Nomad Saikat
The holy city of Varanasi doesn’t need an introduction as a major site of pilgrimage. The devotees from all around the country and beyond visit Varanasi to pay their visit to the God here. The location is one of the major sites of pilgrimage due to the presence of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. But that is not the only attraction there. Along with that the Kaal Bhairav Varanasi also is another major attraction here. The devotees believe that a visit to Varanasi would be incomplete without a visit to the Kaal Bhairav Mandir. The Kaal Bhairav Mandir Varanasi is a powerful temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. A long history as well as a number of mythologies is attached to this temple that makes it an important site of pilgrimage.
Kaal Bhairav Varanasi
Furthermore what makes the temple of Lord Kaal Bhairav more important is the fact that the devotees believe that the Lord is protecting the old city. They believe that he protects his devotees from all sorts of problems. That is the reason why a huge number of devotees visit this temple on a daily basis. It is one of the most popular and one of the most visited temples in Varanasi as well. So if you are in Varanasi then you certainly cannot miss out on visiting this temple of Lord Shiva. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you need to know about the Kaal Bhairav Mandir. This will be a helpful article for you if you are planning a trip to Kaal Bhairav Varanasi any time soon.
Location: Pandeypur Road, Golghar, Naibasti, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Timings: Kaal Bhairav Mandir Varanasi timings are from 5 am to 1:30 pm and again from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
Aarti timings:
Mangala Aarti 4 am
Bhog Aarti 1 pm
Sandhya Aarti 8 pm to 8:30 pm
Sayan Aarti 12 pm
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi is the nearest airport to reach the Kaal Bhairav Temple. From the airport the distance of the temple is about 25.5 km. It would approximately take you around 50 minutes to reach the location from the airport. You can take buses from the airport to reach the temple in Varanasi. Or else you can opt for local transports like auto rickshaws as well. And for more convenience you can also hire a car or take a cab to reach there as well.
By train
If you are travelling by train then the nearest railway station is the Varanasi Junction Railway Station. From the railway station the Kaal Bhairav Varanasi is located at a distance of 5.3 km. It would approximately take you around 15 minutes to reach the location from the railway station. You can take local transport like auto rickshaws which are available outside the railway station to reach the temple. Or else you can take a car or cab to reach the location as well.
By road
Varanasi is well connected to various locations by roadways and it is also easily accessible from various locations. Buses are available from major locations to reach Varanasi. There are both government as well as private buses available on this route so you can opt for that. Or else you can also take a car or hire a cab as well to reach the temple conveniently. Auto rickshaws are also available here and are a common mode of communication within the city. So you can opt for that as well.
Best time to visit
Technically you can visit the temple any time of the year but the comparatively cooler months would be better for a visit. If the weather is in check then it would obviously be more comfortable for you to visit the temple here. For that the ideal time for a visit here would be from the months of October to February.
However if you wish to visit the temple during major occasions then you can do that as well. The eighth day after the full moon in the month of November is one of the best days to visit the temple. According to beliefs this is a lucky day for the temple visit. Or else you can visit on any of the Tuesdays or Sundays as well and these are the significant days for a visit to this temple. The fourth day after Diwali, the Annakut Day also is another major significant day for a visit here.
If you wish to avoid the crowd then you must try to visit here a little early in the morning just after the temple opens. You can opt for the Kaal Bhairav Mandir Varanasi pooja booking in advance as well. So plan your visit to Kaal Bhairav Varanasi accordingly.
Read More : KAAL BHAIRAV UJJAIN TIMINGS, STORY, ALCOHOL MYSTERY, HOW TO GO
Overview of Kaal Bhiarav Mandir
Kaal Bhairav is a manifestation of Lord Shiva but a much fierce form o fLord Shiva. It is one of the most prominent temples that you can visit in Varanasi. His appearance is terrifying as he has a garland of skulls. He furthermore holds a trident in his hand as well. According to beliefs, if a person prays here with pure heart he can attain spiritual strength. Also the person would be capable enough to safeguard himself and his whole family as well.
According to the devotees Lord Kaal Bhairav is the guardian of the city of Varanasi. He is popular as the Kotwal of Kashi who is the chief of police. The devotees believe that here Lord Kaal Bhairav is responsible for safeguarding the city and also maintaining the law and order of the city as well. He further protects the city from evil influences, negative forces and any sorts of adversities.
This is one of the major sites of pilgrimage in Varanasi along with the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. What makes this temple different from other temples are the rituals that this temple follows. Some of the rituals here include the offering of liquor, meat and betel leaves to the deity here. As a part of traditional rituals it is believed that these things should be offered to the deity to appease him. So whenever you are visiting Varanasi you must make sure that you are definitely visiting the Kaal Bhairav Varanasi Mandir.
History of Kaal Bhairav Mandir
Kaal Bhairav Varanasi is one of the oldest temples in the old city of Varanasi. The presence of this temple further elevates the position of the city as a major site of pilgrimage. The exact construction of the temple is not known properly. But according to beliefs the temple has gone through various renovations during various rules and dynasties. Essentially the Kaal Bhairav Varanasi temple plays a very significant role in the evolution of the culture and religion of the location.
However there are some myths related to this temple that suggest its construction. According to popular beliefs Lord Kaal Bhairav is a more fierce form of Lord Shiva. Once there was a fierce altercation between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. To ensure the cosmic balance it was then that Lord Kaal Bhairav appeared from Lord Shiva’s third eye. It was then that Lord Shiva asked him to chop off one head of Lord Brahma. But instantly he was guilty of Bhahmanahatya. The severed head also got stuck in his hand.
Therefore to wash off his sins Lord Shiva ordered him to go to various places. And then when he reached Varanasi the head fell on the ground. That same location is known as the Kapal Mochan Teerth. Moreover he was also freed from his sin of Brahmanahatya as well. It was then that he decided that he would stay back in Varanasi. Furthermore he would stay there forever in order to erase the sins of his devotees here.
What’s more?
The word Kaal means death as well as time. And Kaal Bhairav actually means someone who removes the fear of both death as well as time. According to beliefs even death is afraid of Lord Kaal Bhairav. Due to its cultural and historical importance this is one of the most prominent temples that you can visit in Varanasi. So whenever you are here make sure you are definitely visiting the Kaal Bhairav Temple.
Architecture of Kaal Bhairav Mandir
The architecture of the Kaal Bhairav Temple is also something that makes it different from other temples in Varanasi. At the front of the temple you will find an entrance and Kaal Bhairav’s steed guard the entrance. Inside the temple there is a beautiful courtyard. At the centre of this courtyard the main temple is located. The idol of Lord Kal Bhairav has a silver face and he is seated on his Vahana which is a Dog. Further he holds a trident in his hand and here only the face of the deity is garlanded and it is visible to the devotees as well. The rest of his body remains covered with a piece of cloth.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Kaal Bhairav Varanasi and now you can plan a trip there soon. This is one of the prominent temples not just in Varanasi but in the whole country. And that is the reason why people from all over the world visit this temple in Varanasi. So in case you are visiting Varanasi then do not miss out on visiting the Kaal Bhairav Mandir Varanasi. It would be truly an enchanting and peaceful experience to pray to the presiding deity here. So when are you planning a visit to this mandir in Varanasi? Also let me know if this article on the Shree Kaal Bhairav Mandir in Varanasi is helpful for you in planning a trip to this location.
