Khand and Kedar Khand. It is believed that a person who dies in Kashi attains Mukti. Going a step further, if the person dies in the area governed by Kedar Khand, he obtains immediate Mukti while in other two Khands, there are some sort of hardships to be faced.

Trishula:

It is believed that Kashi is built on Shiva's Trishula, Shri Kedareshwar Temple is where the south spear of Shiva's trishula is. The central one is Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and the north spear is Omkareshwar Temple, corresponding to the Omkareshwar Temple near Indore.

Kasi Kedara Mahatmya:

The Kasi Kedara Mahatmya tells that Lord Kedareshwar kept his fifteen Kalas in Kasi and he is in Kedareshwar only with his sixteenth kala.

Equivalent to Kedarnath:

According to Shiv Mahapurana, Kedarnath is located in Kedar Parvat of Himalayas in the western direction of Mandhakini. Kedareshwar Jyotirlinga located at Kedar Ghat of Varanasi is a replica of Kedarnath of Himalayas. It is believed that by worshipping Kedareshwar Jyotirlinga of Varanasi, can obtain the same benefits similar to Kedarnath of Himalayas.