Baidyanath and Nageshwara Temples: 12 Jyotirlingas (Part 6)

Famous for pilgrimage by Kanvarias (devotees of Shiva) and Kanwar Yatra, this shrine comprises 22 temples with the main one being dedicated to Baba Baidyanath. It is situated in the Deoghar town of Jharkhand where the Maa Parvathi temple is tied up with the main temple, with huge red sacred threads which are unique, showing the unity of Shiva and Shakti. Baba Baidyanath Temple symbolizes the unity of souls, which is the most fundamental concept being at the heart of the Hindu marriages as per the narration in the Shiva Purana.

According to Puranas, it is believed that the Rakshasaraja Ravana worshipped Shiva at the site where the current temple complex is present to get the boons that he later used to create havoc in the world. Ravana offered his ten heads (Dashanan) one after another to Shiva as a sacrifice (bali). Lord Shiva was pleased with his worship and he descended to cure Ravana who was injured. As he acted as a Vaidhya (doctor), the temple derived its name as Baidyanath and the principal deity is worshipped as Baba Baidyanth. Shravani Mela and Mahashivratri are the most important festivals here along with an interesting tradition of worshipping in which Pujari of the Mandir pour kuchcha Jal upon the lingam first followed by pouring of water by pilgrims and offering flowers and bilva leaf to Baba Baidyanath.

Located near Dwaraka, one of the ‘Char Dham’ pilgrimage sites for Hindus, the Nageshwara Temple is the 10th Jyotirlinga situated in the state of Gujarat. Famous for its garden and a fascinating view of the Arabian Sea, Lord Shiva resides here in the form of Nageshwara (Lord of the Mountains). A 25-meter tall statue of Lord Shiva in a seated position is a great attraction of this temple and provides a perfect backdrop for a nice remembrance picture.

According to Shiva Purana, Nageshwara Jyotirlinga is situated in ‘the Darukavana’, an ancient name of a forest named after a demoness Daruka, who was a great devotee of Mata Parvathi. Daruka’s husband, a demon named Daruk tyrannized the local people and imprisoned a Shiva devotee named Supriya. Supriya, being a great devotee of Lord Shiva, motivated everyone to start chanting the mantra Om Namaha Shivay while he prayed and developed a lingam. Daruka and the demons were defeated at the hands of Lord Shiva and this lingam that Supriya had set up was called Nagesha. Being home to many pilgrimage centers, this town became popular as Devbhoomi Dwaraka.