Baidyanath Dham Mandir at Deoghar in Jharkhand – Baba Baidyanath Shiva Temple at Deoghar in Jharkhand

One of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Shiva, Baidyanath Dham Mandir at Deoghar in Jharkhand is the only place where Shiva is worshipped as Manokamana Linga and Aughara Dani. Baba Baidyanath at the Shiva Temple in Deoghar grants all wishes of his devotees.

As per Padma Puran and Shiva Mahapuran, Ravana performed intense penance to please. Shiva was pleased with the devotion of Ravana and appeared before him.

Ravana asked Shiva to the ever present in his kingdom. To fulfill the wish of his devotee, Shiva gave Ravana one of the Jyotirlinga. But Shiva put the condition that the Shivling should not be kept down. Shiva who knew about the adharmic intentions of Ravana asked Varuna to sit inside the stomach of the demon king.

When Ravana reached Deoghar, Varuna played his part and caused a stomach upset. Ravana had to relieve himself and so he gave the Shivling to a Sadhu, Bhagvan Srihari Vishnu in disguise.

Bhagvan Vishnu then esbalished the Shivling at Deoghar and disappeared.

Ravan who returned could not find the Sadhu and he could not neither pull out the Shivling. Thus he returned to Lanka empty handed.

The original temple was built in 400 BC. The east facing temple has only one narrow entrance. The main Shivling is worshipped in this shrine.

There are around 21 other small temples in the complex dedicated to various gods and goddesses in Hindu pantheon.

The main offering in the temple are gangajal and belpatra or bilva leaves.

Holy ponds and wells like Shivganga, Chandrakup and Mansarovar are located in the temple complex.

The Shravan month attracts nearly a million devotees to the shrine. The devotees arrive carrying ganga jal to offer to Baba Baidyanath.