Baidyanath Dham, which is also known as Babadham, is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva. The ancient temple complex of Baidyanath houses 22 beautiful temples along with the main Jyotirlinga temple.
Baidyanath Temple History
Baidyanath finds citations in numerous Hindu textbooks like Shivapurana, Matsyapurana, and Ramayana along with contemporary history books. Set in a spectacular position near the Mayurkashi River, the temple is cherished by religious trippers.
A beautiful Shaktipeeth sanctum sanctorum of Goddess Parvati is situated next to the main temple. Baidyanath is a testimony to the sacred bond of Shiva and Shakti, which is believed to be the foundation of the world. In the auspicious month of Shravan lakhs of pilgrims visit Baidyanath for blessings.
There are numerous stories about the origin of Baidyanath that are current in the city of Deoghar. The most popular story is that in the Treta Yuga, the Lankan king Ravana prayed incessantly to Lord Shiva. Ravana wanted to convert Mahadev to stay in Lanka for the safety of the megacity. Pleased by his devotion, Shiva allowed him to take his ‘ Atmalingam ’ to Sri Lanka.
But the Lord put forth a condition that the lingam shouldn’t break or be transferred to another person on the trip. The Gods stressed that Ravana would stir annihilation in the world under the safety of Lord Shiva. The water God Varun entered Ravana’s belly, and he felt a strong appetite to release water, so he handed the Shiv Linga to a Brahmin.
The Brahmin placed the Lingam in Deoghar and therefore it got fixed in this place. Enraged by this, Ravana resorted to violence and damaged the Lingam while trying to lift it. He felt very guilty and started offering his 10 heads one by one to Lord Shiva. Pleased with his penance, Lord Shiva appeared and healed all his injuries. Therefore, he got the name “ Baidya ”, and this place came to be known as Baidyanath.
Goddess Sati offered her life to revolutionary against her father’s expostulation of her marriage with Shiva. In order to recognize her death, Lord Vishnu divided her body into 52 corridors which fell into different places on earth and turned into sanctuaries. These places are called Shaktipeethas, and Baidyanath Shaktipeeth is where Sati’s heart fell on earth.
The Birth of the Temple
The Baidyanath temple appeared as a symbolic column of light which is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The temple holds immense significance in the hearts of Shiv Bhakts and draws crowds of addicts every time. One unique point of Baidyanath is that it’s worshipped as a Jyotirlingam as well as a Shaktipeetham.
According to Shiva Purana, the holy temple signifies the godly concinnity of Shiva and Shakti; therefore, it’s considered veritably auspicious for Hindu marriages. It is believed that when a couple marries or visits a temple, their souls are bound together for eternity. Thus, thousands of Hindu couples from around the world come to Baidyanath Jyotirlinga for blessings.
The temple also finds citation in Matsyapurana as “ Arogya Baidyanathitee ”, the place where Shakti assists Lord Shiva in mending addicts from all mortal distemperatures. Shiva addicts believe that whoever visits the temple gets relieved of all material adversities. Addicts can attain Moksha( deliverance) by worshipping this deified sanctum.
Architectural Significance
The beautiful temple at Deoghar has a commodious yard that is bound by colossal white gravestone walls. Baba Baidyanath Dham complex houses about 22 other temples devoted to different divinities. According to religious beliefs, the mastermind of Gods, Vishwakarma, erected this beautiful temple. The temple has three corridors the main structure, the middle part, and the entrance.
The 72- bases high beautiful temple shikhara gives it the appearance of white- a petalled lotus. The top has three gold vessels placed in a thrusting order that Raja Puran Singh, King of Gidhaur, bestowed on the temple. Apart from these utensils, there is also a lotus gem with eight petals, which is known as Chandrakanta Mani.
Inside the temple, Sanctorum lies the sacred Jyotirlinga which is about 5 elevations in the periphery, raised over a 4-inch gravestone arbor. The temple of Goddess Parvati is situated adjacent to the main Shiva temple and the shikhara of both the temples are tied with sacred cloths. A unique feature of the Baba Baidyanath Temple is that the entire temple is made of a single stone, which adds to its architectural charm.
