Central Sacred Core
The route around the principal Vishwanath area. The supplied file begins with purification and sankalpa, then lists a large group of Shiva, Devi and Vinayaka shrines before returning through Gyanavapi and Sakshi Vinayak.
Important research note: There are three inner circuits — Vishweshwar, Kedareshwar and Omkareshwar — as Antargrihi/Antarvedi parikramas. The official government portal also lists these three as separate Varanasi Yatras. In stricter usage, Antargrihi Yatra is especially associated with the inner circuit of Vishweshwar Khanda. This page therefore labels the three as three Khandic inner circuits, while preserving the terminology of the supplied research file.
What is Antargrihi Parikrama?
Antargrihi (अन्तर्गृही) literally carries the sense of an “inner enclosure / inner sacred area.” In the Kashi pilgrimage tradition it refers to circumambulation of sacred deities within the central sacred field of Kashi. A Government of India/NMCG heritage document describes the Antargrihi Yatra as the circumambulation of the Vishweshwar Khanda, while also noting that old Kashi was traditionally divided into Kedar, Omkar and Vishweshwar sections.
Southern Khand
The supplied research file presents Kedar as the southern liberation-oriented sector, anchored by Gauri Kedareshwar and connected with Kedar Ghat, Gauri Kund, Vishalakshi and other southern shrines.
Northern Khand
The supplied file presents Omkareshwar as the northern sacred sector, organized around the Pranava symbolism of A-U-M, with Matsyodari, Trilochan, Bhairava and Vinayaka guardians.
Three Khandic Inner Circuits
Select a circuit below.; where a claim needs stronger textual verification, it is marked as a research note rather than presented as a verbatim Skanda Purana itinerary.
INNER CORE • VISHWESHWAR KHANDA
Vishweshwar Antargrihi
Present time this as the principal inner-house loop around Shri Kashi Vishwanath. It begins with purification, sankalpa and Manikarnika, then proceeds through riverfront and inner-lane shrines before the concluding sequence.
Manikarnika
Vishwanath
Somnath
Agastishwar
Nageshwar
Sakshi Vinayak
1. Morning inception & purification
Panch-Vinayak and Vishwanath darshan; sankalpa at Nirvana Mandap; ritual bath at Manikarnika Kund/Ghat; silent worship of Manikarnikeshwar.
2. Riverfront & core shrine lineage
The supplied file lists Kambalashwatar, Vasukishwar, Parvateshwar, Gangakeshwar, Lalitadevi and Jarasandheshwar, followed by Somnath, Varaheshwar, Brahmeshwar, Agastishwar, Kashyapeshwar, Harikeshwar, Vaidyanath, Dhruveshwar, Gokarneshwar and Hatakeshwar.
3. Protective inner ring
Asthiksheshwar, Kikaseshwar, Bharbhuteshwar, Chitragupteshwar, Chitraghanta Durgaji, Pashupatishwar, Pitamaheshwar, Kalasheshwar, Chandreshwar, Veereshwar, Vidyeshwar, Agnishwar, Nageshwar, Harichandreshwar, Chintamani Vinayak and Sena Vinayak.
4. Concluding sequence
Simha Vinayak → Asha Vinayak → Yajna Varaha → Vidari Narasimha → Gyanavapi Linga → Sakshi Vinayak, according to the Skanda Purana.
SOUTHERN KEDAR KHANDA
Kedareshwar Antargrihi
It presents a southern inner circuit centered on Gauri Kedareshwar. It describes water rites, the Kedar temple cluster, inland guardian shrines, the Asi/Lolarka sector and a return to Sakshi Vinayak.
Gauri Kund
Kedar Ghat
Kedareshwar
Vishalakshi
Lolarka
Sakshi Vinayak
1. Water rites & sankalpa
Gauri Kund is presented as the purification point, with Mansarovar Teerth and Hans Teerth as traditional water references; the sankalpa is then taken for completion of the inner circuit.
2. Gauri Kedareshwar cluster
Darshan of Shri Gauri Kedareshwar, Kedar Nandi, Tarakeshwar and Kshemapalaka within the temple precinct.
3. Inland guardian & goddess loop
Chintamani Vinayak, Vishalakshi Gauri, Amriteshwar, Prahladeshwar and Agastyeshwar are highlighted in the supplied route.
4. Southern boundary alignment
Asi Sangam, Lolarka Kund, Anandabhairava and Batuk Bhairav are presented as the southern boundary/guardian section.
