Mandhateswar Mahadev Temple is the only temple in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple corridor that is panchayatana in plan that is the main shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines in the corners. The original temple was believed to have been established by Mandhatri, the legendary chakravartin king (world sovereign) of Ayodhya and an ancestor of Lord Rama. It was after him that the temple came to be known as Mandhateswar Mahadev Temple. The temple is still in worship.
Mandhateswar Mahadev temple is the only temple in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple corridor that is Panchayatana in plan, that is the main shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines in the corners. All five shrines are dedicated to Lord Shiva and have Shiva lingas in the center. The original temple was believed to have been established by Mandhatri, the legendary chakravartin king (world sovereign) of Ayodhya and an ancestor of Lord Rama. It was after him that the temple came to be known as Mandhateswar Mahadev Temple. According to tradition, Mandhatri renounced his kingdom and retired to Kedar for a darshan of Lord Shiva in the form of a linga. The Great Lord told him that in his linga form, he could have darshan in Kashi. King Mandhatri then moved to Kashi. It is believed that at the site of Kedareshwar Temple at Kedar Ghat, Shiva gave darshan to Mandhatri.
Encroachment had led to considerable damage to this elegant and compact temple complex. The temple is provided with an enclosure wall with a projected entrance in the west. The entrance has a graceful multi-cusped arch supported on engaged pilasters. On the lalata, is the image of Ganesha.
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The central shrine is larger than the corner shrines. It is square in plan and is sarvatobhadra i.e open on all four sides. The ceiling of the sanctum is unconventional. At the phase of transition, trefoil squinches are used to support the octagonal ribbed vault of the shikhara. Inside the garbhagriha, the linga is provided with two yoni pithas. The outer pitha is a later addition. The temple is still in worship. The interior of the garbhagriha has changed considerably. Inside are images of several such deities as Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Durga Mahishasurmardini and Bhairava which are now painted.
The elevation of the temple complex offers a harmonious view of multiple shikharas recalling the lofty peaks of the sacred Mount Meru. The central shikhara is slightly taller than the other four and is decorated with multiple miniature spires. The shikharas of the corner shrines follow the typical style of Banarasi temples with a mulamanjari (main spire), urahshringas (half-spires) and karnashringas (corner spires).
Front view, Mandhateshwar Temple
The subsidiary shrines are also square in plan. The vaulted shikhara is ribbed. The square walls of the sanctum become octagonal with the addition of squinches in the corners. The lingas in the subsidiary shrines are surrounded by square enclosures. One of the enclosures also contains a sculpture of Nandi, the vahana of Shiva. Other Nandi sculptures are displaced from their original place and are kept in one of the subsidiary shrines.
Doorway to subsidiary shrine Mandhateshwar Temple
