New Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

Sunday, April 17, 2016

New Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

Next day morning, we made a plan to visit Banaras Hindu University(BHU). It was exciting to visit BHU as we had read about it in history textbooks. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Dr. Annie Besant were behind the establishment of one of the top residential universities in India.

Entrance of Banaras Hindu University or Kashi Hindu Vishwavidyalay. Varanasi

Banaras Hindu University is just around 8 km from the city of Varanasi. The university gate, which is reminiscent of the temple gates, welcomes the visitors. New Kashi Vishwanath Temple inside the campus of BHU is the main attraction here. While entering the temple you can read a notice in Hindi saying – Residents of Europe and America, who are not followers of Vedic religions as well as Indians who do not follow Vedic religions, if with respect good intentions want to enter the temple, they can enter the temple except for the sanctum sanctorum. People who are not in right frame of mind, can be prevented from entering the temple at any time(आर्य धर्म से भिन्न मत मानने वाले युरॊप अमेरिका आदि देशों के निवासी तथा वे विशिष्ठ प्रसिद्ध (ख्याति प्राप्त) भारतीय भी जो आर्य ध्रर्मी न हों यदि श्रद्धा और सदभावना के साथ दर्शन करना चाहें तो निज ग्रुह अर्थात (गर्भ गृह मूर्ति पूजा मण्डप) के अतिरिक्त मंदिर मे प्रवॆश कर सकतॆ हैं । संदिग्ध व्यक्तियॊं को किसी भी समय मंदिर प्रवॆश से रोका जा सकता है।)It is good to note the accommodative nature of the founders of the temple and allowing everyone to know the best aspects of Sanatana Dharma.

New Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Banaras Hindu University(BHU), Varanasi

Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya was the brain behind the New Kashi Vishwanath Temple, who wanted to replicated the original Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. So, this temple’s design is inspired by the original Kashi Vishwanath temple, which had been destroyed and reconstructed several times. New Kashi Vishwanath Temple as you would have guessed looking at the picture of the temple, is built by Birlas. So, it also called a Birla Mandir too! Inside the temple, we found illustrations of the extracts from Bhagavad Gita and other Hindu scriptures on the marble walls, more often the theme being eternal law of Karma. This is captivating indeed! Magnificent temple’s construction took 25 years (1931-1966) and at 250 feet, the temple’s vimana(tower over the sanctum of temple) is the highest in the world!

Sayaji Rao Gaekwad Central Library, BHU

After visiting the New Kashi Vishwanath Temple, we roamed inside the campus of BHU. Different departments of the university are hosted in structures with domes/towers resembling that of temples. Lush green premises seemed to be one of the best places for concentration and studies.