Mritunjay Mahadev Temple

History

Varanasi’s temples-of-importance page places Mritunjay Mahadev on the Daranagar-to-Kalbhairav route and highlights the well of religious importance next to the temple.

Pilgrims often stop here while moving between the old-city Vishwanath–Bhairav circuit, treating the well and Shiva shrine as a paired visit.

Stories

Dhanvantari and the Healing Well

Belief holds that Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, poured all his medicines into the well beside the temple, giving its water healing power. The Varanasi district website describes the well as holding a mix of several underground streams, said to be good against several diseases.

Devotees who perform the Mrityunjay path and sprinkle water from the well on themselves are believed to be kept away from unnatural death and illness. These are matters of faith and are not verified.

An 18th-Century Temple With Older Shrines

The temple, also called Ravaneshwar, stands in Daranagar, Visheshwarganj, Varanasi, about 500 metres south-east of Kotwali. The present building was constructed in the 18th century, while some smaller shrines inside are said to be thousands of years old, a claim without documentation.

The Varanasi district site places it on the route from Daranagar to the Kal Bhairav temple. Shiva is worshipped here as Mrityunjay, the great god victorious over death.

Good to know

On the Daranagar to Kal Bhairav route

Sacred well beside the temple

Natural stop between old-city Shiva shrines

Getting there

Nearest airport: Varanasi (Lal Bahadur Shastri). Rail: Varanasi Junction / Varanasi City. Approach via Daranagar lanes toward Kal Bhairav (VishesharGanj).