Ancient Kashi and the Early Vishweshwara Temple

What scripture, archaeology and early travellers tell us about ancient Kashi and the worship of Vishweshwara, and where tradition and historical evidence differ.

By Editorial TeamUpdated Kashi History

How old is Kashi?

Kashi is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Archaeological excavations in the Rajghat area have found evidence of settlement going back to the first millennium BCE, and early Buddhist texts name Kashi as a major kingdom. Hindu tradition holds the city to be far older — eternal, and founded by Shiva himself.

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Kashi in tradition

These texts were composed and expanded over many centuries; scholars generally date the Kashi Khanda in its present form to the medieval period.

Kashi in early historical sources

  • Early Buddhist texts name Kashi as one of the sixteen great kingdoms (mahajanapadas) of northern India.
  • Sarnath, about 10 km away, is where the Buddha is said to have given his first sermon; the site later received major monuments under the Mauryas.
  • Archaeology: excavations at the Rajghat plateau in the north of the city, conducted with Banaras Hindu University, found evidence of settlement from the first millennium BCE.

Early temples

Historians describe a flourishing temple city by the first millennium CE. The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang, who visited in the 7th century, described many Hindu temples in Varanasi and a large image of Maheshvara, a name of Shiva.

Scholars such as Diana Eck have traced how the worship of Vishweshwara ("Lord of All") grew to become the centre of Kashi's sacred life, while older traditions — including worship of Avimukteshwara and Kal Bhairav — remained important.

The medieval period

The Gahadavala kings (11th–12th centuries) made Varanasi one of their capitals and patronised its temples. Their defeat in 1194 began the long cycle of destruction and rebuilding described in temple reconstruction.

Frequently asked questions

Is Varanasi the oldest city in the world?

It is often called one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities. Archaeological evidence shows settlement from the first millennium BCE; claims of greater antiquity come from tradition.

What is the Kashi Khanda?

A section of the Skanda Purana devoted to Kashi's sacred geography and to Vishweshwara. It is a key text for Kashi's pilgrimage traditions.

Sources and further reading

We link to primary and authoritative sources. External links open in a new tab.

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Written and maintained by the KashiVishwanathTemple.net Editorial Team. Last updated . Found an error? Tell us — see our editorial policy.

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