Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple stands in the sacred city of Kashi, now commonly known as Varanasi, and is dedicated to Shiva in the form of Vishwanath or Vishweshwara.
The present temple structure dates to 1780 and was built under Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. According to the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, a Naubatkhana was constructed in front of the temple in 1785, and in 1839 two temple domes were covered with gold donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
The temple has long occupied an important position in the religious life of Kashi and in traditions of Shiva pilgrimage. Its history extends beyond the history of the present eighteenth-century structure; therefore the history of the sacred site, earlier temple traditions and the present building should not be treated as though they were the same historical layer.

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple enshrines the Jyotirlinga worshipped as Vishwanath or Vishweshwara, names associated with Shiva as the Lord of the Universe. It is traditionally recognized among the twelve Jyotirlingas and holds a central place in the sacred geography and devotional life of Kashi.
The temple tradition places particular emphasis on darshan of Vishweshwara and associates worship at Kashi with knowledge, bhakti and liberation. Within the wider sacred understanding of Kashi, Shiva is regarded as the presiding deity of the city, giving Kashi Vishwanath significance beyond that of an individual temple.
Specific theological claims concerning liberation, the unique merit of darshan and the relationship of Kashi with Shiva should be understood within their respective scriptural and traditional contexts rather than presented as universally demonstrable historical claims.

Worship at Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple includes daily darshan, aarti and forms of Shiva worship such as Rudrabhishek. The temple's official schedule includes Mangala Aarti, Mid-Day/Bhog Aarti, Sapta-Rishi Aarti and Night/Shringar Aarti. Rudrabhishek is also conducted in several forms through the temple.
The Temple Trust currently provides official booking facilities for selected aartis, Rudrabhishek and Sugam Darshan. Ritual availability, booking arrangements, timings and charges may change and should therefore be verified against the current official Temple Trust information before a visit.
Major observances identified by the Temple Trust include Mahashivratri, monthly Shivratri, Rangbhari Ekadashi, Diwali and observances associated with the month of Kartik.

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. General darshan is available during designated periods around the temple's daily aarti and ritual schedule.
According to the Temple Trust's current visitor guidance, there is no prescribed dress code for darshan, although devotees are advised to wear decent clothing. The Trust also publishes restrictions concerning items permitted inside the temple premises and provides locker facilities at designated locations.
Visitors should check the official Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust website before travelling for current darshan timings, entry arrangements, aarti schedules, booking availability and visitor restrictions, as operational information may change.

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust — official temple administration and primary source for current darshan, aarti, puja, booking and visitor information.
District Varanasi, Government of Uttar Pradesh — government reference for the temple's location, Jyotirlinga status, principal deity and visitor information.
Further scriptural references concerning Vishweshwara, Kashi and the Jyotirlinga tradition require dedicated textual verification before being treated as canonical references in OMDivyaDarshan.