Baba Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple in Deoghar Jharkhand

About Baidyanath Jyotirlinga

Baidyanatha Temple, also known as the Baba Dham and Baidyanath Baba Dham, is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas sites in Hinduism, and is Shivas most sacred abode.
It is located at Deoghar, in Santhal Paraganas Division of Jharkhand State in India.
The ancient Baba Baidyanath Temple(kamana-linga) which houses one of Indias Twelve Jyotirlingas. There are 21 temples within the compound, except for Baba Baidyanaths main temple, which houses Atmalinga-Swami-linga. There are several temples in the hills, within which are installed the idols of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh, and Kartik.
The temple of Maa Parvati is connected to the main temple by massive sacred red strings, unique and worth reverencing, showing the oneness of Shiva and Sati (the Goddess). The temple of Lord Parvati is located next to the main temple of Lord Shiva, tied with red threads, showing the unity between the two.

According to a story told in Shiv Mahapuran, Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple is similar to unity of the soul, thus fitting for Hindus to marry. It is also believed that Devi Satis heart fell down here at Deoghar, making the Baidyanath Dham as one of 52 Shakti Peethas, wherein it is known as the Jaya Durga Shakti Peeth Temple. According to Shiv Mahapuran Satarudra Samhita, location of the Atmalinga-Shivalinga, or Baidyanath dham, is in Chitahbhoomi, the old name for Deoghar. Being one of Indias main pilgrimage destinations, the home of the Baidyanath temple, one of Lord Shivas twelve jyotirlingas, Deoghar is constantly packed with devotees and tourists throughout the year. There is a temple of Lord Vishnu called as Taponath Mahadeva, that is a center of attraction for pilgrims. It is even more when you keep in mind that the temple at Ajgaivinath is one of three well-known Shiva temples of Bihar and Jharkhand, two others being the Basukinath temple and Baidyanath temple.

Baidyanath Temple is considered to be one of 51 shiva peethas, the place where the hearts of Sati (goddess) fell, having been split apart by the Sudarshana Chakra of Lord Vishnu, from the bodies of the dakshayanis (Sati) carried by a piqued, agitated Shiva, to the place on which the respective temples were built. The temple at Baidyanath Jyotirlinga is the main pilgrimage spot for the Hindus, and the temple is entirely dedicated to Lord Shiva. Baidyanath Jyotirlinga is unique as it houses Shiva linga alongside the ashram, similar to the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga at Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh. The significance of the Baidyanath temple amongst all the 12 Shiva Jyotirlinga sites is because it is also one of 51 shakti peeths of India.

About 8-10 lakh devotees from various parts of India visit Baidyanath Jyotirlinga itself and offer sacred water from Ganga river for the Hindu god Shiva collected at Sultanganj, nearly 108 kilometers away from Deoghar and Baidyanath. Millions of participants gather holy water of the Ganges river and transport it hundreds of miles away to offer as an offering at Baidyanath temples across the Jharkhand State. The main temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, while twenty-one other temples are dedicated to other Hindu gods and goddesses.
The devotees, known as Kanwarias, bring the holy water of Ganges from Sultanganj to Baidyanath Dham, covering the 108 kilometres on foot, not stopping for even one second.
On reaching Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand, the Kanwarias first dip into Ganges for cleansing, then go inside Baba dham, where Ganges water is offered at Jyotirlingam. Shiva devotees, coming from Deoghar, dip into the pond, purifying Shiva devotees, and then offer water to the Jyotirlingam. One of the most unique facts of the temple is that the pilgrims are allowed to offer the holy water on the Jyotirlingam themselves, unlike in the other temples in India with a Jyotirlingam. The most interesting tradition is that priests at Baidyanath temple of Jyotirlingam first pour Kuchcha Jal on lingam, then the pilgrims pour the water on the lingam, as well as offering flowers and Bilva leaves.

By Air – Nearest Airport for Baidyanath Jyotirlinga is Birsa Munda Airport, which is 120 km. far from the temple.

By Train – Nearest station for Baidyanath Temple is Baidyanath Dham Railway Station.

By Road– Baidyanath Jyotirlinga can be easily reached by public transports like bus and cabs.