Adi Keshav Temple - A sole shrine of Vishnu in Varanasi
Among temples prevailing in Kashi, most of shrines visited by devotees are Vishweshwar temple, Sankata Mochan, Kashi Vishalakshi, Annapoorna which are on the tourist map of Varanasi.Only a handful of guides recommend or travel tour operators know about few shrines which are must visit during kashi yatra.Prominent among them is the temple of Adi Keshava dedicated to lord Vishnu.One and only temples sole temples dedicated to Vaishnavaite followers. A visit to Kashi is incomplete without paying obeisance to lord Keshav.
Vishwanath Radhakrishna
It is said that Kasi was divided into 2 parts one for those followers of Shaivism known as Siva Kasi from Assi to Manikarnika Ghat and those follow Vaishnavism known as Vishnu Kashi till Adi keshav ghat.
Though not lot many temples dedicated to Vishnu can be found here.A temple strategically located on a high plateau at the confluence of the Varuna and Ganga rivers in the far north of Banaras (Varanasi).It is said be one of oldest existing shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu known to less as Adi Keshav Temple.
It is a very ancient site in much the same way as Lolark kund in the south of the city.Some priests of Kashi describe the city as having five bodily parts, mapped to five specific ghats along the Ganga river; Adi Keshav are the feet - Paduka (where Vishnu first set his foot in Kashi), Panchaganga the thighs, Manikarnika the navel, Dashashwamedh the chest, and Assi the head Portion.
Although the temple is popular with locals and only it is rarely visited by tourists today. Being in the last of all ghats, its prominence that it has with early Kashi seems to have been largely forgotten by Banarasis today.
Keshava is another name of Vishnu and Adi means first or Beginning , and this is believed to be the first place he set his foot when Vishnu arrived in Kashi. This place is mentioned in the oldest Puranic listings of Kashikanda, when it was then known as Keshava.
It as been declared as monument and must visit place in kashi yatra, their is no one other than priest of temple to guide you. Looking at the exterior walls of the temple one can see a number of unusual holes and pipes in the walls. Apparently after the sepoy mutiny of the British East India soldiers in 1857 -1859 the temple was occupied by the British who used it as a military outpost, as the river here being an important crossing point for emmissaries and local traders. These holes and pipes were inserted for rifles and have remained in place ever since. After the threat of the mutiny had passed, the temple was handed over to Sri Scindia Divan Madho the state of Gwalior state was restored.It was vandalised by Qutub Uddin Aibak in 1199 CE
Sabha Griha / Mukha Mantapa
Garbha griha housing idol of Lord Keshava as Vishnu.It is said be carved by lord himself as per Skanda Purana
A bit of Legend and Lord Vishnu as Keshava
The establishment of temple is mentioned in Kashikanda and about Vishnus arrival to Kashi on request of Lord Shiva Himself.
It is said that Shiva with his Ganas and escort parvathi was in Mandara Mountain after leaving Kashi.His craving to live in kashi continued.Sage Ripunjay later known as King Divodasa as per instruction of Creator Brahma ruled Kashi Pura, efficiently for 800 centuries.Later years Lord Ganesh as a Brahmin and astrologer arrives Kashi. As a fortune teller, Lord Ganesh meets King and queen Leelavati and wins their heart.
Shiva noticing his sons absence in Mandara,meets Vishnu and requests him to visit Kashi.Then lord sets his foot seating on his celestial vehicle Garuda who assumed form of a disciple known as Vinayakirti, he as a Brahmin called Punyakirti with his consort Mahalakshmi known as Paravrajika at the confluence of Varana and Ganga river known as Padodaka Theertha.
He carves his own idol and settles in Kashi as Lord Keshava.
Grafitti on the Walls - Inside the Temple
A shrine on the western side of the terrace houses a four-headed linga of Lord Sangameshwara, the ‘Lord of the confluence’, auspicious sangam place the joining of the Varana and Ganga rivers here.Popularly known as Padodakha Theertha
Visiting Adi Keshav Temple can be combined with the Kharva Vinayak temple, all of which are at a short distance north-east of Malviya Bridge.The temple was locked when i visited and no one awas around.It is said to be one of the Chappan 56 Vinayak temple located in Varanasi.Its right to mention here, that only countable visitors visit this temple and pay obeisance to lord.
The secluded place offers visitors tranquility and unique from the more popular riverside Ghats to the south.
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