If you are planning your Kashi darshan trip or are already walking the sacred lanes of Kashi, you must plan to visit these devi temples in Varanasi, which are an inseparable part of the Kashi Kshetra (Varanasi city).
When people think of Varanasi, the first name that comes to mind is Kashi Vishwanath – the most sacred Shiva temple in Varanasi. But God Shiva is not alone in Varanasi. This ancient city is protected, nourished and guarded by powerful ancient goddesses, each playing a significant role in maintaining the spiritual balance of Kashi Kshetra or Varanasi city.
Varahi Devi Temple
Varahi Devi is the Gramdevi of Varanasi – the protector of Kashi Kshetra (Varanasi city). It is believed that she guards Kashi Kshetra (Varanasi city) at night and rests during the day. Due to this reason, the temple opens for darshan only at a specific time in the morning and remains closed for rest of the day.
The garbhagriha (inner sanctum) of this temple is located underground. The idol of Goddess Varahi is inside this garbhagriha, and only the Pujari (local priest) is allowed inside the main inner sanctum. Devotees can take her darshan (see her) through a small peephole above the ground. From this angle, you can see the crown and feet of the goddess, but you cannot look straight into her eyes.
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Varahi Devi represents the fierce feminine energy of God Vishnu’s Varaha avatar. She has the face of a wild boar, symbolising raw power, protection and fearlessness. This temple is also known as Panchsagar Shaktipeeth, and is one of the 51 Shaktipeeth temples mentioned in the Skanda Purana.
Varahi Devi Temple Timings: The temple opens only from 7:00 am to 9:30 am. The best time to visit is around 8:30 am, because the queue moves faster just before its closing time.
Vishalakshi Temple
Vishalakshi Temple in Varanasi is one of the 51 Shaktipeeth temples in India. According to the Skanda Purana, this is the sacred spot where Sati’s earrings fell after her self-immolation. Vishalakshi Devi is considered the most powerful goddess in Varanasi. No Kashi darshan yatra is complete without seeking her blessings. A special detail that many pilgrims miss is to look behind the main idol of the goddess. Hidden inside the wall behind the main idol is another smaller Swayambhu (self-manifested) idol of Vishalakshi Devi. This is the main and most ancient idol of Goddess Vishalakshi in Varanasi.
The Vishalakshi Devi temple complex houses other rare idols of Gods Dandapani, Bhairava, Ganesha and several ancient Shivalingas. In the right corner of the temple is Vishalaksheshwar Shivalinga – a rare manifestation of God Shiva, who accompanies the goddess inside this temple.
Annapurna Mata Temple
The Annapurna Mata Temple is a beautiful Panchayatan-style temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess of food, nourishment, and abundance. She provides food to everyone visiting Varanasi. It is believed that no one visiting Varanasi ever goes hungry because of her divine blessings.
At the centre of this temple complex sits Goddess Annapurna, with four shrines surrounding it in four corners. These four shrines are dedicated to God Ganesha, Yantreshwar Mahadev Shivalinga, Dhan Kubera (God of wealth) and Surya Dev (Sun God). One of the most fascinating aspects of this temple is the Yantreshwar Mahadev Shivalinga, which has an ancient Yantra (geometric) design carved on the Shivalinga itself.
Moreover, there are several more smaller shrines like Kali Mata, Ram Darbar, Hanuman ji, Radha Krishna, etc which appear to be later additions to the main temple. This is the most important goddess in Varanasi, and your trip to Kashi is incomplete without a visit to this temple.
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Durga Kunda
The Durga Kunda area, located in the southern part of Varanasi, close to the Assi ghat, is one of the most powerful Siddha Kshetras in Varanasi. The ancient Durga temple here is dedicated to Mata Kushmanda, which is one of the 9 Durga temples in Varanasi. She guards the Kashi Kshetra (Varanasi city) from the south direction.
This temple was built in the 18th century by Rani Bhabani, the Queen of Natore (present-day Bangladesh). Next to the temple is an old holy water pond called Durga Kunda. Boating or bathing is not allowed in its water.
Other important deities worshipped inside the Durga temple premises are –
- Mata Lakshmi
- Mata Saraswati
- Mata Kali
- Chand Bhairav – one of the Ashta Bhairav in Kashi
Another powerful temple located next to the Durga Kunda is the Durga Vinayak temple dedicated to God Ganesha. The spiritual energy in the Durga Kunda region of Varanasi is perfect for anyone seeking strength, courage and protection against evil energies.
Sankata Mata Temple
The Sankata Mata Temple is located inside the narrow lanes near Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi. Sanakata Devi is a powerful goddess who removes all obstacles and dangers from your life’s path. Just looking at the beautiful, smiling face of this goddess will make you forget all your troubles. Built in the 18th century by the King of Baroda, it houses a Swayambhu (self-manifested) idol of Sankata Mata, flanked by Hanuman and Bhairava on both sides. Inside this temple’s premises, you will also find a giant banyan tree, an ancient Shivalinga, an idol of God Ganesha and Navgraha – the nine planets.
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Devi temples in Varanasi
These divine goddesses of Kashi Kshetra are not merely idols – they are powerful energies that protect and nourish this eternal city since ancient times. Each Goddess in Varanasi plays a significant role, such as protection from dangers, granting courage, removing obstacles and providing food to everyone in Kashi. As you walk through these Devi temples in Varanasi, you realise that this city of God Shiva survives and flourishes only because of Shakti – the goddesses who stand alongside him in the Kashi Kshetra.
