Baidyanath Dham Historical Significance
Jyotirlingas are Lord Shiva’s sacred temples, and it is said that Lord Shiva has visited them; hence they have a special place in the hearts of Shiva devotees. There are a total of 12 of them in India. The Sanskrit term jyotirlinga indicates “light column or pillar.” The emptiness of a beginning and an end is symbolized by the ‘Stambha’ sign.
The Jyotirlingas are Shiva’s infinite incarnations, whose magnificence has enthralled devotees from the beginning of time. Thousands of pilgrims go from all around the world to visit Lord Shiva’s hallowed sanctuaries and find spiritual tranquility.
The 12 Jyotirlingas are:
- Somnath Temple, Gujarat
- Mallikarjuna Temple, Andhra Pradesh
- Mahakaleshwar Temple, Madhya Pradesh
- Omkareshwar Temple, Madhya Pradesh
- Baidyanath Dham, Jharkhand
- Bhimashankar Temple, Maharashtra
- Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram
- Nageshwar Temple, Gujarat
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Uttar Pradesh
- Trimbakeshwar Temple, Maharashtra
- Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand
- Grishneshwar Temple, Maharashtra
Baidyanath Dham:
Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple, also known as Baidyanath Dham, is one of India’s twelve Jyotirlinga temples and is regarded to be Lord Shiva’s most sacred home. It is also one of the hallowed 108 Shakti Peethas in Hindu mythology, in addition to being one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Mata Sati’s heart had fallen here, hence it’s also known as Hridaypeeth.
Baidyanath Dham is situated in Deoghar, Jharkhand’s Santhal Paraganas district. Deoghar is a Hindi term that translates to “Home of Gods,” with “Deo” standing for “God” and “Ghar” standing for “Home.” In Sanskrit texts, Baidhyanath Dham is known as Haritaki Van and Ketaki Van. It is stated that all of the desires of individuals who visit this place are granted. As a result, this Jyotirling is also known as the ‘Kamna Linga.’
During the Shravan Mela, the Baba Baidyanath Dham Temple attracts millions of worshippers. It’s extremely impressive since they bring water to the temple from the Ganges River in Sultangaj, which is 108 kilometers distant. The devotee line is said to span the entire 108 kilometers without being interrupted.
Legend of the Temple:
When Ravana, King of Lanka, realized that his city would be unfinished and under continual attack from adversaries unless Mahadeva (Lord Shiva) consented to reside there indefinitely, he prayed to the Lord constantly. Ravana was granted permission to take his ‘Atmalinga’ to Lanka on the basis that there would be no breaks in the voyage and that the lingam would not be passed to anybody else. If this occurs, the lingam will be permanently lodged in the location where it was placed.
The other gods were opposed to this idea because they understood that if Shiva accompanied Ravana to Lanka, Ravana’s terrible activities would endanger the whole universe. Varuna, the God of Water, was therefore summoned to infiltrate Ravana’s belly on his trip back. Ravana felt compelled to release water when the Lord did so, so he gave over the lingam to a Brahmin who was Lord Ganesha in disguise. The lingam was put here by the Brahmins, and it is today renowned as Baidyanath Dham.
Ravana made every effort to remove the lingam from its original location. As a result of his aggravation at not being able to do so, he resorted to violence, damaging the lingam in the process. His remorse compelled him to return to the location daily, which he did for the rest of his life.
How to reach the temple?
- Flight: Deoghar is not accessible by any direct flights. The nearest airport to Deoghar is Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport, Patna.
- Rail: Baidyanath Dham is located in Deogarh, Jharkhand, close to the Jasidih railway station. This railway station is directly connected to Baidyanath Dham railway station and is located on the major Howrah-Patna-Delhi train route.
- Bus: Passenger buses run routinely from surrounding major towns like Ranchi, Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Bhagalpur, and Patna to Baidyanath Dham Temple.
- Road: Baiydanath Dham Temple is close to the GT Road, which links Kolkata and Delhi. The three most common ways to Baba Dham are:
Baba Baidyanath Dham to Patna (Deoghar-Jasidih-Chakai-Kodarma-Nawada-Biharsarif-Bakhtiyarpur-Patna)
Badiyanath Dham to Ranchi (Deoghar-Sarath-Madhupur-Giridih-Dhanbad-Chas-Bokaro-Ramgarh-Ranchi)
Baba Dham to Kolkata (Deoghar-Sarath-Chitra-Jamtara-Chitranjan-Asansol-Durgapur-Kolkata)
Best time to visit:
Best time to visit:
The greatest time to visit Deoghar’s sacred pilgrimage is during the winter months, especially from October to March. The summers are hot, and the monsoons may put a damper on your plans, yet if the downpour is over average, it’s pleasant and welcoming. June through August is the finest time to visit Deoghar’s temples since you may participate in the yearly Shrawan Mela.
Places to visit:
- Nandan Pahar
- Tapovan Caves and Hills
- Naulakha Mandir
- Basukinath
- Satsang Ashram
Suggested Itinerary:
- Day 1 – Arrive at Deoghar around lunchtime, if possible, and relax. In the evening, take a stroll around the main market, where you may buy valuable curios and souvenirs, particularly sacred Baidyanath Dham mementos to take home to your relatives.
- Day 2 – The second day is the best time to begin your journey to Baidyanath Dham, which is only 2 kilometers from Deoghar.
- Day 3 – Ideally, this day should be set out for relaxation. However, if you want to get a sense of the full town, start by visiting the Naulakha Mandir. After that, you may go on a hiking adventure to the Trikuta Parvat or travel to Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapeeth to do some soul seeking and religious studies.
Things to know before visiting:
- Photography is strictly prohibited in the Baidyanath temple.
- There are also VIP entry options available if you don’t want to wait in line.
- Proper clothing is compulsory in the temple.
- Springer Darshan in the evening is a sight to see, and Puja should be performed very early morning.
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