Vishnu Sthan in Kashi | Sacred Abodes of Lord Vishnu

The Glory of Vishnu in Kashi

According to the tradition preserved in the source text, Kashi is both a Vaishnava Kshetra and a Shaiva Kshetra — a sacred realm associated with both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.

📜 Vishnupuri — The City of Vishnu

According to the Narada Purana tradition described in the source, Kashi was originally regarded as the city of Vishnu. Lord Shiva requested this sacred city from Lord Vishnu and established his eternal presence here.

Thus, Kashi is not understood only as a Shaiva city. It is also described as a sacred Vaishnava realm capable of granting liberation.

🕉 Why Vishnu Worship is Important

Kashi contains numerous ancient Vishnu forms and shrines.
Vishnu worship has existed alongside Shiva worship for centuries.
Adikeshava and Bindumadhava are among the most important Vishnu forms in Kashi.
The sacred sites connect mythology, pilgrimage, history and Moksha traditions.
The source states that Vishnu worship at the Mukti Mandapa is an important part of the sacred tradition.

10 Madhav Sthan

15 Keshav Sthan

12 Narasimha Sthan

6 Varaha Sthan

4 Vamana Sthan

1. Adi Keshav

📍 Near Varuna Sangam / Adikeshava Ghat, Kashi

According to the source tradition, Lord Vishnu came to Kashi in connection with the story of King Divodasa. After accomplishing his purpose, Vishnu established himself near the sacred Varuna Sangam in the form of Adikeshava.

The source identifies Adikeshava as an ancient and highly important Vaishnava shrine and associates its worship with freedom from suffering and the attainment of Moksha.

Spiritual Importance:

Darshan and worship of Adikeshava are traditionally associated with relief from worldly suffering and the path toward liberation.

2. Bindu Madhav

📍 Panchaganga Ghat, Kashi

Panchanada, now associated with Panchaganga, is one of the great pilgrimage areas of Kashi. According to the story in the source, Lord Vishnu reached this sacred place after establishing Adikeshava.

The sage Agnibindu was performing intense penance there. When he received the vision of Lord Madhava, he praised the Lord with deep devotion. Vishnu then combined his name with the devotee's name and became known as Bindu Madhava.

The source also gives different traditional names for this deity in the four Yugas: Adi-Madhava, Ananta-Madhava, Shri-Madhava and Bindu-Madhava.

10 Madhav Sthan of Kashi

Traditional sacred locations of Lord Vishnu in the Madhava form.

Bindu Madhav

Associated with Panchaganga Ghat. The source also records other locations of Bindu Madhav traditions in Bhat ki Gali, Brahma Ghat and Buchaitola near Lal Ghat.

Shesha Madhav

📍 Rajmandir area.

Shankha Madhav

📍 Small shrine at Sheetla Ghat.

Gyan Madhav

📍 Pancho Pandav Temple near Gyanvapi.

Shweta Madhav

📍 Hanuman Temple at Mir Ghat, near Vishalakshi.

Prayag Madhav

📍 Above Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Vaikuntha Madhav

📍 Above Scindia Ghat.

Veer Madhav

📍 Outer wall niche of Atmavireshwar Temple.

Kaal Madhav

📍 Behind Kath ki Haveli.

Indra Madhav

Mentioned in historical Gahadavala records; the source describes the present shrine as lost or no longer identifiable.

15 Keshav Sthan of Kashi

1. Adi Keshav

📍 Near Varuna Sangam Ghat.

2. Gyan Keshav

📍 Near Adi Keshav Temple.

3. Tarkshya Keshav

📍 Near Adi Keshav; recorded as lost.

4. Narad Keshav

📍 Prahlad Ghat; recorded as lost.

5. Prahlad Keshav

📍 Prahlad Ghat area.

6. Aditya Keshav

📍 Near Adi Keshav; recorded as lost.

7. Bhrigu Keshav

📍 Nandufadiya near Gola Ghat.

8. Vaman Keshav

Traditional site near Adi Keshav; another form recorded as Madhusudan near Trilochan.

9. Hayagriva Keshav

📍 Bhadaini, near Sri Maa Anandamayi Hospital.

10. Bhishma Keshav

📍 Vriddhakal, within Mrityunjaya Mahadev premises.

11. Nirvan Keshav

📍 Bhadaini near Lolarka; another tradition south of Vriddhakal.

12. Tribhuvan Keshav

📍 Bandidevi Temple above Dashashwamedh and Vriddhakal tradition.

13. Ganga Keshav

📍 Ancient Gangamahal Ghat tradition; current location recorded at Lalita Ghat.

14. Nar-Narayan Keshav

📍 Above Nar-Narayan Tirth at Mehta Ghat.

15. Gopi-Govind Keshav

📍 Gauri-Shankar Mahadev Temple at Lal Ghat.

