A prominent Hindu pilgrimage centre, Baidyanath Deogarh, in Jharkhand, is steeped in spirituality. Home to the famous and unique Baidyanath Temple, which is the only temple in the country to be both a jyotirlinga (shrine representing Lord Shiva) and a shaktipeetha (devotional shrine where the severed body parts of Goddess Sati fell), it holds a special devotional place in the hearts of pilgrims. The popularity of the temple is in part due to its mention in the ancient Hindu texts, Puranas. Deogarh is particularly swarmed with visitors during the mela of Shravan, the fifth month of the Hindu calendar system, coinciding with July and August. During this time, millions of devotees come here from various parts of the country to offer holy water obtained from River Ganges to Lord Shiva. Quaint Deogarh also holds relative significance for those of the Buddhist faith, as there are many ruins of Buddhist monasteries here. The landscape itself is quite inviting and the place enjoys a pleasant climate in winter. Baba Baidyanath Dham The most prominent temple in town that draws devotees in hordes every year, the Baba Baidyanath Temple is revered as both a jyotirlinga (devotional representation of Lord Shiva) and a shaktipeeth (devotional shrines where the severed body parts of Goddess Shakti fell). The temple is among the 12 sacred jyotirlingas in the country and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It also houses idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvati. Prayers begin at 4 am and first the head priest worships with shodashopachar (sixteen services). Then, devotees are allowed to worship the Lord. Legend has it that this is the place where the king of Lanka, Ravana, sacrificed his ten heads one by one to Lord Shiva. Seeing this, the Lord descended on earth and healed Ravana's injuries. Thus, Shiva is called 'vaidhya' meaning doctor or healer. While there are several such legends associated with this sacred land, history too proves its importance. A mention of the temple can be found from 8th century AD, during the rule of the last king of the Gupta dynasty, Adityasena Gupta. During the Mughal period, Raja Man Singh, the ruler of Amber, is said to have built a pond here, which is known as Mansarovar. The temple faces the east and is a plain stone structure with a pyramidal tower, which is 72 ft high. Atop it are three compactly set gold vessels, along with a punchshula (five knives in a trident shape). There is also an eight-petaled lotus called Chandrakanta Mani. Basukinath Temple Basukinath Temple is believed to be the court of Baba Bhole Nath. Temples of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati have been erected here, facing each other. During the opening of the gates, devotees are asked to move away from the gates, as it is believed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati meet each other at this time. Basukinath is one of the oldest temples in the region and is located near the village of Jarmundi. The best time to visit this temple is during the Shravana (a month in the Hindu calendar) mela (fair), between July and August. The place is crowded with devotees during this time. Saffron-clad pilgrims can be seen everywhere and the fair is a good time to soak in some spiritual vibes. Deogarh Archaeological Museum Deogarh became a spot of interest in the reign of the Gupta Dynasty. The place is of major archaeological importance and over the span of several years many excavations have taken place here. The site museum has a fine collection of sculptures discovered from the surrounding areas. Its exhibits attract researchers and history enthusiasts inclined to discover more about the findings of the Gupta period and the evolution of Jainism in this area. Nandan Pahar Hosting a famous Nandi Temple, Nandan Pahar is a hill that lies on the edge of the town and faces a popular Shiva temple. Lying at a distance of just 3 km from Baba Baidyanath Dham station, it is hardly ever missed by devotees. There are many other temples dotting Nandan Pahar, most of which have beautiful idols of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartik. As legend goes, once Ravana tried to enter Shivadham forcibly when Nandi (the bull mount of Lord Shiva), who was the doorkeeper, stopped him. Ravana got furious and threw him down at this site and hence, the hill is known by Nandi's name. The hill also offers beautiful panoramas of the town and also stunning sunrise and sunset views. There is also an entertainment park boasting swimming pools, playing fields and boating facilities. Naulakha Mandir The beautiful Naulakha temple is dedicated to Goddess Radha and Lord Krishna and is about 2 km from the main town. Its architecture looks a lot like that