Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh – In a unique and spiritually significant event, thousands of devotees gathered in Varanasi for the rare darshan of Karkota Nageshwar Swamy, a sacred form of Lord Shiva. The temple, known for its mystical aura and historical reverence, opens for darshan only once a year—on the auspicious day of Shukla Chaturthi during the Shravana month of the Hindu calendar.
Bathing in the sacred Karkotak Well and worshiping Karkotak Nageshwar is believed to protect an individual from all forms of poison—venom is said to be unable to enter their body. This site, submerged beneath water except for brief periods, is deeply revered. When the water is drawn down (such as before Naga Panchami), devotees descend to the well’s base to worship the Shiva Linga that appears and perform special rituals. These ceremonies are especially aimed at alleviating the harmful influences of Rahu–Ketu afflictions and Kaal Sarp Dosh, and to dispel negative karmic energies.
What makes this event so extraordinary is the location of the Shiva Lingam, which remains submerged in a well throughout the year. On Shukla Chaturthi, temple authorities and volunteers work together to pump out the water using motors, revealing the ancient Shiva Lingam to devotees. It is believed that only on this day, the divine energy of Karkota Nageshwar becomes accessible to human eyes, offering immense spiritual benefits to those who witness it.
According to local traditions and Puranic references, Karkotaka, a powerful serpent king and devotee of Lord Shiva, worshipped this very Lingam. Over time, the site came to be revered as Karkota Nageshwar. It is one of the hidden yet powerful spiritual centers in Varanasi, a city known as the spiritual capital of India.
Despite being a lesser-known temple compared to the famous Kashi Vishwanath, the spiritual importance of Karkota Nageshwar is profound. Devotees believe that having darshan of the deity on this specific day washes away past sins and blesses them with protection, prosperity, and inner peace.
This year, the darshan once again drew a large number of pilgrims, who waited patiently for hours to get a glimpse of the sacred Lingam. Many devotees shared that just witnessing the Shiva Lingam emerging from the water was a deeply moving and divine experience.
Temple authorities ensured that crowd management, water drainage, and safety protocols were effectively handled during the entire process.
If you ever find yourself in Varanasi during the month of Shravan, do not miss the rare opportunity to witness this divine event and seek the blessings of Karkota Nageshwar Swamy.
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