Kaal Bhairav & Bindu Madhav Temples — Essential Sanctuaries

These two temples represent the complementary Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions that together form the complete spiritual geography of Varanasi. Kaal Bhairav is the fierce guardian deity — the Kotwal (police chief) of Kashi, without whose permission no one can live in or leave the city. Bindu Madhav at Panchganga Ghat represents the Vaishnava heritage where five sacred rivers are said to merge. Both temples are extensively detailed in the Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana, highlighting their essential status in the traditional pilgrimage circuits.