Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple

Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple is an old Shiva shrine on the Panchakroshi Yatra, the traditional circuit around Varanasi walked by thousands of devotees, and for pilgrims it is the first stop, where prayers are said before setting out on the route. It is linked to the sage Kardama, believed to be a son of Brahma and one of the first progenitors of life.

Shiva dominates the carvings, but there are also images of Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha and Surya, and of the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna. Figures of the dikpalas, guardians of the eight directions, sit on the corner walls, a standard feature of north Indian temples, and the temple grounds include two sacred spots. Archaeological evidence shows that temple building in Banaras goes back to the Gupta period of the 4th to 6th centuries CE.