Revered as Baba Baidyanath Dham, this Jyotirlinga is worshipped as the 'divine physician' who heals body and soul. It is also counted among the Shakti Peethas.
Primary Deity
ShivaLocation
Deoghar, Jharkhand
Pilgrimage Circuit
JyotirlingaBest Time to Visit
October to March for pleasant weather. The Shravan month (July–August) is the peak Kanwar Yatra season with enormous crowds; Mahashivratri is also major.
Baidyanath is honoured both as a Jyotirlinga and as a Shakti Peetha (where the heart of Sati is said to have fallen), giving it a rare dual sanctity. Legend tells that Ravana, seeking Shiva's power, offered his ten heads one by one here, and the pleased Lord came to be established at this spot as the healer of all ailments. Devotees believe worship of Baba Baidyanath cures disease and fulfils heartfelt wishes. The Shravani Mela is regarded as one of the most merit-giving pilgrimages of the year.
Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar ('abode of the gods') is one of the busiest pilgrimage centres in eastern India, its complex housing the main Jyotirlinga shrine surrounded by 21 other temples. During the holy month of Shravan, the Kanwar Yatra sees millions of saffron-clad devotees carry Ganga water on foot over 100 km from Sultanganj to bathe the lingam — one of the world's largest annual religious processions. A sacred thread ritually ties the main temple to the Parvati temple opposite, symbolising the eternal union of Shiva and Shakti. The devotion here is intense, joyful and deeply rooted in folk tradition.
The 12 Jyotirlingas are the holiest abodes of Lord Shiva, where he is worshipped as a self-manifested pillar of radiant light (jyoti). Completing darshan of all twelve is considered one of the highest acts of Shaivite devotion. This temple is one of the 10 sacred sites of the Jyotirlinga.
📍 Pune, Maharashtra
A Jyotirlinga hidden in the forested Sahyadri hills near Pune, cradled within the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is the source of the Bhima river and a haven of both faith and biodiversity.
📍 Aurangabad, Maharashtra
The twelfth and last of the Jyotirlingas, standing close to the UNESCO-listed Ellora Caves. The present red-stone temple was lovingly rebuilt in the 18th century by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar.
📍 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
One of the holiest of all Shiva temples, rising on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi, the eternal city of light. Here Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, the 'Lord of the Universe'.
📍 Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
One of the 12 Jyotirlingas and the presiding deity of the ancient city of Ujjain. Its lingam is uniquely dakshinamukhi (south-facing), a feature found in no other Jyotirlinga.
📍 Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
The second Jyotirlinga, set amid the forested Nallamala Hills on the banks of the Krishna River. It is one of the rare shrines that is simultaneously a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
📍 Dwarka, Gujarat
A Jyotirlinga near Dwarka on the Saurashtra coast, marked by a towering 25-metre seated statue of Lord Shiva visible from far away. Its name means 'Lord of the Nagas (serpents)'.
📍 Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh
A Jyotirlinga set on a river island in the Narmada that is itself shaped like the sacred syllable 'Om'. It is one of the most serene Shaivite pilgrimages in central India.
📍 Veraval, Gujarat
The first among the 12 Jyotirlingas, standing on the western coast of Gujarat where the Arabian Sea meets the shore. It is among the most sacred and storied Shiva temples in all of India.
📍 Nashik, Maharashtra
A Jyotirlinga near Nashik at the source of the sacred Godavari river, famous for its rare lingam bearing three faces — Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is one of the four sites of the Nashik Kumbh Mela.
📍 Birbhum, West Bengal
A Shakti Peetha in Birbhum where the space between Sati's eyebrows is said to have fallen, famous also for its cluster of hot springs. The goddess is worshipped as Mahishamardini.
📍 Birbhum, West Bengal
A Shakti Peetha at Sainthia in Birbhum where the necklace of Sati is said to have fallen, with the goddess worshipped as Nandini.
📍 Birbhum, West Bengal
A Shakti Peetha at Nalhati in Birbhum where the 'nala' (throat pipe / vocal tube) of Sati is said to have fallen, giving the town its name. The goddess is worshipped as Kalika (Nalateswari).
📍 Birbhum, West Bengal
A Shakti Peetha near Santiniketan where the pelvis and bones (kankal) of Sati are said to have fallen, with the goddess Devgarbha worshipped beside a sacred tank rather than as an idol.
📍 Birbhum, West Bengal
A celebrated Shakti Peetha and centre of Tantric sadhana in Bengal, where the third eye of Sati is believed to have fallen. It is inseparable from the memory of the saint Bamakhepa.
📍 Birbhum, West Bengal
A Shakti Peetha at Labhpur in Birbhum where the lips of Sati are said to have fallen, with the goddess worshipped as Fullara amid a serene grove and sacred tank.
Vaidyanath Temple is primarily dedicated to Shiva.
Vaidyanath Temple is located in Deoghar, Jharkhand.
October to March for pleasant weather. The Shravan month (July–August) is the peak Kanwar Yatra season with enormous crowds; Mahashivratri is also major.
Vaidyanath Temple is one of the 10 temples in the Jyotirlinga.
Baidyanath is honoured both as a Jyotirlinga and as a Shakti Peetha (where the heart of Sati is said to have fallen), giving it a rare dual sanctity. Legend tells that Ravana, seeking Shiva's power, offered his ten heads one by one here, and the pleased Lord came to be established at this spot as the healer of all ailments. Devotees believe worship of Baba Baidyanath cures disease and fulfils heartfelt wishes. The Shravani Mela is regarded as one of the most merit-giving pilgrimages of the year.
Affiliate disclosure: Sanatan Hindu participates in the Amazon Associates Programme and the CueLinks affiliate network (Myntra & Flipkart). This page contains affiliate links, if you click and buy, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure.
Clicking opens Amazon.in. Prices and availability may vary.
Browse all pooja itemsAmazon Associates tag: geekydevelope-21
Clicking opens Flipkart via our affiliate link. Prices and availability may vary.
Shop on FlipkartCueLinks Publisher: 300371
Clicking opens Myntra via our affiliate link. Prices and availability may vary.
CueLinks Publisher: 300371
Join our free newsletter, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
