Puja at Dharmeshwar Temple

The Dharmeshwar Temple is important because of a story:

1. Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva to tell her about special places where people worship him in Kashi.

2. Lord Shiva told a story about Yam Raj, who prayed very hard to Lord Shiva in a place called Anand Van in Kashi. He prayed through tough times, even standing on one leg and one toe.

3. Impressed by Yam Raj’s dedication, Lord Shiva appeared and gave him the title “Dharma Raja.” The Ling he prayed to was called Dharmeshwar Ling.

4. When Yam Raj saw Lord Shiva, he was too amazed to ask for anything. So, Lord Shiva told him to be fair in judging people who pass away—punishing bad people and rewarding good ones.

5. People believe that by bathing in a sacred well called Dharma Koop and worshiping Dharmeshwar in Kashi, their sins are forgiven. Yam Raj agreed to do as Lord Shiva said.

In simple words, the Dharmeshwar Temple is special because Yam Raj prayed there and was made Dharma Raja by Lord Shiva. People go there to wash away their sins, and Yam Raj is known for being fair to both good and bad people.

LOCATION OF THE DHARMESHWAR TEMPLE

The Dharmeshwar Temple is located at D-2/21, Mir Ghat in Varanasi. It’s accessible from a well-known area called Dashashwamedh. Here’s how you can reach the temple:

1. You can travel by rickshaw to Dashashwamedh Vishwanath Gulli.
2. From there, you can walk to the temple through the famous Vishalakshi Gauri temple.

Another way to reach Dharmeshwar is:

1. After visiting the Visweshwar Temple, head towards the Saraswati Phatak gate.
2. Walk in the direction of the Vishalakshi Gauri temple to reach Dharmeshwar.

Alternatively, you can take a boat to Mirghat and climb the steps to reach the temple. The entire area, including Dharmeshwar, Dharma Koop, and Vishalakshi Devi, is considered a powerful Shakti Peeth, which is a sacred place of vital energy. Prayers offered here are believed to bring maximum benefits to devotees.

TIMING OF PUJA AT DHARMESHWAR TEMPLE

The Dharmeshwar Temple has specific timings for worship:

1.  It’s open from 5:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
2.  It reopens in the evening from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
3.  Aarties (special prayer rituals) are conducted at 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Visiting the Dharmeshwar Temple during the month of Kartik (typically from October 20 to November 20), especially on Shukla Paksha Ashtami (the 8th day after the new moon), is considered very auspicious.

There’s also a well nearby called Dharma Koop. Taking a bath there and then performing Shraddha Karma (a ritual to honor ancestors) is believed to be as significant as performing Shraddh in the holy city of Gaya.

If you plan to do special prayers or rituals at the temple, it’s a good idea to consult the temple priest (Poojari) in advance for guidance and arrangements.