Himachal has numerous temples, each with some fair or festival connected to it, with legends dating back to countless centuries. The Bajnath temple of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh dedicated to lord Shiva is distinct from the one in Uttaranchal.
Shiva is worshipped here as Vaidyanath or the Lord of Physician. The temple has lent its name to the town as well which earlier was known as Kiragrama. The history of the temple is stated on stone slabs. The Lingam enshrined in its sanctum is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country. Every year during the Shivratri Fair, pilgrims descend on Baijnath for the colorful fair and festivals. The walls of the temple depict sculptors of various gods and goddesses in different ways.
Religious/mythical legends of the temple
It is believed that the King of Lanka, Ravana had worshipped Lord Shiva in the main Baijnath Temple. He sacrificed his head ten times at a place marked out in the temple. And because of this, the people here do not consider it right to celebrate Dussehra which remembers the day when Lord Rama killed Ravana.
The people here think that celebrating Dussehra can offend Lord Shiva a lot. In the past too, whenever any attempt has been made to celebrate the festival, the organiser died within years. Though the fact is that the deaths were in no way related to the celebration of Dussehra, the people here linked the two. Currently plans are again on to start the celebration of Dussehra in a nearby stadium.
Another mythical tale or the truth?
As per another legend Ravana, the king of Lanka, pleased Lord Shiva by his devotion and as a boon asked Lord Siva to live in Lanka for all times. Lord Shiva was pleased in return he gave a large Lilngam to Ravana and asked him to carry it to Lanka, without ever putting it on the ground till he reaches Lanka, otherwise Lord Shiva would settle at the place where the Lingam is put! Ecstatic at taking Shiva to Lanka, Ravana started the journey home. The folklore says that at Baijnath, Ravana suddenly had an urge for a natural call and he handed the lingam over to an old Brahmin directing him not to put the Lingam on the ground. But when he returned, he found the Lingam on ground and hard though he tried, he was not able to extricate the lingam from the ground and there it has been ever since.
Grandeur of an enriching Sculptural facade
The temple has four doors and four ‘dwarpals’ stand guard on these doors. There are many idols of various gods and goddesses, in different postures, in the temple. The six-armed statue of Ganesha is incredible! The pillars outside the temple have the ‘Navgrahas’ inscribed on them. The Nandi’s imposing idol, in the outer courtyard, captures attention.
Location: Fourteen kilometres from the town of Palampur, Beas valley, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh
How to get there: Baijnath lies on the Pathankot-Chakki-Manali National Highway No. 20, half way between Kangra and Mandi. It is about 130 Km from Pathankot, the nearest broad gauge rail head and airport.
Kangra airport at Gaggal near Dharamshala from where small aircraft flies on alternate days to Delhi is 60 Km from Baijnath.
Baijnath is very well connected by roads to Delhi via Chandigarh and to Manali via Mandi and to Shimla also via Mandi.
Note: To get into the temple you have to remove all you leather including belt and purses. If you have a partner, I guess he/she could take a turn to watch over them.
Temples give peace; if your heart is pure, you might feel the presence of the supreme power, a visit to this temple will give you a chance to pay obeisance to the Almighty Shiva. For some it might bring forth a deeper self-realization.
Baijnath temple Picture Gallery
