The Varanasi Heritage Dossier/Scindhia Ghat

Detailed description of each heritage Site - Scindhia Ghat to Pancaganga Ghat

Location

25º 18.729’ North and 83º 00.935’ East (Vashistha-Vamadeva Temple). 25º 18.730’ North and 83º 00.930’ East (Atmavireshvara Temple). 25º 18.733’ North and 83º 00.933’ East (Sankatha Devi Temple).

Exact location on a map

Scindhia and Sankatha Ghats

Area

0.0241ha (the temple compound and nearby area)

Historical/cultural/natural significance

At the northern end of the Ghat, below the high steps, is a shrine of Yameshvara, the linga installed by Yama. Climbing the nearby steps, in a niche halfway up, is an image of Yamaditya (“Yama’s Sun”; house near CK 7/ 164), who faces the south - the direction of Yama, ‘Lord of Death’. The merit derived from the worship of Yamaditya combines with that which comes from the merit of worshipping one’s ancestors in the south at Rameshvaram and that acquired in the north by rituals at Manikarnika. It is commonly believed that Yama himself installed this image, which shows a human-like figure with signs of rays on the head. Says the Kashi Khanda (51.108): “Formerly Yama performed pure penance in Yama Tirtha. Then he installed Yameshvara (linga) and Yamaditya (Sun-image) that bestow supernatural powers”.

About 10m climbing, a temple on the left consists of the lingas installed by the mythical sages Vashishtha, Vamadeva, and Janaka (Saptarshi Temple; house CK 7/ 161). All these sages are referred to the Ramayana. At the gate of this temple is the murti (idol) of one of the 56 Vinayakas (Ganesha) called Chintamani (‘giver of relief from worries’). On the riverside on the right hand is a shrine of Vaikuntha Madhava, the 27th in the list of 42 Forms of Vishnu in Kashi. Adjacent to it towards the north is the shrine of Harishchandreshvara, a huge linga associated with the mythology of Harishchandra, an ancestor of Lord Rama, who sacrificed his kingdom and family for the perseverance of righteousness. Attached to this linga is Harishchandra Vinayaka. To the other side of the lane facing Harishchandreshvara (CK 7/ 166), in the niche are images of Sena (“army”) and Sima (“boundary”) Vinayakas.

The left lane takes to the temple of Atmavireshvara (CK 7/ 158), a small world of divinities. This place is eulogised as Panchamudra Mahapitha, a mystical place possessing supernatural powers. In the Puranic literature, this is also called one of the ‘self-born’ (“svayambhu”) lingas. The 6th form of Durga, Katyayini (also called Vikatanana in the group of 64 Yoginis), also settled in the compound. Pleased by the great tapas of sage Katyayana, the goddess was born as his daughter and thus was given the name Katyayini. She is portrayed as three-eyed and eight-armed. Katyayini is the patron deity of the Braj Mandala. Two other important lingas in this compound are Angareshvara (by the Mars) and Budheshvara (by Mercury). The Ganesha is represented here as Mitra (“friend”) Vinayaka. Coming out of the temple on the right in the lower niche is a small image of Vira Madhava, the 28th Form of Vishnu in Kashi. Some fragments lying there are worshipped as Rahu and Ketu. Nearby, on the other side of the lane, is Brihaspatishvara (a linga installed by Jupiter).

Present state of conservation

Except by the temple trusts and the local public organisations, those work on their own ways, there are no specific action plans, programmes and strategies for conservation and preservation of the ghats.

Specific measures being taken for conserving the specific property

It is expected that by the support of active people participation, awareness to save the age-old rich heritage, and development under the Master Plan (and its judiciary control) the ghat heritage will be protected and conserved for the better befit to the society.

Ownership

The temples are owned by their Temple Trusts; the ghat area by the Municipal Corporation.