Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi On the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi (Kashi) stands the Kashi Vishwanath temple, dedicated to Shiva as Vishwanatha—Lord of the Universe. It is counted among the 12 Jyotirlingas and is one of Hinduism's most sacred pilgrimage destinations. Sthala Mahatmyam Kashi is traditionally described as Avimukta Kshetra, the place Shiva never abandons. Sacred literature holds that the city rests under Shiva's special protection and that death in Kashi ca