Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh's holy city, is undoubtedly a haven of peace because it is home to numerous temples with immense significance and a long history dating back centuries. One mind-boggling fact is that the city is also home to a leaning temple that leans more than Italy's 'Leaning Tower of Pisa.'
The Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple is located in
Varanasi on Manikarnika Ghat. A nine-degree slant has developed in the temple.
Have you ever heard of or visited this magnificent temple? Surprisingly, it is
also one of Varanasi's most photographed temples.
It is also known as Kashi Karvat (Kashi is the ancient name for Varanasi and karvat means leaning in Hindi).
According to a Times Now report, one of the
beliefs about the temple is that the 'ghat' collapsed and leaned backward due
to its inability to withstand its weight. Before the 1860s, the temple was said
to have stood straight.
Among the thousands of ancient temples in
Kashi's holy city, the Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva
deserves special mention. The abandoned temple built at Scindia Ghat on the
banks of the Ganga is a major attraction due to its 9-degree lean. The bottom
portion, which houses the Garbha Griha or sanctum sanctorum, is submerged for
the majority of the year. When the water level rises during the monsoons, the
pinnacle (gumbhaj) is submerged.
The famous Manikarnika ghat (where cremations
take place around the clock) can be found bordering the Ratneshwar Mahadev
temple.
There are numerous legends associated with
Shiva's leaning temple. One of the beliefs holds that the temple ghat collapsed
and leaned backward due to its inability to withstand its weight. Before the
1860s, the temple is thought to have stood straight. It eventually leaned back
for unknown reasons. The precise cause has yet to be determined. There are a
few more stories associated with this architectural phenomenon.
Some believe that Rajput King Raja Maan Singh's
servant built a temple for his mother, Ratnabai, out of gratitude. But his
gesture hurt her because a mother's love can never be equated with debt. The
temple began to lean backward as a result of the mother's agony and the curse.
According to some, Ratna Bai built the temple,
and because she named it after herself, she invited the curse.
The temple's apex is built in the nagara
shikhara style, with a phamsana mandapa adorned with pillars. A boat ride from
Assi Ghat to Adi Keshava Ghat will help a tourist understand the significance
and history of each of the ghats. Pay a visit to Lord Vishwanath the next time
you're in Kashi after you've taken a dip in the holy Ganga. Take a boat ride to
appreciate the beauty of the city, which has a lot to teach you about the cycle
of birth, life, and death.
Tilt Higher Than Leaning Tower Of Pisa
The world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, also
known as the Torre Pendente di Pisa, was built in 1173. Soon after it was
built, the ground beneath one side began to sink under the weight of the stones,
and the structure began to deteriorate.
According to the most recent update, the tower
leans at 3.99 degrees due to extensive work done to straighten it.
As a result, the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans
about 4 degrees, less than Ratneshwar Temple, which leans more than 9 degrees.
The Legend Of Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple
Kashi Karvat is another name for Ratneshwar
temple, which is located near Manikarnika Ghat. It refers to a Kashi temple
that leans (karvat) to one side.
The story behind its slanted appearance is quite
intriguing. There is a legend surrounding the origins of this temple, which
states that it was built for Raja Man Singh's mother, Ratna Bai, by a certain
servant of Raja Man Singh. When the temple was finished, the man proudly
declared that he had paid his mother's debt. To his surprise, as soon as these
words left his lips, the temple began to tilt backward (north-west), indicating
that the debt owed to one's mother can never be paid. The sanctum sanctorum of
this shrine is submerged in Ganga water for the majority of the year.
Temple’s Architecture
It is built in a classic style, with a nagara
shikhara and phamsana mandapa. Mandapa is an architectural term for a pillared
hall or pavilion used for public rituals. The temple is built at a low level to
the holy river Ganga, which is a very rare combination. Surprisingly, the water
level can reach the temple's shikhara (apex). Because the builder anticipated
that its garbhagriha would be submerged for the majority of the time, it was
built at a very low point. Even though this temple is underwater, it has been
preserved and is highly valued.
This temple, built in the mid-nineteenth
century, is also known as 'Kashi Karvat.' Karvat is a Hindi word that means to
lean. It is still unknown who built the temple. According to legend, it was
built over 500 years ago by a servant of Raja Man Singh for his mother
Ratnabai. When the temple was finished, the servant was overjoyed and announced
that he had returned to pay his mother's debt. According to the fable, every
son is obligated to fulfill his responsibilities, and the debt owed to one's
mother can never be repaid. As a result, the temple began to lean.
Another legend holds that the temple was built
by a female servant of Ahilyabai Holkar. Because this servant, Ratnabai, named
the temple after herself, Ahilyabai was displeased and cursed the temple to
lean. Other references indicate that it was built by either the Queen of
Gwalior or the royal family of Amethi.
Despite being one of the most photographed
temples in the holy city of Varanasi, it is not a tourist destination. This
temple, which is rich and diverse in its approach, should be well preserved
without compromising its uniqueness. As a result, the viewers' appreciation and
awe for Banaras' leaning tower with its unique features will continue to grow.
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