KASI
The Royal place of Lord Siva

THE MANDIR 

The present temple is surrounded by busy commercial establishments. As we proceed passing through the shopping complex, we see Anna Purna temple on the right side. It is small, but studded to the portals with very many adorable deities. The images of Goddess in sitting posture with Maheswar standing with a bowl are extremely grand and invoke instant veneration. There are many niches and mandapas adorned with many deities. Offering Prayers we reach the garbhagriha of Maheswar. The `sacred Phallus-Sivalinga is installed in a square shaped brass plated hollow. Every one is allowed to offer prayers himself, though there are Pandas, who conduct the entire ritual with chants, if required. Many prefer personal prayers - pouring of the Gangajala on the Siva linga, waving of burning camphor, after garlanding it. It is a rare privilege granted, and the performer experiences an inexplicable thrill passing his spine, when uttered Harahar Mahadevi after rituals. There are many more small shrines and several niches around this holy shrine. A little beyond this, there lies the famous gnaga Vapi - well of knowledge, where the diety entered, when iconoclasts destroyed the temple. Behind the temple to the East,' near Jnana Vapi, there is the Mosque, built by Aurangazeb. In the by-lane behind the temple, there is a temple of Dhundhiraja Ganapati. Beliefs is current that he is the State officer of Varanasi, with Bhairava as Kotwal, the chief police Officer, Lord Maheswar, the Emperor and Annapurna, the Empness feeding the people. Feeling emancipated at the darsan of Lord Maheswar and Goddess Annapurna, Yatris then go about visiting several places scattered to the four comers of this sprawling city.

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