The eternal city of Varanasi, which is the abode of Lord Shiva, has numerous ancient temples, but there are very few that hold as much intrigue as the Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Temple. This temple is revered as a ‘Swayambhu idol’ and is well-known for increasing its size exactly by the length of one sesame seed. With the arrival of the blessed month of Sawan 2026, devotees from all over will flock to Kashi to view this divine miracle.

The Mystery Of The Ever-Growing Shivling

The tradition says that the Shivling keeps growing. It is believed that the Shivling used to grow every day from Satyug to Dwapara Yug, but after seeing the excessive growth of the Shivling, Lord Shiva stopped this miraculous act of nature on the occasion of Makar Sankranti every year.

For measuring the growth, an old ceremony is performed by tying the measuring thread around the Shivling at night, which breaks in the morning because of the expansion of the Shivling.

Location and History Of The Temple

This temple is in Pandey Haveli, near the Bengali Tola in the area of Bhelupur in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It is located about 1.5 km southwest of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and 6 km away from Varanasi Cantt Railway Station.

It is said that this place has a history of around 2,500 years, and it is always surrounded by til fields. This place has witnessed the tapasya of Rishi Vibhandak, who had manifested a lingam when he came and settled down here.

What Do Legends Say? The Sacred Story Behind Its Infinite Growth

  • Sage Vibhandak observed the emergence of Shivling from the pile of sesame seeds. The deity’s aura had such an impact on him that he stayed here for decades to meditate. The temple got the name Tilbhandeshwar after combining the word til with Sage Vibhandak’s name.

  • According to local legends, the locals were troubled due to the constant increase of the lingam in the olden days and appealed to Lord Shiva to guide them in some way. As per their wishes, Shiva appeared before them and granted them that the growth of the Shivling would be limited only to the occasion of the Makar Sankranti festival.

  • According to the Shiva Purana and local texts, offering til, jau and Ganga jal at this place saves the devotees from incurable diseases.

    • How To Visit During Sawan 2026

    Darshan and Aarti Timings:

    • Temple Opening Hours: 04:30 am to 09:00 pm daily.

  • Morning Aarti: 10:00 am.

  • Evening Aarti: 07:30 pm.

    • Reaching the Temple:

    • By Train/Bus: Travel by auto-rickshaw or taxi from Varanasi Cantt (BSB) or Banaras (BSBS) Railway Station towards Sonarpura/Bhelupur.

  • By Air: Travel from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (Babatpur) by prepaid taxi to Bhelupur (approx).

    • Key Sawan Rituals:

    • Monday is celebrated with grand Jalabhishek and Rudraabhishek rituals. You should reach there at 4:00 am on Monday to avoid a long queue.

    Conclusion

    Whether you worship the giant Shivling due to your belief in its magical power to cure any disease or because of the legendary growth of the Shivling, you will definitely find yourself in eternal peace.

    Image credits: Instagram

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