The Kashi Vishwanath Temple board has recently come up with a series of decisions aimed at improving the lives of priests, staff and pilgrims. According to a Moneycontrol report, priests who were drawing about Rs 30,000 a month as salary, will now earn nearly triple under the new framework. The resolutions, adopted in a joint meeting of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Vishwa Kshetra Vikas Parishad and the Executive Committee, suggest an approach to safeguarding the temple’s spiritual legacy while addressing long-standing administrative gaps.
Among the most notable developments are the decisions aimed at improving service conditions and strengthening temple networks. Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust CEO Vishwa Bhushan Mishra told ANI that the temple’s priests previously operated without any formal framework. “Our priests previously had no service rules; the contract, including rules, has been approved by the Board. If the government agrees, current priests who accept and sign it will gain improved service conditions. The aim is to provide the best conditions, payments, and integration for priests working in temples across India, respectively,” Vishwa Bhushan Mishra said.
Connecting major pilgrimages
According to the ANI report, the board also endorsed the Tirtha Jal Yojana, a partnership with the Rameshwaram temple designed to build connections between major pilgrimage centers. Additionally, ties with temples like the Shri Kashi Vishalakshi Mata Shakti Peeth are also being formalised.
Beyond religious outreach, practical matters are being addressed too. Staff salaries and allowances are set to increase and the regular visitor pass, suspended due to misuse, will be reinstated with stricter verification requirements. Mishra outlined that visitors without a local ID will need to submit affidavits confirming temporary residence.
The board also approved the creation of the Special Area Development Council to advise on development initiatives.
Other key decisions
During its 108th meeting, the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust approved the establishment of a Vedic education and training institute on 46 bighas of temple land in Mirzapur’s Kakrahi. The institute is expected to foster the preservation and dissemination of ancient scriptures and learning methods, Moneycontrol reported.
According to the report, the Trust has also approved the acquisition of buildings to create a direct passage between the Kashi Vishwanath Dham and the Shakti Peeth Vishalakshi Mata temple. This initiative is expected to improve accessibility and convenience for pilgrims visiting both shrines.
Furthermore, the development of the Sankat Haran Hanuman temple at Benipur in Sarnath was sanctioned, alongside plans for the modernisation of the local cowshed to ensure better care and maintenance of the facilities, the Moneycontrol report stated.