Kapardeeshwara Linga

Kapardeeshwara Linga in Kashi is one of the Pancha Lingas of Kashi as glorified in the Kurma Purana. There are forty two lingas in Kashi which one has to defintely worship. They are called as Moksha Lingas. If not forty two, one must at least have darshan of these Pancha Lingas in Kashi.

The origin of Kapardeeshwara Linga

The Kapardeeshwara Linga is situated on the border of Kashi on the banks of a vast lake called as Pishacha Mochana Kunda. The Kapardeeshwara Linga was established by the Kapardi Gana, a very dear gana to Lord Shiva. He also established the Vimalodaka Kunda right next to it. Just by touching the water of Vimalodaka Kunda one’s existence is purified.

The glories of Kapardeeshwara Linga

The following incident narrating the glories of Kapardeeshwara Linga comes in Kashi Khanda of Skanda Purana.

Sometime in the Treta-yuga a devotee of Lord Shiva named Valmiki became an ardent worshipper of Lord Kapardeeshwara. Once he took afternoon bath in the Vimalodaka Tirtha during the Margashirsha Masa and then applied bhasma all over his body. As usual he executed his noon sandhya vandana and began chanting ‘om namah shivaya’ concentrating on the Kapardeeshwara Linga. Later he performed pradakshina of the linga and sat on the banks of the Vimalodaka Kunda.

All of a sudden he saw a scary and horrible looking demon standing right in front of him. Valmiki was not scared as he was wearing the bhasma kavacha and was an austere devotee of Lord Shiva. In a very calm voice, he asked the demon to introduce himself. Looking at the merciful brahmana, the demon joined his palms and began narrating his life.

“In the previous life, I lived in a place called Pratishthana on the banks of River Godavari. I was a brahmana and would receive charity from the pilgrims due to which I am suffering now. I never performed any charity but only received it. This is the reason I was born a demon in this life. I was born in a desert and suffered a lot in that place. I had no water to drink or food to eat. With no clothes on my body, I had to tolerate the difficulties of extreme weathers.”

“Once I saw a brahmana coming towards my side. He had not performed sandhya-vandana and didn’t wash his hands or legs after urinating. Such a condition of his body was conducive for me to possess his body. To enjoy my remaining life, I entered the body of that brahmana. But due to my misfortune that brahmana came to Kashi to make some money. The moment he entered Kashi, I was thrown out of his body along with all his sinful reactions. There is no place for ghosts or sinful men in Kashi.”

“Even today, his sins are awaiting him outside of Kashi waiting to pounce upon him the moment he comes out. Similarly I am also waiting for that brahmana to return. Hoping his return I am living here. But today I have been blessed. Every day I go to Prayag to search something to eat. Whenever I go near any food or drink, it goes away from me.”

“Today I saw a sannyasi. Being tormented by hunger, I wanted to attack and eat him. When I moved forward to attack, that sannyasi chanted the name of Lord Shiva. Hearing that holy name all my sins were washed away and I became eligible to enter Kashi. When I entered Kashi along with that sannyasi, the guards of Kashi didn’t even look at me. Even Yamaraja does not cast a glance on the person who chants Lord Shiva’s name, what to speak of anyone else then.”

“I have come until this place and stayed here. My life has been very pious to have your darshan today. Please release me from this body and give me protection.” After hearing the plea of the demon, Valmiki resolved to help and liberate the demon. He asked him to take bath in the Vimalodaka Tirtha and then have darshan of Kapardeeshwara Linga. By the effect of this tirtha his demon body would immediately perish.

The demon was scared to even touch the water as it was being guarded by the celestial beings. Valmiki Muni then advised him to apply vibhuti on his forehead. After applying the bhasma when the rakshasa approached the Kunda, the devatas did not stop him. The moment he took bath and drank the water of that tirtha, instantly he got delivered from the Pishacha’s body. He emerged out possessing divine body ornamented with beautiful jewels and garland. He immediately got on to the plane which had arrived to take him. While going, he bowed to Valmiki Muni and said,

“I have been delivered by your mercy and by the greatness of this tirtha. From today onwards it shall be known as Pishacha Mochana Kunda. If a pishacha takes bath in this tirtha, he shall be immediately delivered. Anyone who takes bath and performs shraddha or offers tarpana to the forefathers, they shall be delivered from the body of pishacha immediately. Anyone who takes bath in this kunda, worships Lord Kapardeeshwara and performs annadana shall never be afraid of anything.”

Experiencing all this, even Valmiki continued to perform the worship of Kapardeeshwara Linga and acheived liberation towards end of his life. Since then Pishacha Mochana tirtha in Varanasi became famous as destroyer of sins.

Kashi Khanda states:

paishachamochane tirthe sambhojya shiva yoginam
koti bhojya phalam samyag ekaika pari sankhayayaa

Anyone who feeds one Shiva Yogi in Pishachamochana tirtha, one acheives results of feeding crores of Shivayogis. Anyone who embarks on a journey after hearing the glories of Pishacha Mochana Tirtha, he need not be afraid of lion attack or theft or pishacha enroute the journey.

How to reach Kapardeeshwara Linga Temple

To visit Kapardeeshwara Linga and be blessed with his darshan, the best way is to travel with Tirtha Yatra on Kashi Yatra. This is once in a lifetime experience to be part of this tour which covers many unexplored temples of Kashi along with Kapardeeshwara Linga temple.

On your own, you may reach Kashi and then visit this temple

By Airway: Kashi is well connected by Airways from other major cities of India.

By Railways: Kashi is well connected by Railways to major cities of India

By Roadways: You can also drive to Kashi if you are living nearby or traveling to a nearby city. The roads connecting Kashi are just amazing.