This is one of the oldest temples in the city, blending Malayali and Banarasi cultures. It is located next to the weavers’ colony near Bengal Tola Inter College. It is said that the Tilabhandeshvar Shiva Linga grows by a nominal size every year, and this growth has been happening for centuries. I managed to get a glimpse of the large Linga kept in the inner sanctum of the temple.
If you’re lucky, you may also witness the Arti performed by the priest in the inner sanctum of the temple. There are idols of Maa Parvati, Ayyappan, Bhairava, and even Krishna and Hanuman. But at the center of it all is the magical Linga of Tilabhandeshvar Maha Dev. I was fortunate to witness the Arti, where the priest burns a large lamp and takes the flames all around the temple. The aroma of the sandalwood and the musical essence of the Arti fill the air, and one feels intoxicated by the religious nectar. There is chanting of mantras and hymns are sung. You can also walk up to the Nandi bull and whisper your wishes or desires into its ear. It is said that Lord Shiva will hear your wishes if whispered through His vahana, Nandi the bull.
Baba Sri Tilabhandeshvar Maha Dev Mandir: Varanasi
It is said that Mata Sharda also spent some time here in this mandir. This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built in the 18th century and is 500 meters from the River Ganges. In fact, one can climb up to the temple, and from the back, you can see the ghats and all the boats and jetties. People can walk down to the ghats, which are a short distance away.
The Linga appeared about 2500 years ago and grows by the size of a sesame seed every year. It is now one and a half feet tall and three feet in diameter. Maha Shivratri, Ayappan Pooja, Navratri, and Nag Panchami are the important festivals celebrated here by the temple’s devotees.
The walls of the temple have marble tablets with ancient verses and mantras inscribed on them. There are also hymns and mantras praising Lord Hanuman in the temple. All in all, it was a very pious and enriching experience for me.
॥ अथ दुर्गाद्वात्रिंशन्नाममाला ॥ दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिशमनी दुर्गापद्विनिवारिणी। दुर्गमच्छेदिनी दुर्गसाधिनी दुर्गनाशिनी॥ दुर्गतोद्धारिणी दुर्गनिहन्त्री दुर्गमापहा। दुर्गमज्ञानदा दुर्गदैत्यलोकदवानला॥ दुर्गमा दुर्गमालोका दुर्गमात्मस्वरूपिणी। दुर्गमार्गप्रदा दुर्गमविद्या दुर्गमाश्रिता॥ दुर्गमज्ञानसंस्थाना दुर्गमध्यानभासिनी। दुर्गमोहा दुर्गमगा दुर्गमार्थस्वरूपिणी॥ दुर्गमासुरसंहन्त्री दुर्गमायुधधारिणी। दुर्गमाङ्गी दुर्गमता दुर्गम्या दुर्गमेश्वरी॥ दुर्गभीमा दुर्गभामा दुर्गभा दुर्गदारिणी। नामावलिमिमां यस्तु दुर्गाया मम मानवः॥ पठेत् सर्वभयान्मुक्तो भविष्यति न संशयः॥
