Sankatha Devi Temple at Sankata Ghat in Varanasi, India
Sankatha Temple is dedicated to 'Goddess Sankatha' or 'Goddess of Remedy' is located at Sankata Ghat in Varanasi . There is an idol of Goddess Sankata in temple which is four armed like many other deities of Indian pantheon.
Opening time of the Sankatha Temple:
Morning: 4 AM
Closing: 11 PM at night
The Sankata Temple opens on all days of week throughout the year.
Friday is a special day of the temple when special pooja is performed by the women.
Aarti Time in Sankata Temple -
- Arti Time - 4:30 AM in morning
- Bhog Time - 2:30 PM in Evening
- Shringar Time – 7:00 PM in Evening
- Shayan Arti- 10:00 PM at night
Location of the Sankata Temple -
Sankata Temple is located about 6 KM from the Varanasi Cantt Railway Station.
3 KM from the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
How to Reach to the Sankata Temple :
You can reach Sankatha Temple by auto or rickshaw from Railway Station or any place of the Varanasi city.
Better you can hire a private taxi to visit temple.
What to see in Sankata Temple?
There is a huge statue of the lion inside the premises that is considered to be the Ride of Goddess. You can also see statues of nine planets in the temple.
Goddess Sankata, a four armed idol, is the most important deity of the temple. The idol of the Goddess is silver plated which is about 4 to 5 feet tall and considered to be a symbol of female worship which owes its origin to Harappan Civilization.
On both sides of the Goddess, there are idols of Lord Hanuman and Lord Bhairava. The temple has a big Shivalingam and a Banyan tree which protects the idols of Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman. It is popularly believed that Pandavas had come to this place to worship Goddess Sankatha during their exile.
Significance of Sankata Temple in Hinduism
Sankata Temple is the most popular Temple in Varanasi city and located on Sankata Ghat in the jumbling lanes of the Varanasi city. Sankata Devi protects her devotees from all the dangers of life by her magical powers.
Her devotees know her as a Matrika, Sanskrit word, meaning caring mother. According to the mythical stories she is known as the Vikat Matrika means the Fierce Mother.
Worshipping Goddess Sankata or any such female figurine in superhuman form is a matriarchal cult and shows the place of female power in a culture. Above all devotion to god has supreme place in human mind.
History of the Sankata Temple
Sankata Temple was built to dedicate to Goddess Sankata who is worshipped in Navratra on the 8th day of nine days ritual. 8th day of the Navratra is dedicated to the Goddess Sankata who is also believed to be the younger sister of Goddess Vaishno or Vaishno Devi, whose temple is located in Jammu and Kashmir State. It is believed that Goddess Sankata blesses her sisters with prosperity and potency to develop humanity and save humankind.
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