In the sacred city of Varanasi, where devotion to Lord Shiva runs deeper than the Ganges, lies a temple unlike any other. Nestled in the narrow lanes of Sheetla Gali, the Pita Maheshwar Shivling beckons devotees through a tiny opening in a 40-foot deep tunnel. This enigmatic shrine, believed to house Shiva in his fatherly form, opens its doors to the public just once a year on Shivratri.
Varanasi, known as Kashi, has an unbreakable bond with Shiva, who is said to protect the city from his trident. Amid countless temples chronicled in ancient texts, Pita Maheshwar stands out. Devotees peer through a small hole to glimpse the ancient Shivling, performing rituals like water abhishek and bilva offerings from afar. Entry into the tunnel is strictly prohibited due to its perilous path, preserving the shrine’s mystique.
The priest reveals that markings on the walls testify to the temple’s antiquity, with the sanctum remaining perpetually cool 40 feet underground. Two Shivlings grace the site: Pita Maheshwar, revered as Shiva’s father, and Par Pita Maheshwar, considered his grandfather, enshrined deeper in secrecy. Locals believe the latter has a fiery temperament, worshipped only by priests to avoid wrath.
During Pitru Paksha, crowds flock here seeking ancestral salvation and relief from pitru dosh. Legends whisper that when Shiva manifested as Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, deities mourned the absence of his forebears. At Shiva’s call, Pita Maheshwar appeared, cementing Kashi’s divine lineage. Though scriptures portray Shiva as the eternal creator without beginning or end, this temple weaves a unique familial narrative into the cosmic tapestry.
This rare portal to divinity reminds us of Kashi’s endless spiritual depths, where even the gods honor their lineage once a year.