Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple - Deoghar

Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple, situated in the city of Deoghar, is a magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is home to both Jyotirlinga temple and shaktipeeth as well. The word “Deoghar” means Home of Gods and Goddesses. Deoghar is an important pilgrimage and spiritual destination with very old and beautiful temples dedicated to various Gods and Goddesses.

About Baidyanath temple

Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple, an abode of Lord Shiva, is one of the twelve jyotirlinga temples in India. This sacred temple is located in a temple complex in Deoghar, Jharkhand, India. There are 22 different temples including the main temple of Baba Baidyanath in this complex. The other shrines are dedicated to Parvati, Ganesha, Kalabhairav, Hanuman, Brahma, Saraswati, Kali, Annapurna, Lakshmi Narayan, etc. Thousands of devotees visit the temple on a daily basis to receive the blessings of Lord Shiva. The significance of this place is it has one of the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and also one of the 51 shaktipeethas of Goddess Parvati where the heart of Sati (Parvati) fell. Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Vaidyanath and Parvati is worshipped as Goddess Jaya Durga.

The significance of this place is that the Goddess Parvati temple is tied up with the main temple, with huge red sacred threads. It symbolizes the unity of Shiva and Shakti.

What is Jyotirlinga

Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India, where it is believed that the supreme deity of Hinduism, Lord Shiva himself resides in different manifestations in the form of linga. Jyotirlinga means a column of light. Lingam signifies the infinite nature of Lord Shiva, without the beginning and the end. According to ancient scripture, Shiva Puran and Nandi Puran, Lord Shiva will have a presence all over the space. However, his presence will be felt more in these jyotirlingas. In all these places, Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Lingam.

Legend behind Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple

There is a story mentioned in Shiva Purana related to the Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple. It is said that the demon king Ravana worshipped Lord Shiva at the current place of the temple to become invincible. In intense worship, he offered his ten heads as a sacrifice. Pleased with this, Lord Shiva appeared in front of him and restored Ravana in his original form. Here, Lord Shiva played the role of a Vaidya (or physician) in curing Ravana. Hence, Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Vaidyanath (or Baidyanath).

Another story states that the demon king Ravana, being a great devotee of Lord Shiva, requested him to stay in his kingdom Lanka, in Jyotirlinga form. Lord Shiva gave him the Jyotirlinga with a condition that he should not stop anywhere in between. The Gods feared that if he worshiped the Jyotirlinga in his place, he would become invincible. They requested Lord Vishnu to help them. As Ravana was flying from Kailasa to Lanka, Lord Varuna (Lord of water), entered Ravana’s stomach and the demon king had to descend to earth to relieve himself. At this time, Lord Vishnu, disguised as an old brahmin, befriended him and offered to hold the linga for a minute. As soon as Ravana turned his back, Lord Vishnu placed the lingam on the ground. Ravana tried to uproot the linga but failed. Thus, this place became one of the twelve jyotirlingas.

Baidyanath Temple Timings

Temple Opening - 4 AM
Darshan Timings - 5:30 AM 3:30 PM AND 6 PM to 9 PM
Shodashopachar Pooja - 4 AM to 5:30 AM
Shringar Pooja - 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM

The significance of this temple is that the devotees can worship and perform abhishek to the Jyotirlinga themselves. As a normal tradition of the Shiva temples, the devotees are allowed to offer bilva leaves and flowers to Shivalinga.

Shravan Mela

During the period of Shravan month (between July and August), millions of devotees visit the temple and offer holy water of Ganga. The water is collected from Sultanganj, which is 108 km from the temple. During this time, a large number of people walk barefoot carrying water to the temple.

How to reach the Baidyanath temple

A major pilgrimage center, Deoghar attracts thousands of pilgrims every day. The temple is well connected with other Indian cities. Deoghar will have its own international airport operational in the coming days and it will cut down excess travel time for pilgrims.

By Air - The nearest airport is Jayaprakash Narayan Airport, Patna, at a distance of 260 km. There are daily flights from major Indian cities. Another airport is at Ranchi airport, which is at a distance of 270 km. Very soon there will be an international airport in Deoghar itself.
By Train - The nearest railway station is the Jasidih railway station, which is 7 km from Baidyanath temple and it is well connected with other Indian cities.
By Road - Deoghar city is well connected with other Indian cities. Daily buses ply from Patna, Ranchi, or Kolkata.

Places to Visit near Baidyanath Temple

The name “Deoghar” means Home of Gods and Goddesses. True to its name, there are many beautiful and magnificent temples in the city of Deoghar. It is an important pilgrimage destination. Many temples and spiritual places can be covered on a trip.

Naulakha Temple

Naulakha Mandir is situated 1.5 km from the main Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga temple. The temple is dedicated to Radha and Krishna. Naulakha means 9 lakhs in Hindi. The amount spent on the construction of the temple is 9 lakh rupees in 1940. Hence they named it Naulakha Mandir. This amount was donated by Rani Charushila of the Pathurighat royal family of Kolkata. The 146 ft high temple with great architecture is a visual treat for the pilgrims. The temple design resembles the Ramakrishna Mutt of Belur.
Nandan Pahar

Nandan Pahar is a hill, situated at a distance of around 5 km from the Vaidyanath Dham. There is a temple dedicated to Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva, and an amusement park. There are about a few steps to climb. It is a beautiful place with lots of activities and ideal for spending the evening with family. The amusement park consists of boating and joy rides. The theme houses like mirror house, ghost house will make you entertained. Also, it is a good place to witness beautiful sunrise and sunsets. The hill is open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM with an entry fee of Rs. 10.
Basukinath Temple

The Vasukinath temple is a famous temple located on the Dumka highway at a distance of 50 km from Deoghar. The temples dedicated to Shiva and Parvathi are positioned in front of each other. Also, other shrines dedicated to different Gods and Goddesses can be found within the temple complex.
Trikut Parvat and Mayurakshi River

As the name suggests, Trikut Parvat is three connected peaks of the hill. It is an adventurous spot with a lush green view and rocky terrain. There is a cable car to take tourists to the top of the hill, which costs Rs. 150. You can also trek to the peak of the hill.