Poojas & Rituals
The deification observances in the Baidyanath Mandir begin every day at 4 AM when the Head clerk does “ Shodashopchar ”( 14 different rituals). The Baidyanath Shivling preachers perform Pooja by pouring Kuccha Jal( pure water) on lingam first, followed by immolations of flowers and Bel leaves by pilgrims. During the day the worship continues till 3:30 pm after which the temple is closed and reopened for Shringar Puja at 6 pm. The addicts also offer the notorious Deoghar Peda in an offering to Lord Shiva. The Baba Baidyanath temple timings are 4:00 AM to 9 PM.
There’s a special ritual that takes place in the temple where levies climb the Shikhar of Shiva and Parvati tabernacles to tie them with sacred red vestments offered by addicts. This is a veritably auspicious ritual that’s emblematic of the concinnity of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
The Shravan Mela( fair) in the month of July- August is the most remarkable event celebrated in Baidyanath Dham Deoghar. Further than 8 million addicts flock to Baidyanath to offer holy water of River Ganga collected from Sultanganj.
Gangajal is kept in two vessels, which are tied to the ends of a beautifully decorated bamboo pole, called a “kanwar”. The addicts carry “ Kanwar ” on their shoulders and cover a distance of 108 km at the bottom to reach Baidyanath.
Leelas Around Baidyanath
The Baba Baidyanath temple Jyotirlinga has witnessed numerous cautions over the times that might leave the listeners complexed. One similar phenomenon lies in its times-long tradition of tying the temple of Lord Shiva and Parvati with red vestments. Locals claim that whoever participates in this holy ritual leads a fat and healthy life. For numerous levies, this ritual is like a family tradition that’s performed by all generations. Numerous of these people indeed go on to live for further than 100 times, and no accident has been recorded during this ritual. There’s no logical explanation for this fact, and numerous are impelled to believe that this is nothing but the blessings of Mahadev.
A story goes that formerly a couple had visited Baidynath Shivling to seek Baba’s blessings for a happy wedded life. Nevertheless, their relationship deteriorated over time and reached the point of divorce. But by an inexplainable turn of fortune, the couple claimed to have sought guidance from Lord Shiva and revivified their relationship. They still visit the temple every time to perform sacred rituals and seek blessings. Baidyanath is also a source of miraculous healings witnessed by thousands of addicts suffering from incorrigible conditions.
How to Reach Baidyanath Temple
The nearest airport is Ranchi. Take a cab from there to reach Baidyanath.
The nearest railway station to Deoghar is Jasidih. You can also book an Auto-Rickshaw and taxis from Jasidih Railway Station to reach Baidyanath Dham.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Where is Baidyanath Temple located?
Baidyanath Temple, also known as Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple, is located in the Deoghar quarter of Jharkhand, India.
2. What’s Baidyanath Temple notorious for?
Baidyanath Temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga sanctuaries devoted to Lord Shiva. It’s considered largely sacred among Hindus and attracts thousands of pilgrims and addicts annually.
3. Is Baidyanath Temple associated with any mythological story?
Yes, there’s a popular mythological story associated with Baidyanath Temple. It’s believed that Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, was a great sucker of Lord Shiva. To gain immense power, Ravana sought to bring the Jyotirlinga from Mount Kailash. Still, Lord Vishnu tricked him and the Jyotirlinga was established in Deoghar.
4. What’s the significance of the Jyotirlinga in Baidyanath Temple?
The Jyotirlinga in Baidyanath Temple is considered an incarnation of Lord Shiva. It’s believed to retain immense spiritual and mending powers, and addicts visit the Temple seeking blessings and relief from affection.
5. What’s the stylish time to visit Baidyanath Temple?
The Temple sees a high affluence of pilgrims during the Shravan month( July- August) of the Hindu timetable, particularly during the Shravani Mela. piecemeal from that, you can visit throughout the time. The climate is fairly mild during the downtime months, making it a comfortable time to explore.
6. What’s the Shravani Mela?
The Shravani Mela is a periodic religious event held in the month of Shravan, where addicts take over a passage to the Baidyanath Temple. Numerous addicts carry holy water from the Ganges to pour over the Jyotirlinga as immolation.
