Dhundhiraj Vinayaka Temple in Kashi is the must visit temple. Primarily there are 56 temples of Lord Ganesha in Kashi as mentioned in the Skanda Purana. They are called as Chappan Vinayaka Temples. An aspirant of Kashi must visit these temples to take blessings of Lord Vishwanatha. Dhundhiraj Vinayaka Temple is the most prominent of all of them.
If someone wants to rush due to unavailability of time, one must have darshan of Dhundhiraj Vinayaka Temple before the darshan of Lord Vishwanatha in Kashi.
vishwesham maadhavan dundhim dandapaanim ca bhairavam
vande kaashim guhaan gangan bhavani manikarnikaam
There are thousands of lingas and temples in Kashi; only a very fortunate soul is blessed with the darshan of these lingas. If not all, at least one must have darshan of Lord Vishwanatha, Lord Bindu Madhava, Dhundhiraj Vinayaka, Dandapani, Kaal Bhairava, Ganga Devi, Vishalakshi and Manikarnika Tirtha as per this popular sloka in Kashi.
Dhundhiraj Vinayaka Temple is a very small temple; many a times it goes unnoticed due to its size. Currently this small temple is located just outside the Annapurna Mutt Temple in the Vishwanath Gali. The temple finds its mention in the Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
The origin of Dhundhiraj Vinayaka Temple
As you have read earlier in other blog, King Divodasa was given the rule of Kashi by Brahma on the condition that all the devatas must leave Kashi. Even Lord Shiva had to leave Kashi. No matter how much Lord Shiva tried, he was unable to take Kashi from Divodasa. Finally, Lord Ganesha succeeded in taking back Kashi from Divodasa and handed it over to Lord Shiva, with the help of Lord Vishnu.
After departure of Divodasa to Kailash Dham, Lord Shiva returned to Kashi surrounded with Rudraganas, sages, Mother Parvati, Skanda and many other devotees. The procession was led by Nandi and Bringi. Sages, demigods and dikpalakas were welcoming Lord Shiva with pomp. Even the pilgrimage places in their personified form were present to welcome him. His arrival at Kashi was no less than a grand festival.
Accompanied with all his associates Lord Shiva entered Kashi like a newly married women enters the house of husband for the first time, amidst the thunderous chanting of the Vedic Mantras by the sages, songs sung by the Apsaras and the sound vibration of music by the Gandharvas and Kinnaras.
As soon as he entered Kashi, Mahadev got down from Nandi and hugged Lord Ganesha out of immense happiness. He was very pleased with this endeavour of Lord Ganesha. Lord Shiva said, “I have achieved this great Kashi once again only due to the grace of Ganesha. He has done what even I could not do. He has used his intelligence to ensure my return to Kashi. He has gifted this sacred Kashi back to me.”
He glorified Ganesha with best of the words. And then said to him, “Since you discover the Purusharthas, you are also called as Dhundi. You shall be known as Dhundhi Vinayaka. Any devotee who would first pay you obeisance and then come to me, I shall help that person in a way that he need not take birth again.”
“Everyone who visits Kashi, should take bath in the Manikarnika and perform the pitr-tarpana. Then one should visit Jnana-vapi and perform your (Dhundiraj Vinayaka) bhajana. One should then offer best modakas to you, along with dhupa, dipa and fragrant anointment on your body. One should then please me with similar offerings. Such person will receive all the siddhis which are not possible for anyone to achieve. Such person should then visit all the holy places in Kashi and achieve the super excellent result of Kashi Yatra.”
“Anyone who worships you daily, all the troubles of that person shall vanish away. Anyone who chants your name constantly, ashta siddhis personified shall chant the name of that person. That person after enjoying all the opulence in this life, shall be awarded liberation.”
“Any person living away from Kashi, even thinks about you, he achieves the result of living in Kashi. O Lord Ganesha, you are present in Kashi in many forms just to remove the infinite troubles of Kashi.”
The Temple timings of Dhundiraj Vinayaka Temple
The Dhundhiraj Vinayaka temple corroborates with the temple timing of Kashi Vishwanatha Temple. It is open mot of the temple as long as it can catch your attention in the Vishwanatha Gali.
How to reach Dhundhiraj Vinayaka Temple?
The best way to have darshan at Dhundhiraj Vinayaka Temple is to travel with Tirtha Yatra on Ayodhya Kashi Yatra or Kashi Yatra. To visit Dhundhiraj Vinayaka temple you must first visit Kashi. Sometimes searching Dhundhiraj Vinayaka Temple is a little difficult task but with Tirtha Yatra, you can easily find it without any hurdle and wasting your precious time.
By Road: Kashi is well connected by road to major cities in India such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, etc. You can travel in a private vehicle from other cities or hire a taxi. Luxury buses and normal buses are available from Lucknow frequently.
By Rail: Kashi is very well connected to major cities and towns in India via the five railway stations i.e., Kashi Railway Station, Varanasi Junction (also called Varanasi Cantt), Varanasi City, Banaras Railway Station and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction. Tickets can be reserved up-to any one of these five stations.
By Air: Kashi is accessible by air through the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport at Babatpur near Kashi. Domestic and International flights are available from and to the airport. From there, you can take a prepaid taxi to reach the city centre.
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