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Bihar, Jharkhand
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Discover the holiest pilgrim sites in India, Explore the boundless energy of the Jyotirlinga and Learn their importance in our lives. It is a common belief that a person who is fortunate to visit all the 12 Jyotirlingas during their lifetime is released from all karmic debt backlog and attains moksha. The 12 Jyotirlingas are associated with each of the 12 zodiac signs and visiting the one associated with a person’s sun sign is recommended . The Lingam is the infinite creation of energy, it is represented by a round stone (symbolic of the dome of the sky) and sitting in the yoni (representing the earth). Sometimes it has a more phallic presentation symbolic of the interwoven divine male and female energies. There are twelve Jyotirlinga temples found throughout India, which are naturally occurring Lingas. These are places where the Linga was found and a temple was built around it. The found Linga already had the power of Shiva within it, it did not need pranpratishta to awaken it or instill Shiva’s energy into it. The jyotirlinga represents the atman (Soul).
World famous pilgrimage Baidyanath Dham is situated in the district headquarter of Deoghar in the state of Jharkhand. Of the revered twelve Joytirlingas it stands at the fifth position. In ancient time this land was very pious and picturesque. It is inscripted in Shiv Purana as Haritaki or Ketaki wood. A prevalent story goes on to state, that heart of Sati had fallen here. The dead body of Sati was dissected by God Vishnu with his Sudarshan Chakra. In this way Shiva and Shakti are conjugally omnipresent in this Joytirlinga. The Matsyapuran narrates the place as Arogya Baidyanathitee, the holy place where Shakti lives and assists Shiva in freeing people from incurable diseases. This whole area of Deoghar was under the rule of the Kings of Gidhaur who were much attached with this temple.
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 Panchshula (five knives in a trident shape). There is also an eight-petaled lotus called Chandrakanta Mani. According to mythology during Baidyanath Joytirlinga transportation by demon king Ravana to Lanka, mid way on his route was this holy land. Ravana had got this Shivalinga as boon by offering extreme meditation and had he installed this Joytirlinga in Lanka, no would have succeeded in killing him. Due to Ravana’s cruelty lord Shiva handed over the Joytirlinga to him on the condition that if he would ever put the Jyotirlinga on the ground, it would not be possible to lift it again. During the course of his journey, with the intent to create hurdles, deities got water and lord Barun entered into Ravana’s belly and with its effect Ravana felt compelled to urinate. He landed down his Puspak Vimana and gave the Joytirlinga to a nearby herd boy who was lord Vishnu in disguise. After having been freed from his nature’s call, as Ravana came to take Joytirlinga, he was astonished to see that herd boy had disappeared and the Joytirlinga was put on the ground. As per conditions Ravana could not lift the Joytirlinga after making so many attempt. Consequently with extreme anger he thrusted the linga with his thumb and went away. In original Joytirlinga the middle part of it was warped.
Bodh Gaya is a village in the northeast Indian state of Bihar. Considered one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, it’s dominated by the ancient brick Mahabodhi Temple Complex, built to mark the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment beneath a sacred Bodhi Tree. A direct descendant of the tree sits within the complex today, along with six other sacred sites, including a lotus pond. The Mahabodhi Temple or the Mahābodhi Mahāvihāra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient, but rebuilt and restored Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. The temple covers an area of nearly 4.8 hectares and 55 m in height. The sanctum carries a lofty pancharatha sikhara of a straight-edged pyramidal design, demarcated into seven storeys by bhumi-amalakas (amalakas occurring at the corners of the sikhara to denote storeys). The sacred Bodhi tree stands to the west of the above temple. It is known as the pipal tree (Ficus religiosa) in India.
Bodhgaya, not so far from Gaya (around 10 KM) is another important place for Hindus for pind daan offerings. As per Hindu’s religious text, Lord Rama visited Gaya Ji around 12 lakh years ago during Treta Yuga to offer pind daan for his father Dasaratha. Gaya organizes Pitru Paksha Mela (Ceremony) every year for 18 days during the month of monsoon seasons (September-October) for pind daan. Lakhs of people around the world visit Gaya Ji during the months of pitru paksha mela to offer pind daan. During Mahabharata, Gaya was known by the name of Gayapuri and got its name from the name of a demon called Gayasur who got the blessing of Lord Vishnu. In the heart of Gaya flows the famous Falgu river which has the significance of offering pind then at its bank.
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