Baidyanath Shiva Temple
Situated in Deoghar in Jharkhand the Baidyanath Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva. The picturesque location of the temple offers a sense of serenity to people who come from far and wide.
It is a temple complex consisting of the main temple of Baba Baidyanath, where the Jyotirlinga is installed, and 21 other temples
The legend about Baidyanath Shiva Temple
Ravana is stated to have worshipped Shiva at the current site of the temple to get the boons that he later used to wreak havoc in the world. Ravana offered his ten heads one after another to Shiva as a sacrifice.
Pleased with this, Shiva descended to cure Ravana who was injured. As he acted as a doctor, he is referred to as Vaidhya (meaning doctor) and hence the name Vaidyanath or Baidyanath.
Baidyanath Shiva Temple in Mythology
According to the Shiva Purana, during the Treta yuga Ravana, the ruler of Lanka felt that he wouldn’t be free from enemies unless Shiva stays at his capital permanently. He performed penance to please Shiva.
Shiva was satisfied with his devotion and allowed him to carry his Atmalinga to his kingdom. But he advised Ravana not to transfer the linga to anybody as there should not be a break during his journey. In case he would put the lingam anywhere else than Lanka on earth during his journey, it would stay fixed there permanently.
The other gods were worried because if Ravana took Shiva with him to Lanka he would become invincible. He would, therefore, become a threat to the world. They didn’t want Shiva to protect him.
They, therefore, came up with a plan to stop Ravana and requested Varuna (God of water) to enter Ravana’s stomach while he was returning from Kailash. While returning to his Kingdom, Ravana felt a severe urge for releasing water. He was looking for a man who would temporarily hold the linga.
Vishnu appeared before Ravana disguised as a Brahmin. Ravana could not recognize him and handed him the linga. But he could not ease himself very soon. Taking advantage of the situation, the Bramhin placed the lingam at the place where the temple stands today.
Ravana tried his level best to remove the linga but he could not. He used violence and pushed the linga with his thumb. The marks created by his thumb are visible even today.
