Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple : Story Of Baidyanath Temple
According to the stories narrated in the Shiva Purana, it
was in the Treta yuga that Ravana the king of Lanka, felt that his capital
would not be perfect and free from enemies unless Mahadeva (Shiva) stays there
forever. He paid continuous meditation to Mahadeva. Ultimately Shiva got
pleased and permitted him to carry his lingam with him to Lanka. Mahadeva
advised him not to place or transfer this lingam to anyone. There should not be
a break in his journey to Lanka. If he deposits the lingam anywhere on the
earth, in the course of his journey, it would remain fixed at that place
forever. Ravana was happy as he was taking his return journey to Lanka.
The other gods objected
to this plan; if Shiva went to Lanka with Ravana, then Ravana would become
invincible and his evil and anti-vedic deeds would threaten the world.
On his way back from
Mount Kailash, it was time for Ravana to perform sandya-vandana (evening
prayer) and he could not carry out sandya-vandha with Shiva linga in his hand
and therefore searched for someone who could hold it for him. Vishnu then
appeared as a shepherd who was rearing sheeps nearby. Ravana requested Ganesh
pretending as shepherd to hold the linga while he completes sandya-vandana and
also guided him not to place the linga on ground at any movement.
Ganesha warned Ravana
about leaving the linga on the bank of the river and walking away if he doesn’t
return soon. Vishnu, pretending to be vexed by Ravena’s delay, set the linga
down on earth. The moment linga was kept down, it got fixed to the ground. When
Ravana after returning from Sandya-vandana tried to move the linga, but he
could not. Ravan failed miserably in his attempt to uproot the linga. The Gods
were happy with Shiva linga not reaching Ravana’s place.
In the 8th century A.D., the last Gupta Emperor Adityasena
Gupta ruled this region. The Babadham temple has been famous since then.
During Mughal Period,
Raja Man Singh, the brother-in-law of Akbar created a Pond at Deoghar which is
known as Mansarovar.
Pilgrimage to Baidyanath
was well recognized in the Muslim period as well. There is an interesting
account of the pilgrimage to Baidyanath in the Khulasati-t-twarikh written
between 1695 and 1699 A.D.
From the writings of
Khulasati-t-twarikh it is evident that the importance of Babadham temple has
been well admitted by all.
In the 18th century, the
Maharaja of Gidhaur faced political turmoil. He had to fight against the Nababs
of Birbhum. Under the Muhammadan government, the chief priest appears to have
paid a fixed rent to the Nabab of Birbhum, and the administration of the temple
seems to have been left entirely in the hands of the priest. For a few years
the Nabab ruled over Babadham. Subsequently, the Maharaja of Gidhaur defeated
the Nabab and Babadham was brought back under his rule till the East India
Company came in.
In 1757 after the battle
of Pallsy the officers of the East India Company paid their attention to this
temple. An English man, Keating was sent to look at the administration of the
temple. Mr. Keating, the first English collector of Birbhum, took interest in
the administration of the temple. In 1788, under Mr. Keating’s order Mr.
Hesilrigg, his assistant, who was probably the first English man to visit the
holy city, set out to supervise personally the collection of the pilgrim
offerings and dues. Later, when Mr. Keating himself visited Babadham, he was
convinced and forced to abandon his policy of direct interference. He handed
over the full control of the temple to the hands of the high priest.
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