Dhanwantri is the Physician of all the Devas and the God of Ayurveda, as mentioned in the Puranas. The Mrityunjay Mandir is dedicated to Lord Shiva, but there is also an idol of Shane Dev in the temple. What attracts most devotees from far-flung areas is the Koop, or well, called the Dhanwantri Koop, located in the middle of the temple, in its very courtyard. This well contains water with medicinal qualities, as Dhanwantri is the Deva of medicine. According to legend, Dhanwantri threw all his medicines into the well. It is believed that drinking from the well’s water can cure skin ailments and other diseases. People drink and even bathe in the water, as it is believed to have healing and purification qualities.
Mrityunjay Mandir and The Dhanwantri Koop
I drank from the well and even rubbed it on my genitals, as the skin in that area had become scaly and itchy. I hoped the water would heal that part of my body. There are Shiva lingas that people worship as well. The walls of the temple are adorned with paintings of Ganesha and other Devas. There is wall art depicting scenes from the stories of the Puranas. The only disappointing thing was that there was a lot of litter around, and the temple was not very clean. I think the local priests can improve the situation by cleaning the temple and removing the rubbish and litter around the walls and floor.
This temple is located in Dara Nagar, north of Kashi Vishwanath. It is quite a distance and requires a long auto ride through the bustling traffic of Varanasi, but it’s a journey worth making just to drink the water from the well. I sat down with the local pandits who smeared haldi paste and painted my forehead with a red tika. Shiva is the dominant idol of the mandir, but there are also images of Kali, Rama, and Hanuman.
Mrityunjaya Mahadev means the lord who triumphs over death. Devotees come here to perform the Maha Mrityunjaya Jaap and seek the blessings of the Shiva Linga, which is believed to protect them from unnatural death.
The well water, which is said to heal all diseases, makes this temple a must-visit for all tourists who come to Varanasi. Devotees can also carry the well water in bottles and drink it regularly to enjoy its healing effects and qualities.
