Temple Administration Denies Reports of Missing Gold from Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Varanasi, October 14 (Daily Kiran) : Reports claiming that gold has gone missing from the golden spire of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple have been labeled as unfounded by temple officials. They clarified that a portion of the temple’s main spire was damaged, but the related kalash has been secured.

Satyam Mishra, the temple’s Chief Executive Officer, stated that in April 2026, a segment of the spire located at the northwest corner of the temple’s sanctum was compromised. The kalash has since been stored safely in the temple’s repository. Misleading information regarding the missing gold began circulating after a complaint was lodged by attorney Nityanand Rai with the Prime Minister’s Office.

S. Rajalingam, the president of the temple’s executive committee and the Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi, dismissed the allegations of missing gold. He explained that a small gold kalash had fallen from above the northern door due to monkeys jumping around, but it has been secured. The temple administration emphasized that it would not be appropriate to reinstall the kalash without assessing the actual condition of the damaged area. Therefore, they are seeking technical assistance from experts at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras for evaluating the spire’s integrity, conservation, and repair.

The expert team from IIT Madras has already conducted a site inspection and submitted an initial report in July 2026. This report highlighted the erosion caused by environmental effects on natural stone and wood. The experts recommended a micro-analysis of the relevant construction materials and necessary technical assessments before commencing any conservation work. The goal is to scientifically evaluate the temple’s structural condition and develop an appropriate action plan for repairs and conservation.

According to the temple administration, the IIT Madras team will conduct a follow-up inspection of the main temple complex in November 2026. A detailed report will be prepared based on the tests and inspections conducted during this visit. This report will recommend measures to ensure the structural safety of the spire while preserving the temple’s religious, historical, and archaeological significance.

The administration clarified that decisions regarding the repair of the damaged area and the reinstallation of the kalash will be made based on technical assessments and expert advice. All conservation efforts related to the ancient structure and the golden spire will adhere to scientific standards.

The Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust reiterated its commitment to maintaining the temple’s religious dignity, historical heritage, and original structure. All steps related to conservation and repair will be taken based on expert technical consultations.