What is Kashi Karvat?
Kashi Karvat is a small Shiva temple in the lanes close to Kashi Vishwanath. Its linga lies in a pit many feet below today's street level, and devotees usually take darshan from above. Local tradition connects its name with a saw (karvat) and with old beliefs about liberation, which are recorded as legend rather than history.
Kashi Karvat Temple
- Presiding deity
- Shiva
- Location
- Old city lanes near Kashi Vishwanath, Varanasi
- From Kashi Vishwanath
- A few minutes' walk (approximate)
On this page
The temple
Kashi Karvat is easy to miss — a modest entrance in the busy lanes near Kashi Vishwanath. Inside, the linga lies at the bottom of a deep chamber, reported as around 25 feet below street level, a reminder of how the city's ground has risen over centuries. Darshan is usually taken from an opening above.
Traditions
Some local accounts link the temple with the family of Raja Man Singh of Amber in the 16th century; we could not verify this independently.
Visiting
- The temple is small and can be crowded; follow the priest's instructions.
- Opening times vary and the shrine may be opened only at certain hours — ask locally.
- Combine with Kashi Vishwanath and Annapurna Devi.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the linga at Kashi Karvat so deep?
It lies at an older ground level; the city's streets have risen over the centuries. Darshan is usually taken from above.
What does karvat mean?
Karvat means 'saw'. Local tradition links the temple's name with a saw said to have hung there in the past.
Sources and further reading
We link to primary and authoritative sources. External links open in a new tab.
- Shree Kashi Karvat Mandir (encyclopaedia entry with cited references) (opens in a new tab)
Wikipedia — Reference work, checked September 2026
Written and maintained by the KashiVishwanathTemple.net Editorial Team. Last updated . Found an error? Tell us — see our editorial policy.
Related guides
- Nearby TemplesThe temples to visit with Kashi Vishwanath: Annapurna Devi, Kal Bhairav, Sankat Mochan, Durga Temple, Kashi Karvat, Tilbhandeshwar, the Nepali Temple and more.
- Why Kashi Is SacredWhy Hindus regard Kashi as sacred: Shiva's city, the promise of liberation (moksha), the Ganga, the Kashi Khanda's sacred geography and how belief shapes the city.
- Annapurna DeviAnnapurna Devi Temple beside Kashi Vishwanath: the goddess who feeds Kashi, the temple's history, the Annakut festival, and the statue returned from Canada in 2021.
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