Sri Kashi Vishwanatha Swami Temple is located at Balepet Circle, Bengaluru, India.
The Shiva Linga of Sri Kashi Vishweshwara Swamy was brought on foot from Kashi a very long time ago and consecrated in the temple located at Balepet Cross in Bengaluru city. From time immemorial, the Sri Kashi Vishweshwara Swamy Temple has been established here and is renowned even today as the “Dakshina Kashi” (Southern Kashi).
Although this is an ancient temple with a history of about 300 years and is not associated with any miraculous legends, the number of devotees visiting the temple has been increasing day by day. Weekly and monthly special rituals and programs are conducted regularly in the temple without any obstacles or disruptions. The temple complex covers an area of approximately 1,333.5 square meters, of which nearly 80% has been constructed using large stone blocks. Within the temple premises, Sri Kashi Vishweshwara Swamy is the main attraction. Along with this deity, idols of more than 20 other important gods have been consecrated. Particularly attractive is the Panchalingeshwara idol, representing the five forms of Shiva—Ramalingeshwara, Someshwara, and Agasteshwara among them.
The temple houses idols of Mahaganapati, Parvati (Annapoorneshwari), Kashi Vishalakshi, Chamundeshwari, Veerabhadra Swamy, Dakshinamurthy, Dattatreya Swamy, the Serpent Deity (Naga Devata), Navagrahas (the nine planets), Kalabhairaveshwara, Shanmukha Swamy, Saraswati, Chandikeshwara, Valli Deva Sena Sametha Subrahmanya Swamy, Anjaneya Swamy, Surya Narayana Swamy, and Rajarajeshwari Amman. These deities are installed in separate small shrines, and daily worship is performed for all of them.
Hundreds of devotees from Chikkapete, Bale Pete, Cottonpete, Sultanpete, Ranasingh Pete, Avenue Road, Majestic, City Market, and surrounding areas visit the temple every day. According to their wishes, they perform poojas, abhishekas, and special archana, expressing their devotion and faith.
Balepet Sri Kashi Vishwanatha Swami Temple Shivratri Festival
On the occasion of Mahashivaratri, special abhisheka poojas are conducted every year for Sri Kashi Vishweshwara Swamy along with Sri Annapoornambha Devi. On that day, a large number of devotees gather to have darshan of the Lord and receive holy theertha and prasada, becoming recipients of divine blessings—this being the focal point of the temple’s celebrations. On Shivaratri night, vigil (jagarana) is observed, and Yama poojas are performed every three hours. The following morning, Rudrabhisheka is conducted in the temple. Special darshan arrangements are also made for the convenience of devotees during Mahashivaratri.
Every Thursday, special pooja and abhisheka are performed for Dakshinamurthy Swamy. Every Monday, special pooja is offered to Sri Kashi Vishweshwara Swamy. Special poojas are conducted for Anjaneya Swamy every Saturday, for the Navagrahas every Saturday, and for Rajarajeshwari Chamundi, Kashi Vishalakshi, and Subramanyeshwara on Tuesdays and Fridays. Monthly Pradosha pooja is conducted in the temple from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM.
Every year in the month of June, the Brahma Rathotsava (grand chariot festival) is celebrated. On the occasion of Sri Kashi Vishweshwara Swamy’s Brahma Rathotsava, devotees perform and organize rituals such as Mahaganapati prayers, Vastu Homa, Mrityunjaya Homa, Ankurarpana, Raksha Bandhana, Bali Harana, Mahabhisheka, Kalasha Sthapana, Rathanga Homa, Pushpotsava, Parvatotsava, and Shayanotsava, followed by the distribution of prasada.
On Mahalaya Amavasya, during the Navratri festival, in the month of Kartika—especially on Kartika Mondays—and during Dhanurmasa, a very large number of devotees gather in great devotion to have darshan of the deity. The temple has a peaceful atmosphere that instills a sense of calm and serenity.
Another legend associated with the temple states that Bengaluru’s founder Kempegowda, when his mother was suffering from illness, vowed to the Lord that if she recovered, he would bring the idol of Vishweshwara from Kashi and build this temple.