14 important Shiva temples in Varanasi as per Skanda Purana

They say, “Kashi ke kan kan mai Shiv baste hai”, and this is so so true. At every step that I took in Varanasi, I found an ancient sacred Shivalinga. So many that I now fondly call Kashi “the forest of Shivalingas.”

It is true that in every corner of Varanasi, you can feel the presence of God Shiva in his different forms. All the ancient Shivalingas in Varanasi are sacred and powerful. But in a short few days of Kashi trip, it is humanly impossible to visit and worship all of them.

So, I turned to the Puranas. After studying sections of the Skanda Purana, I found that there are 42 extremely sacred Mahalingas in Varanasi that together give more power to the main Baba Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.

The 42 Mahalingas in Varanasi are further divided into 3 categories –

• Top 14 most important Shivalingas
• 2nd most important set of 14 Shivalingas
• 3rd most important set of 14 Shivalingas

Below are the top 14 most important Shiva temples in Varanasi, as per the Skanda Purana, that you must visit for a meaningful spiritual journey in Kashi.

Kashi Vishweshwar

The main Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the spiritual heart of Varanasi and one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of God Shiva in India. The present-day temple was rebuilt by Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century. It is crowned with a magnificent golden shikharas (spires). This Jyotirlinga is small in size, yet the powerful presence of God Shiva can be experienced inside this temple.

Avimukteshwar

The name Avimukta means “the one who never leaves.” It is believed that God Shiva never abandons this spot in Kashi. In ancient times, this Shivalinga was considered even more important than the main Vishweshwar Shivalinga. Today, it is located inside the main Kashi Vishwanath temple complex. If you can’t find it, just ask any priest, and they will guide you to it.

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Omkareshwar

Omkareshwar is one of the 42 Mahalingas in Kashi. In ancient times, five sacred Shiva temples existed here, but today only three remain. They are – Aakareshwar, Omkareshwar, and Makareshwar. These temples represent the sacred sound A-U-M (ॐ) and must be visited in this exact order. The Omkareshwar Shiva temple is situated on a small hill. Sadly, a Muslim graveyard exists adjacent to this temple even today. Despite this, the spiritual vibration of Omkareshwar remains undisturbed and deeply powerful.

Trilochaneshwar

Trilochaneshwar is one of the most powerful Shiva temples in Varanasi, located near Badrinarayan Ghat. This Shivalinga emerged from seven layers of Pataal Lok (underground) to bless the land of Kashi. When it appeared, the holy rivers Ganga, Narmada, and Saraswati came together to perform sacred abhishek on this Shivalinga. There is a sacred idol of Annapurna Mata inside the garbhagriha (inner sanctum) of this temple.

Kameshwar

Located in the narrow lanes near the above Trilochaneshwar temple, the Kameshwar Shivalinga was installed by Maharishi Durvasa, along with the sacred Kaam Kunda (water well). Once, Maharishi Durvasa was furious and about to curse Kashi city. But God Shiva appeared and granted him a wish that this Shivalinga would be known as Kameshwara. When Saturday, Trayodashi, and Pradosh fall on the same day, worshipping here on such a day becomes extraordinarily sacred.

MahaMrityunjay

“Mrityunjaya” means victory over death. Devotees believe that worshipping at Maha Mrityunjaya Mandir, Varanasi, protects them from untimely death and severe illness. This powerful temple complex includes other sacred Shivalingas like Vruddha Kaleshwar and Mahakaleshwar. It also has the Dhanvantari Koop – an ancient well of divine healing water.

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Krutti Vaseshwar

Krutti Vaseshwar marks the spot where Shiva killed the demon Gajasura. Upon Gajasura’s request, God Shiva blessed that his body would be worshipped as a Shivalinga. Sadly, Aurangzeb destroyed the original temple and built a mosque in its place. Today, a large Shivalinga is worshipped in the open courtyard outside this mosque. As per the Skanda Purana, worshipping this Shivalinga grants the punya of reciting 7 crore Maha Rudras.

Madhyameshwar

Madhyameshwar once stood at the exact centre of ancient Kashi, and even today it lies near the geographical centre of Varanasi. As per Chp 97, Kashi Khand, Skanda Purana, bathing in Mandakini Teertha (sacred water well) and worshipping the Madhyameshwar Shivalinga grants you residence in Rudraloka, along with 21 generations of your ancestors. This temple is ancient, silent, and immensely powerful – yet overlooked by most tourists.

Rataneshwar

Rataneshwar Mahadev, also called the Leaning Temple of Varanasi, tilts at an angle of 9 degrees. During monsoons, it is submerged in the Ganga River, yet remains visible from the Bajirao Ghat. A devotee named Ratnabai once vowed to build this temple before feeding her mother. But she broke her promise, so the temple sank, and it is tilted to this day. The Ganga’s rising and receding waters affect it every year, but its sanctity remains timeless.

Chandreshwar

This is the most mysterious Shiva temple in Varanasi. Located inside the Siddheshwari Devi Temple, the Chandreshwar Shivalinga was installed and worshipped by Chandra (the Moon God). Chandra also installed the Chandra Koop, a sacred well whose water is believed to cleanse karmic doshas and grant enlightenment. As per local belief, if you cannot see your reflection in the water of this well, then you will die in the next 6 months!

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Dharmeshwar

Yama, the son of Surya and Savitri, installed and worshipped Dharmeshwar Shivalinga in Varanasi. Pleased by his devotion, God Shiva made him the Dharmaraj – the God of death and afterlife. Mantra chanting or Mala Jaap done in this temple gives you 10x spiritual benefits. Behind the temple lies Dharma Koop (sacred well), which was created by God Shiva to bless Devraj Indra. A dip in its water is considered equal to bathing in the waters of Ganga, Haridwar, Kurukshetra, Pushkar, Mansarovar, and Dwarka.

Atmaveereshwar

Atmaveereshwar Shivalinga is believed to house the soul of Kashi Vishwanath. Mata Katyayani and Veerbhadra are also worshipped inside the garbhagriha (inner sanctum) of this temple. In the verandah of this temple, there are more sacred Lingas – Budheshwar, Mangaleshwar, Shukreshwar, and Shanishwar. This temple is also associated with the birth of Swami Vivekananda, whose mother, Bhubaneswari Devi, had prayed for a child at this temple.

Manikarnikeshwar

Hidden deep, inside the narrow lanes near Manikarnika Ghat, this is the most unique Shiva temple in Varanasi. The Shivalinga of this temple lies 2 floors underground. You can see the sacred Shivalinga and even perform abhishek from the hole above the ground. A small staircase leads you underground inside the garbhagriha (inner sanctum) of this temple. I discovered this Shiva temple in Varanasi only by chance. A cow was blocking my path, so I took another lane and arrived at this temple!

Gauri Kedareshwar

If you want to experience Kedarnath in Kashi, then you must visit this Shiva temple in Varanasi. This temple is a replica of the Kedarnath temple in the Himalayas. Even the Aarti rituals performed here are similar to the Himalayan temple. Inside this temple is a rare manifestation of Shiva and Parvati in one single stone! The evening Aarti in this temple, with drums and conches, is an unforgettable experience.

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These are not just random Shiva temples in Varanasi. Each of them is alive with spiritual energies, ancient rituals and unique stories. Each of the 42 Mahalingas in Varanasi holds centuries of devotion, prayers, rituals and divine presence. If you visit these temples with real Bhakti (devotion and awareness), then they will quietly transform your inner world and outer life!