of the Ramakrishna Temple in Belur, West Bengal. The shrine has beautiful idols of the deities that are about 146 ft high. The construction of Naulakha Mandir began with the donation of nine lakh rupees by queen Charushila of Pathuria Ghat, a royal family from Kolkata, and hence the temple has been endowed the name, 'naulakha' ('nau' meaning nine and 'lakha' meaning lakh). The temple also houses an idol of saint Balananda Brahmachari, a saint on whose advise the temple was built. Legend has it that after the sudden demise of her husband, the queen left her home. Depressed and lonely, she met the saint who asked her to build the temple. Prabhu Jagadbandhu Ashram Dedicated to Prabhu Jagadbandhu (or Jagatbandhu), a religious preacher, Prabhu Jagadbandhu (or Jagatbandhu) Ashram is located about 4 km away from Deoghar, on the way to Tapovan. It houses the stone temple of Prabhu Jagatbandhu. Also known as Sri Sri Bandhusundar, Prabhu Jagatbandhu preached the message of love. His followers today comprise Mahanam Sampraday and belong to the Radhaswami sect. Born in year 1871 in a small hamlet of Murshidabad, West Bengal, Prabhu Jagadbandhu passed away on September 17, 1921. His followers believe that he is the reincarnation of Lord Krishna. Those looking to stay a while in a cool and pristine environment can visit this ashram. This is said to be a great spot to reconnect with inner spirituality. Rikhiapeeth This tiny and remote village is a treasure trove for Hindu pilgrims. Lying 12 km from Baba Baidyanath Dham, Rikhiapeeth, also called Sri Sri Panch Dashanam Paramhansa Alakhbarah, is among the oldest yoga ashrams in the country. Established by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, a follower of Swami Shivananda Saraswati, the ashram has been home to many enlightened sages. It is known as tapobhumi, a place of intense spiritual practices and austerities of Swami Satyananda. The peace and serenity enveloping the place can be attributed to the presence of sages and their spiritual practices. The word peeth means the seat of higher learning, thus Rikhiapeeth, in keeping with the word rishi from which Rikhia is derived, aims to disseminate the ancient spiritual knowledge as propagated by the Vedic lineage of rishis in the Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas, as well as impart modern skills to all regardless of caste, creed, nationality, religion and gender. The ashram is a must-visit during Sita Vivah and a grand fair that are organised annually during November and December. Satsang Ashram One of the major religious establishments in India, Satsanga Ashram has over 2,000 branches worldwide. Satsanga Deoghar is the main branch started by Thakur Anukulchandra, who migrated to Deoghar from Himaitpur (now located in Bangladesh). The ashram has large buildings with rooms and dormitories. Accommodations are available for visitors and can be booked online. It also has a free kitchen called Anandabazar, a museum and a zoo within its complex that are open to visitors. The satsang became popular owing to its various philanthropic works. Eventually, the Satsang Chemical Works came up that manufactured medicines based on Sree Sree Thakurs formulae. Slowly, it branched out into the Satsang Press and Satsang Publishing House. It is also connected to the Radhaswami sect. Tapovan The Tapovan hills are located 10 km from Deoghar and boast Tapo Nath Mahadev, a temple of Lord Shiva. Another attraction here is a cracked rock, in whose inner surface one can allegedly see the portrait of Lord Hanuman. This is particularly marvellous as it is almost impossible to insert a paint brush into the crack and draw anything. Below the hill, there is a small kund (water body) and it is believed that Goddess Sita used to bathe in it. Thus, it has been named as Sukta Kund or Sita Kund by local people. The word 'Tapovan' means forest of meditation and in the past, it was a meditation spot (Tapobhumi) for the Nagas (sadhus). Thus, it has been named Tapovan. Trikuta Trikuta Parvat (hill) is a spiritual site for Hindus and lies about 10 km from Deoghar. Since the hill has three main peaks, it has been named Trikutachal ('tri' meaning three). Lying at an elevation of about 2,470 ft, the hill attracts thousands of devotees who come here in the month of Shravan (July-August) to collect wood apple leaves that are offered to Lord Shiva. Hence, this place is also called the garden of Shiva. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at this spot, known as the Trikutachal Mahadeva Temple located at the mouth of River Mayurakshi. Here, you can also find an altar of the goddess of Trishuli. It is a serene place with a cool stream flowing by.
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