Baidyanath Temple – Shravan Mela Festival Is One Of The Eminent Festival Celebrating In This Temple Every Year

BAIDYANATH JYOTIRLINGA TEMPLE

AT

DEOGHAR

Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple is one of the famous temples in India. It is a Hindu temple located in Deoghar district, Jharkhand. This is also known as Baba dham and Baidyanath dham. This is of the 12 Jyothirlingas and it is considered a place of shelter for lord Shiva.

Vaidyanath is one of the 51 Shakti peethas, Hindu temples dedicated to Devi/Shakthi . Jyotirlinga of 'yoni peetham' is also considered as a Shakti peetha.

According to Shiva Purana, the demon Ravana, king of Lanka begged lord Mahadeva/Shiva and asked him to come back to Lanka. Lord Mahadeva/Shiva did not accept his prayer but gave him a Linga.

He said that the twelve symbols of the Jyothirlinga were so effective that there should not be a break in the journey and the linga should not be deposited anywhere on the earth. If the linga was put anywhere it would be fixed to that place and cannot be moved. Ravana accept this condition and started the journey.

Lord Vishnu appeared in front of Ravana in the form of a brahmin and talked to him. Unaware of Vidhnu's cunning, Ravana asked the brahmin to hold the Jyothirlinga for a minute.

Lord Vishu accepted it and Ravana relieved himself. When he came back, the jyothirlinga had disappeared.When he searched, he found it fixed to the earth. Out of frustration, he pressed it with his thumb and it got depressed and tilted slightly. This is the story behind the Linga of this famous Indian temple.

Baidyanath temple contains 21 other temples in its temple complex. The main shrine of Lord Shiva is in lotus shape and 72 feet tall. The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Vaidyanath or Baidyanath (Shiva) in the form of Lingam.

Each Jyotirlinga temples takes different manifestation of Lord Shiva and the idol of Lingam is considered as a presiding deity in every Jyotirlinga temples.Lingam represents the beginning less and endless, which symbolizes the infinite nature of Lord Shiva. 

Shravan Mela festival is the famous festival celebrated in this temple in the month July or August which attracts millions of devotees.

The devotees collect holy water of Ganges from Sultanganj which is nearly 117 kilo meters away from the temple.

The pilgrims from various parts of the world, carry the holy water in Kavadi and walk all the distance on bare foot, wearing saffron-dyed clothes and offer that holy water to the presiding deity of Baidyanath temple.

Mahashivaratri – February or March

The temple remains open from morning 04.00 am till evening 03.30 pm.

And in the evening from 06.00 pm till night 09.00 pm.

ByAir

Nearest Airports are Ranchi (385 kms) and Patna (270 kms). And Kolkata can be considered as the next nearest airport.

ByTrain

Nearest rail way station is Jasidih railway station, which is 7 Km from Vaidyanath temple. Jasidh is 311 Km from Howrah/Sealdah on Patna route.

ByRoad

Deoghar is reachable from Kolkata 373 km, Giridih 112 km, Patna 281 km, Dumka 67 km, Madhupur 57 km, Shimultala 53 km and other places. Regular buses are available from surrounding towns.