कृत्तिवासेश्वर मंदिर

The ancient temple of Krittivasheshvara, as so vividly eulogised in the Puranic literature, especially the Kashi Khanda was one of the most elegant temples of the 11th century.

According to a description in the Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana, the city of Varanasi is Shiva’s body, whose different parts are represented by 18 lingams. The number 18 symbolises the 18 branches of knowledge, including the four Vedas, six parts of the Vedic divisions, and the rest 8 as its branches. In this way, the city itself is a symbol of total knowledge. The visitation and performance of rituals at all these 18 sites provide total knowledge. However, even by visiting the Krittivasheshvara lingam, one can receive the similar merit, as this lingam symbolises all the 18 lingams, and thus this lingam represents total knowledge.

Owing to this, the Krittivaseshwar Linga is described as the most superior of the Shivalingas in Kashi.