12 Narasimha Sthan of Kashi

The Narasimha shrines represent different sacred manifestations of Lord Vishnu's man-lion incarnation.

1. Vidar Narasimha

📍 Above Prahlad Ghat.

2. Lakshmi Narasimha

📍 Rajmandir.

3. Nirvan Narasimha

📍 South of Pulastishwar; historical/lost location.

4. Mahabal Narasimha

📍 Current tradition inside Kameshwar Mahadev compound.

5. Prachanda Narasimha

📍 Presently recorded near Assi Ghat inside Jagannath Temple.

6. Giri Narasimha

📍 Near Dehli Vinayaka.

7. Mahabhayahara Narasimha

📍 Sheetla Gali, west of Pitamaheshwar.

8. Atyugra / Ugra Narasimha

📍 West of Kalasheshwar near Gomath.

9. Jwalamali Narasimha

📍 Kotwa village near Kapildhara.

10. Kolahala Narasimha

📍 Near Gomath.

11. Vitanka Narasimha

📍 Inside Kedarishwar Temple.

12. Kharva Narasimha

📍 Above Durga Ghat / Brahmacharini Durga Mandir tradition.

6 Varaha Sthan of Kashi

1. Yajna / Kratu Varaha

Traditional site east of Omkareshwar; current tradition inside Kameshwar Mahadev compound.

2. Tamra Varaha

📍 South wall outside the Neelkanth Temple lane.

3. Dharani Varaha

📍 Above Dashashwamedh Ghat near Prayag Madhav.

4. Adi Varaha

📍 Directly above Dashashwamedh Ghat.

5. Koka Varaha

📍 Siddheshwari Temple complex.

6. Kino Varaha

The source records the present geographical location as unknown.

4 Vamana Sthan of Kashi

1. Ananta Vamana

📍 West of Varuna Sangam near Ananteshwar.

2. Dadhi Vamana

The exact present location is not documented in the source.

3. Trivikrama Vamana

📍 Northern side inside the Trilochan enclosure.

4. Bali Vamana

📍 Northern compound near Adikeshava.

Other Vishnu Sthan in Kashi

Adi Gadadhara

South of Dattatreyashwar near Narad Ghat. The source records this specific shrine as lost over time.

Shri Satyanarayan Vishnu

Traditionally associated with the Mukti Mandapa of the ancient Vishwanath Temple and another location with Mahalakshmi in the southwest corner of the present Vishwanath Temple complex.

Lakshmi Gopal

📍 North of Lakshmi Kund, inside Tripathi Bhavan.

Asi Madhav

📍 Tulsi Ghat.

Purushottam Bhagwan

📍 Baradeo locality, near Tryambakeshwar.

Bhrigu Narayan

📍 Pavneshwar Temple at Saptasagar.

ॐ Omkar Rup — Three Vishnu Vigrah

The source describes three Vishnu forms representing the sacred phonetic divisions of the syllable AUM — A, U and M.

Adi Keshav — “A”
📍 Near Varuna Sangam / Adikeshava Ghat.
Bindu Madhav — “U”
📍 Above Panchaganga Ghat.
Bhogashayan Vishnu — “M”
Also known as a Sheshashayi form, located in a small shrine near the steps of Panchaganga Ghat.

🕉 Spiritual Meaning

These three forms provide a symbolic sacred journey through the sound of Om. The pilgrimage connects Adikeshava, Bindu Madhava and Bhogashayan Vishnu as three important manifestations of Vishnu within the spiritual geography of Kashi.

For the website, this section can later be expanded with a dedicated pilgrimage map showing the three sacred locations and walking routes between them.

Three Ancient Sheshashayi Vishnu Vigrah

The source records three sacred Vishnu images associated with the Sheshashayi or reclining Vishnu tradition.

1. Sheshashayi Vishnu

📍 Alley near Mangla Gauri

An ancient Vishnu image associated with the sacred tradition of Lord Vishnu reclining upon Shesha.

2. Large Sheshashayi Vishnu

📍 Near the steps of Panchaganga Ghat

The source describes a larger Sheshashayi Vishnu idol inside a small shrine near the Panchaganga steps.

3. Small Sheshashayi Vishnu

📍 Near the steps of Lalita Ghat

A smaller Sheshashayi Vishnu image located inside a small shrine near Lalita Ghat.

📖 Source and Sacred Tradition

The structure of this page follows the uploaded source material, which discusses Kashi as Vishnupuri, the importance of Adikeshava and Bindu Madhava, and lists the Madhava, Keshava, Narasimha, Varaha, Vamana and other Vishnu shrines.

The source also cites traditions connected with the Narada Purana and the Kashi Khanda, including references for several Vishnu and Narasimha shrines.