5. Closure
Sakshi Vinayak and a final offering at Gauri Kedareshwar complete the circuit in the supplied description.
NORTHERN OMKARESHWAR KHANDA
Omkareshwar Antargrihi
It interprets the northern sector through the Pranava symbolism of Om: A-kara, U-kara and M-kara, followed by the unified Omkareshwar focus and a series of northern tirthas and guardians.
Akareshwar
Ukareshwar
Makareshwar
Matsyodari
Trilochan
Lat Bhairav
1. Pranava trinity
Akareshwar, Ukareshwar and Makareshwar are interpreted in the supplied file as the three phonetic/cosmic dimensions of A-U-M, followed by the central Omkareshwar Linga.
2. Water matrix
Matsyodari Teerth, Kapila Teerth and Gaya Teerth are listed, followed by Trilochan Mahadev at Trilochan Ghat.
3. Guardians
Harishchandra Vinayak, Kapala Bhairav/Lat Bhairav and Amrita Vinayak form the guardian stage in the supplied sequence.
4. Secondary Shiva manifestations
Nageshwar, Mahamrityunjay and Kameshwar are listed as the later inland section.
5. Submission & completion
Sakshi Vinayak is presented as the witness, followed by purna-ahuti at Omkareshwar.
Key Shrines Mentioned in the Supplied Route
श्री विश्वेश्वरCentral Jyotirlinga focus of the Vishweshwar Khanda.
मणिकर्णिकाImportant ritual bathing and pilgrimage node.
सोमनाथOne of the Shiva manifestations included in the inner sacred field.
अगस्त्येश्वरImportant Shiva shrine in the Kashi sacred landscape.
गौरी केदारेश्वरPrincipal southern Kedar-sector focus.
विशालाक्षी गौरीMajor Devi shrine associated with the southern sacred zone.
ओंकारेश्वरCentral northern Pranava/Om focus in the supplied interpretation.
त्रिलोचन महादेवImportant northern riverfront Shiva point.
साक्षी विनायकTraditional “witness” deity used in the supplied route as a completion point.
Traditional Authority & Verification
| Claim / Feature | Evidence status | How this page presents it |
|---|---|---|
| Antargrihi is a Kashi pilgrimage circuit | Strong traditional / institutional support | The official Kashi portal lists Vishweshwar, Kedareshwar and Omkareshwar Antargrihi Yatras; an NMCG heritage document describes circumambulation of Vishweshwar Khanda as Antargrihi Yatra. |
| Kashi has three sacred Khandas: Vishweshwar, Kedar and Omkar | Supported | Used as the structural framework of this page; also described in the NMCG heritage source and the supplied file. |
| Chapter 100 prescribes an Antargrihi Yatra | Secondary-source verification | A published Kashi temple research compilation attributes the daily Antargrihi Yatra and several included Shiva shrines to Kashi Khanda Chapter 100. |
| Every individual route step in the supplied file is a verbatim Skanda Purana sequence | Not established | This page does not make that stronger claim. The detailed sequences are explicitly labeled as derived from the independently verified. |
| Kedareshwar Chapter 77 | Textually verified for Kedara greatness | The available English translation identifies Chapter 77 of the Uttarardha of Kashi Khanda as “The Greatness of Kedara”; this supports Kedara's scriptural importance but does not by itself prove the complete modern route sequence. |
Primary / Institutional / Textual references used for this page
- Government of India / NMCG heritage documentation: describes Antargrihi Yatra and identifies the circumambulation of Vishweshwar Khanda as Antargrihi Yatra.
- Skanda Purana, Kashi Khanda — Chapter 77: available translation titled “The Greatness of Kedāra,” establishing the textual importance of Kedara.
- Kashi Khanda Chapter 100 — secondary research trail: published Kashi temple research compilations attribute the Antargrihi Yatra and many individual Shiva shrines to this chapter.
- Skanda Purana terminology: Sanskrit search results also show the term antarvedī in the Purana, but the word alone should not be treated as proof of the exact modern Kashi route.
Free-to-use Image References
The page uses Wikimedia Commons images that are published under Creative Commons licenses. Keep the author attribution and license information if you reuse the images on your own website.
Research disclaimer: This is a research-oriented cultural/heritage webpage, not a substitute for a traditional Kashi priest or current local pilgrimage guide. Temple locations, access, opening hours and the exact walking order can change. Scriptural chapter numbers and route traditions should be checked against a critical Sanskrit edition of the Skanda Purana, Kashi Khanda before publishing a claim as “verbatim scripture.” .