In Kashi, the city of Baba Vishwanath, which has a distinct identity in the whole world as a Sanatan Dharma and spiritual city, there is some holy temple or pilgrimage site present in every street and every corner, but when it comes to the Shaktipeeths of Adishakti Maa Jagdamba, then the name of Maa Vishalakshi Temple located in Meerghat of Kashi is taken most prominently. Mother Vishalakshi is considered to be a very divine and grand form of Mother Parvati, whose huge and compassionate eyes remove all the sorrows of the devotees in a moment. According to mythological beliefs and religious texts, this is the same holy place where Mata's earrings i.e. jewelery had fallen during the orgy conducted by Lord Shiva over the body of Mata Sati after the Yagya of Daksh Prajapati. This is the reason why this place is considered one of the most important and awakened Shaktipeeths among the 51 Shaktipeeths. Devotees coming from India and abroad consider their Kashi journey incomplete without having the darshan of Baba Vishwanath as well as Maa Vishalakshi. Let us know in detail what is the mythological history of this wonderful temple of Maa Vishalakshi and what ancient story is associated with it. This supernatural history of Maa Vishalakshi is related to the mythology and origin of Shaktipeeths. According to the story described in the Puranas of Hinduism, when King Daksh had organized a huge yagya in which Lord Shiva and Mother Sati were not invited, then Mother Sati had reached the yagya of her father without being invited. There, in grief and anger over her father's insult to Lord Shiva, Mother Sati sacrificed herself in the sacred fire of the Yagya Kund. When Lord Shiva came to know about this cataclysmic incident, he became extremely angry and started carrying the mortal remains of Mata Sati on his shoulders. To save the universe from this destruction, Lord Vishnu had cut the body parts of Mother Sati with his Sudarshan Chakra, wherever those parts fell on the earth, all those places became Shaktipeeths. According to religious beliefs, in this sequence, the ear ornaments and earrings of Mother Sati had fallen at Meerghat in Varanasi, after which this place was named Vishalakshi Shaktipeeth. Here 'Vishal' means the one with huge eyes and 'Akshi' means eye, which completely embodies the divinity of this form of the mother. The grand architecture of the temple, its location close to the banks of the Ganges and the deep faith of the devotees, this temple of Maa Vishalakshi, located near the holy banks of the river Ganges and the famous Meerghat, presents a beautiful example of architecture. As soon as you enter the temple, you start feeling a different kind of spiritual peace and energy. Two idols of Mother Vishalakshi are installed in the sanctum sanctorum, which are worshiped as Adi Vishalakshi and Main Vishalakshi in the local language. This form of Mother Goddess is considered to be very gentle, attractive and showers blessings on the devotees. Especially on the special days of the holy festival of Navratri, Tuesday and Friday, this temple is crowded with devotees and people from far and wide come here with their wishes. There is an unwavering belief that married women who worship Goddess Vishalakshi with a true heart are blessed with unbroken good fortune and happiness and prosperity. Apart from this, to get relief from all the obstacles and troubles coming in life, devotees come here and place their applications at the feet of Mata and Mata fills everyone's bag with happiness. Importance of Shaktipeeth as a sight and salvation for every devotee coming to Kashi: Kashi is not only the city of liberation and salvation, but it is also a place of worship of Shakti, where Mata Annapurna and Maa Vishalakshi reside along with Kashipuradhipati Baba Vishwanath and provide welfare to the entire area. Even amidst this race of modernity, the same old and sacred culture is still alive in the walls of this ancient temple and the traditional aarti performed here. If you ever visit Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and visit the historical areas around Dashashwamedh Ghat or Meerghat, then do not forget to visit this divine Shaktipeeth of Maa Vishalakshi. The Prasad available in the temple premises, the adornment of the Mother Goddess and the positive energy there will completely refresh your mind and brain. This Shaktipeeth of Maa Vishalakshi is a living proof of how strong and unbreakable the threads of our Sanatan culture and faith are even after centuries.
