Home / Temples / Shool Tankeshwar Mandir
Shiva TempleRight on the steps of Dasaswamedh Ghat — Varanasi's busiest riverfront stretch, host to the nightly Ganga Aarti — Shool Tankeshwar is the Shiva temple that also houses Abhay Vinayak, the fear-removing Ganesha form covered elsewhere on this site.
'Shool' refers to the trishul (trident), Shiva's iconic weapon, and this linga's full name likely ties it to that symbolism, continuing the pattern of weapon- and attribute-linked epithets found across many of Kashi's individually named Shiva forms.
Its position directly on Dasaswamedh Ghat's steps — the single most visited spot on the entire riverfront — means Shool Tankeshwar sees enormous passive footfall every single evening as crowds gather for the Ganga Aarti, even though many pass by focused on the ceremony rather than the temple itself.
Because Abhay Vinayak is housed within the same compound, a visit here naturally covers both a Shiva linga and a Ganesha shrine in one stop — making Shool Tankeshwar one of the most convenient and centrally located multi-deity visits anywhere in the city.
Dasaswamedh Ghat, on the main steps
Abhay Vinayak, the fear-removing Ganesha form
Early evening, before the Ganga Aarti crowds build
They're distinct deities sharing one compound — Shool Tankeshwar is the Shiva linga, and Abhay Vinayak is the Ganesha shrine housed within the same Dasaswamedh Ghat temple.
Banaras Hindu University campus
Shiva TempleNear Madanpura, close to the weavers' lanes
Shiva TempleDaranagar, on the route to Kaal Bhairav
Shiva TempleTrilochan Ghat
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