Ratneshwar Mahadev temple

The temple is elegantly constructed in the classical style with a nagara shikhara and phamsana mandapa.[5] The site of the temple is very unusual. Unlike all other temples in Varanasi on the coast of Ganga, the temple is built at a very low level. In fact, the water level can reach the shikhara part of the temple.[6]

It is constructed at a very low spot; the builder must have known that its garbhagriha would be underwater for much of the year. In spite of much of the temple being underwater during most of the year, it is well preserved, except for the lean that can be noted in 20th century photos.

The upper part of temple was sightly damaged in 2016 due to heavy rainfall and lightening.[7]

According to a popular legend, it was built by an unnamed servant of Raja Man Singh for his mother Ratna Bai about 500 years ago. After having built the temple, he proudly boasted that he paid his debt to his mother (Matru-run). However, since the debt to one's mother can never be repaid, the temple started leaning because of a curse by the mother.[3] That is the reason for the alternative name of the temple: Matru-run (Mother's debt). According to another story, it was built by a female servant of Ahilya Bai of Indore, named Ratna Bai. Ahilya Bai cursed it to lean because her servant had named it after herself.[3]

Some sources claim that was built by Queen Baija Bai of Gwalior in the 19th century.[3] According to the revenue records, it was constructed during 1825–1830. However, according to Dr. Ratnesh Varma of District Cultural Committee, it was constructed by the Amethi royal family in 1857.[8] James Prinsep, who was an assay master at the Banaras Mint during 1820–1830,[9] created a series of drawings, one of which includes the Ratneshwar Mahadev temple. He commented that when the temple entrance was underwater, the priest used to dive in the water to conduct worship.

Photographs from 1860s do not show the building leaning. Modern photographs show a lean of about 9 degrees (the Tower of Pisa leans about 4 degrees). The building is likely leaning because it is sinking into silt or due to a faulty foundation.[3] A lightning strike in 2015 caused slight damage to some of the elements of the shikhara.[3]

The temple in Manikarnika Ghat is located in front to the Tarkeshwar Mahadev Mandir [10] built in 1795 by Ahilyabai Holkar[11] where Lord Shiva is said to recite the Taraka Mantra (salvation mantra). Between the two temple is a spot that was termed as the holiest spot in Banaras by James Prinsep in 1832.[12] An 1865 photograph terms one of the temples as the Vishnupad temple. It is likely the Ganesh temple with the Charan Paduka of Lord Vishnu near it (only distinguished individuals can be cremated at the spot[13]). The same spot is said to have been the site of a Sati in a 1903 print.[14]

• 
  Munikurnuka Ghat Benares from the river by James Prinsep, 1832. Tarakeshwar temple on the left..
• 
  A Brahmin placing a garland on the holiest spot in the sacred city by James Prinsep 1832. Tarakeshwar temple on the left and Baba Mashan Nath temple in the center..
• 
  Vishnu Pud and Other Temples near the Burning Gat, Benares. Acquired by King Edward VII when Prince of Wales, 1865. The ghats are apparently under construction..
• 
  "Suttee" pillar, 1903 Stereograph.
• 
  date unknown
• 
  1953
• 
  Submerged temple, 2011. Taken from an angle that does not show the lean.
• 
  date unknown
• 
  2013
• 
  2015

• Kashi Vishwanath Temple
• Hindu temples in Varanasi