Temple Details

Baidyanath Temple   Deoghar


About Baidyanath Temple

The Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple, also commonly referred to as the Baidyanath Dham, is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India and is considered to be the most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva. Located in Deoghar in the Santhal Parganas division of the state of Jharkhand in India, the large and magnificent temple complex comprises of the main temple of Baba Baidyanath, where the Jyotirlinga is installed, along with twenty-one other significant and beautiful temples. The giant temple complex is a fantastic place to be at, regarding the tranquillity and peace that it offers. 

The Baba Baidyanath Temple at Deoghar has a remarkable and rich history attached to it. The temple finds mention in several ancient scriptures and continues to be used even in modern day history books. The history of this Jyotirlinga goes back to the Treta Yuga, at the time of Lord Rama. According to popular Hindu beliefs, the demon Ravana, king of Lanka, worshipped Shiva at this very site, where the temple is currently located; to get blessed with the boons that he later wanted to use to wreak havoc in the world. Interestingly, Ravana offered his ten heads one after the other, as a sacrifice to Lord Shiva. Pleased with this act, Shiva proceeded to descend to the Earth to cure Ravana, who was injured. Since Lord Shiva had acted as a doctor, he is referred to as 'Vaidhya', and it is from this aspect of Shiva that the temple derives its name.

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The Baidyanath Temple is famous all across the world for its Shravan Mela that takes place in July and August. About 7 to 8 million devotees visit this place from all parts of the country and partake in this lively fest. In this festival, devotees collect holy water of the Ganga from Sultanganj and then walk barefoot all the way up to Baidyanath, which is 108 kilometres away.