Bhaktikalpa

Sthalam

The Vishalakshi Temple or Vishalakshi Gauri Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Vishalakshi (Viśālākshī, Sanskrit: विशालाक्षी, "she who has large eyes"),(an aspect of the goddess Parvati/Gauri) at Mir Ghat on the banks of the Ganges at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is generally regarded as a Shakti Pitha, the most sacred temples dedicated to the Hindu Divine Mother.

The earrings of the goddess Sati are said to have fallen on this holy spot of Varanasi. The temple is situated by the famous cremation grounds of Manikarnika. Vishalakshi Temple is known for its temple festival on Kajali Tij, held on the third day during waning fortnight in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August).

Puranam

The Vishalakshi Temple or Vishalakshi Gauri Temple is dedicated to the Goddess Vishalakshi (an Avatar of Goddess Parvati / Gauri) at Mir Ghat on the banks of the Ganges at Varanasi.

It is generally regarded as a Shakti Pitha, the most sacred temples dedicated to the Hindu Divine Mother.

The temple is situated by the famous cremation grounds of Manikarnika.

The daughter of Prajapati Daksha, Sati was married to Lord Shiva against his wishes. Daksha organized a great yajna, but did not invite Sati and Shiva. Uninvited, Sati reached the yajna-site, where Daksha ignored Sati and vilified Shiva.

Unable to withstand this insult, Sati jumped into the sacrificial fire and committed suicide. Sati died, but her corpse did not burn. Shiva (as Virabhadra) slew Daksha for being responsible for Sati's death but later forgave him, resurrecting him.

The wild, grief-stricken Shiva wandered the universe with Sati's corpse. Finally, Vishnu dismembered the body of Sati into 51 parts, each of which became a Shakti Pitha, temple to a form of the Goddess. Shiva is also worshipped at each Shakti Pitha in the form of Bhairava, the male counterpart or guardian of the presiding goddess of the Pitha.

Sati's eyes are believed to have fallen at Varanasi, establishing Vishalakshi as a Shakti Pitha.

The Garbhagriha has two idols of Goddess Vishalakshi- a smaller black stone idol called Adi Vishalakshi, which is believed to be the original idol on left back side and another black stone image, adorned with flowers and jewels, installed at a later date.

Tulsi Manas Mandir

Vishalakshi, the “wide-eyed” goddess has often associated two other goddesses: Kamakshi, the “love-eyed” goddess of Kanchipuram, and Minakshi, the “fish-eyed” of Madurai, prominently because of their similar names.

Together the three are regarded as the most important Devi temples by South Indians and they all have very strong roots associated with the Temple.

The Skanda Purana narrates the tale of the sage Vyasa cursing Varanasi, as no one in the city offered him food. Finally, Vishalakshi appears in the form of a housewife and grants food to Vyasa. This role of Vishalakshi is similar to that of Annapurna, who offers food to her husband Shiva, whose hunger can be satiated by her food.