Maha Mrityunjay Temple

Mrityunjay Mahadev Mandir is in Daranagar, Visheshwarganj of Varanasi. Situated South-East of Kotwali the temple lies west of Gola Ghat in the vicinity of the Pancha Ganga Ghat. The place is one of the most famous temples in the holy city with great historical and cultural importance from the Hindu point of view. Its popularity stems from the fact that devotees believe that the temples here keeps all away from unnatural death and cures illnesses. This is attained here by chanting "Mrityunjay path" and by sprinkling water from the well called koop on each other. Historians state that the smaller shrines within the temple are thousands of years old. The current building however was constructed in the 18th century. It houses Mrityunjay Mahadev in the form of a Shivling and a well. Thousands visit the temple believing that the Lord will protect them all from unnatural death and fortify themselves from illnesses. It is also believed that Dhanvantari, Avatar of Vishnu and the God of Ayurvedic medicine poured all his medicines in the well thereby imparting to it a special healing quality.