Vishalakshi is the consort of Vishwanath Shiva and is a
manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti. Vishalakshi means the ‘wide eyed.’ She
is the founding goddess of Kashi. The most important temple dedicated to Goddess
Vishalakshi is located in Varanasi.
The popular belief is that Vishalakshi Devi Shrine in Kashi
or Varanasi is located in the spot where face of Goddess Sati fell. Some people
believe that the shrine is located in the spot where the earring fell.
Shiva was carrying the body of Sati who died in Daksha Yajna. Due to this all creation stopped and there was havoc in the universe. To stop this situation, Bhagavan Vishnu cut the body of Sati with Chakra and the places where Sati’s body fell became Shakti Peethas.
In most places where Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, the
name of the consort is usually Vishalakshi.
Goddess Vishalakshi is also worshipped in the famous Rameswaram
Temple.