As Mahashivratri nears, eyes turn to Varanasi’s mystical shrines, but few know of Kritivaseshwar Mahadev—a powerhouse lingam enduring under Varanasi’s vast skies. Tucked behind Alamgir Mosque in a zone of historical friction, it symbolizes unbowed devotion despite incomplete reclamation.
Skanda Purana lore grips the imagination: GajAsur’s rampage, born of Brahma’s boon, darkened the cosmos, with Kashi suffering worst. Shiva arrived in wrath, vanquishing the beast after thunderous combat. In a twist of compassion, he donned the demon’s flayed skin as garb, manifesting as Kritivaseshwar, the skin-clad lord.
One of Kashi’s 14 mighty temples, it’s revered as Shiva’s cranium, drawing ancient reverence. Desecration by marauders fragmented the idol, yet Hindus revived it with a fresh lingam, sustaining worship through ages.
Legal tussles hinder easy access, making darshan a privilege for the persistent. Sawan and Shivratri see opulent shringar, but visitors trickle in. Tales of divine interventions persist, affirming its potency.
This festival season, Kritivaseshwar challenges the seeker: navigate disputes to touch divinity. In Kashi’s tapestry of faith, such sites remind us—Shiva’s grace favors the bold, weaving myth into modern quests for the sacred.