Thousands of Hindu temples adorn the Indian subcontinent, each with stunning architecture, design, sculptures, and minutely carved stone images of exceptional beauty. They serve as examples of the exceptional talents of our forefathers' artisans. They speak volumes about their work ethic, imagination, and ability to bring the stone images to life. The Kasiraj Kali Temple in Varanasi is a photographer's paradise.
Kasiraj Kali Temple is a popular temple located
near Godowalia Chowk in Varanasi, U. It is the property of the erstwhile King
of Kasi. Kashi Naresh built this 200-year-old temple to serve as a private
temple for the royal family. During his reign, only royal members were
permitted to worship there; no others were permitted. This temple is a work of art
in architecture. The craftsmanship and mastery of the artisans will astound
visitors. You enter the temple by ascending a flight of stone stairs from the
ground level, where you will be speechless because every carving, decorative
sculpture, and ornate pillar is a work of art. The temple's fine roof is
aesthetically pleasing. The beautifully chiseled stone petals, bells, and rings
bear witness to the grandeur and beauty of this temple, and they are evidence
of the highly developed art of stonework in this part of India. The
architectural mastery is evident not only inside but also outside, as evidenced
by the beautifully carved gate of the temple complex. It's a stone symphony.
Because it is not as well-known as the other
temples in Varanasi, most visitors to this magnificent structure had no prior
knowledge of its existence. Those who have visited this location, on the other
hand, have described it as an oasis of peace amid chaos. And that is exactly
what it is. This is the king's personal property, the Kashi Raj Kali temple,
also known as Varanasi's secret temple.
Architecture
The 200-year-old property, built by Kashi
Naresh, served as a private temple for the royal family. The complex's heavily
craved gate is a clear example of that era's architectural mastery.
The temple appears to be an ancient house at
first glance, but once you enter the vicinity, you realize it is far more than
that. The closer you get to it, the more you look at it, and the more
interesting it becomes. Everything looks so perfect and royal, from the
symmetrical design to the details of the craving, that it's difficult to
imagine how they carved it out without any modern tools. This temple is an
example of India's developed stonework.
As one enters the compound's gate from the street,
walks a few steps forward, and turns left, one is greeted by open space and a
finely carved stone temple set in the center of a stone platform. From the
ground level, a flight of stone stairs rises to take the visitor to the temple.
Back then, there was also a commercial set up
around the entrance pathway, but it has since grown too large. Although the
temple is owned by the former King of Kasi, many people use it illegally. The
owners of cows from a nearby house use the open space in front of the temple.
They keep their cows on both sides of the entrance, close to the long stone
steps.
The patterns on the walls and the screens on the
wall over the arches demonstrate the developed art of stonework.
The parapet on the pavilion's roof, as well as
the chajja all around, are both carefully crafted and aesthetically pleasing.
The entire temple is the pinnacle of aesthetics on a whole new level. The
chiseled stone petals, bells, and rings are tangible evidence of India's highly
developed stonework art.
The Legend
According to the locals, the temple you see is a
fake one that hides the real one behind it. There are many legends surrounding
it, but very few historical records. The walls of the original temple are said
to have sunk into the ground whenever masons attempted to add a floor/dome.
They attempted and failed several times to add a dome to the temple. As a
result, it was decided to leave it alone and construct another temple directly
in front of it.
Another theory holds that the king wanted to
conceal the true temple from the invaders to protect the Shivling. So he
decided to keep the real Shivling in a small room and construct a large piece
of art in front of it.
Anyone who visits the area pays little attention
to the other temple because they are preoccupied with inspecting the aesthetics
of the other. The Gautameshwar temple is the small white temple behind it.
If the king truly wanted to keep the temple
hidden, he succeeded so well that even though it is located on the busiest
street in Varanasi, most people are unaware of its existence. As a result, it
sees few to no crowds and is serene all year! Back in the day, there was also a
commercial set up along the pathway, but it has since expanded. Although the
temple is the property of the then-King of Kasi, many people today use it
illegally.
The Last Kashi Naresh (Last King Of The Varanasi, Not The One Who Built It)
Another theory holds that the king wanted to
conceal the true temple from the invaders to protect the Shivling. So he
decided to keep the real Shivling in a small room and construct a large piece
of art in front of it. Anyone who visits the area pays little attention to the
other temple because they are too preoccupied with the aesthetics of the
design. Gautameshwar temple is the small white temple behind it.
If the king wanted to keep the temple hidden, we
imagine he did it so well that even though it is on the busiest road in
Varanasi, no one knows it exists. As a result, it sees few to no visitors and
remains peaceful all year.
How To Reach Kasiraj Kali Temple
The Kashi Raj Kali temple is located near Godowlia Chowk on Bansphatak road. It is well connected by road to all railway stations, the airport, and the bus stop. You can get here by taking one of the city's shared auto-rickshaws/Tuk-Tuks. A boat ride from any ghat to the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Ghat is also available; the temple is only a 7-minute walk from the ghat.
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