Lord Siva As Jyothirlingams - Sri Venkateswara Temple of North ...

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1. Ohm! Nama Siva aye! Lord Siva. As. Jyothirlingams. (By Radhakrishnamurthy Bhandaru). Part 6: “Saurashtre Somanathamcha Srisaile Mallikarjunam|.
Ohm! Nama Siva aye!

Lord Siva As Jyothirlingams Part 6:

(By Radhakrishnamurthy Bhandaru)

“Saurashtre Somanathamcha Srisaile Mallikarjunam| Ujjayinya Mahakalam Omkaramamaleswaram || Paralyam Vaidyanathancha Dakinyam Bheema Shankaram Setu Bandhethu Ramesam, Nagesam Darukavane||Varanasyantu Vishwesam TryambakamGautameethate|Himalayetu Kedaaram, Ghrishnesamcha shivaalaye||Etani jyotirlingani, Saayam Praatah Patennarah|Sapta Janma Kritam pApam, Smaranena Vinashyati||”

Vaidyanath (Baijnath) Jyothirlingam There is some controversy regarding the actual location of this Jyothirlingam. Three places claim that Vaidyanath Jyothirlingam is at their place. These three places are: 1. Parli, Maharastra, 2.Deoghar, Jharkhand, and 3. Baijnath, Himachala Pradesh.

1. Parli Vaidyanatha In the above Sloka Parli Vaidyanath is the Fifth Jyothirlingam. In Hindu mythology Parli is a place on the slopes of Meru or Naganarayana Mountain or Parvatam. It is an ancient village located near three rivers, Braham, Venu and Sarswathi, and considered as a holy place. It was known as Kanthipura, Madhyarekha, Vijayanthi, or Jyanthi. It is in Beed District in central Maharastra. Legend According to a legend in Puranas, when Gods and Demons churned Ksheera Sagara or Milky Ocean for Amrutham (nectar) fourteen Ratnas (gems) emerged. There were Amrutham and Dhanvantari (Vaidya or doctor) among them. When Demons rushed to Amrutham Lord Vishnu hid both Amrutam and Dhanvantari in the Sivalingam at Perli. When Demons touched the Sivalingam flames emerged and Demons got scared and ran away. But when 1

Gods touched the Sivalingam Amrutam flowed freely for them. This Sivalingam at Perli is supposed to have both Amrutam and Dhanvantari. Parli is surrounded by mountains and forests with medicinal plants. Because of the presence of Dhanvantari in the Sivalingam, and of its surroundings Parli Jyothirlingam is called Vaidyanath. Devotees visiting this place are allowed to touch the Jyothirlingam for good health and long life. Another legend from mythology is about the demon king of Lanka, Ravanasura or Ravana, and his penance to Lord Siva for Lord‟s Atmalingam. Ravana was a great devotee of Lord Siva. Ravana promised his mother that he would bring Lord Siva‟s Atmalingam for her daily worship. Ravana went to a forest and did penance to Lord Siva. Siva did not respond to Ravana‟s penance. Ravana, who had ten heads displeased with Lord Siva, started chopping off his heads one after another. When he was about to chap his tenth head Lord Siva appeared before Ravana and asked Ravana what he wanted. Ravana replied that he wanted Lord Siva‟s Athmalingam to take it to Lanka for his mother‟s daily worship. Lord Siva unwillingly agreed Ravana‟s request on one condition that Ravana should not put the Lingam on the ground until he reaches Lanka. Lord Siva also told Ravana that if the lingam touches the ground anywhere on his way to Lanka it would penetrate in to the ground and stay there permanently. Ravana agreed to the condition, got the Lingam from Lord Siva and started his journey back to Lanka. On his way, when he reached Parli on the slopes of Meru Parvatam, he had an urge to answer nature‟s call. He was puzzled, there was nobody with him to entrust with the Lingam. What to do? Lord Vishnu who was secretly watching the story and did not want Lord Siva‟s Atmalingam to go Lanka, suddenly appeared there as a cowherd boy grazing cattle. Ravana was happy to see him and requested him to hold the Lingam in his hands without putting on the ground until he returns. When the boy saw Ravana returning to the place he put the Lingam on the ground and told Ravana that the Lingam suddenly became heavy and he could not hold Him any long. With great disappointment Ravana went back to Lanka. Lord Vishnu and other Gods were happy because Siva‟s Atmalingam did not go to Lanka, and all of them prayed Lord Siva to be at Parli as a Jyothirlingam with the name of Vaidyanath because he put back all Ravana‟s heads like a surgeon of Vaidya. Markandeya obtained a boon of life from Lord Siva in Parli. It is believed that the story of Satyavanth and Savitri took place here. King Siryala and Queen Changuna‟s son, Chilia came to life by the kindness of Lord Vaidyanath here in Parli. Temple It is believed that the temple was originally built about 2000 years ago. It was renovated to its present structure by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Gwaliar in the 18th Century. The temple complex is surrounded by thick walls. There is a Sabhamandapa inside the temple complex. Outside the temple there is a deepasthambh and a statue of Ahilyabai Holkar. There is a meditation room in the temple and from this room one can have direct darshan of the Jyothirlinga as the Garbhagruha is on the same ground level. The Jyothirlingam is made of Shaligram stone. There are Akhanda Deepas (lighted always) on all four sides of the Lingam. Here devotees can perform Abhisheka by themselves.

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A palanquin procession of the Lord takes place on Vijayadasami and on Mhasivaratri. Also, a special celebration takes place on Vaikunta Chathurdasi. It is believed that Lord Vishnu received His Sudersana Chakra from Lord Siva on this day. A special Mahapuja is performed with Tulasidal to Lord Siva and Bilva patra to Lord Vishnu. It is believed Lord Vaidyanath bestows good health and long life on His devotees.

2. Deoghar Vaidyanath Jyothirlingam Sri Adi Sankaracharya in Jyothirlinga Stothra writes: „”Poorvothare prajwalika nidhane sada vasantham girija sametham surasuraradhitha padapadmam srivaidyanatham thamaham namami” According to this Stothra this Jyothirlingam is located at prajwalika nidhane (means funeral home or chithabhoomi) in poorvothare (means in the Northeastern part) of the country. This suggests that this Jyothirlingam is in Chidbhoomi, now known as Deoghar, Jharkhand. One of the Fifty one Sakthi Peetas is in Deoghar.This Sakti Peeta is called “yoni Peeta” Legend The Puranic story of Demon King Ravana who tried to take Siva‟s Athmalingam to Lanka for his mother‟s worship, is the same as that of Parli Jyothirlinga, except the location where it took place. For this Jyothirlinga the place of action was Deoghar which in ancient times was known as Chidbhoomi in the North western part of the country. This Jyothirlingam got the name of Vaidyanath (doctor) because Lord Siva put back all the heads of Ravana like a surgeon. Here Lord Siva is also known as Baidyanath. Temple The Temple is known as Baba Dham, and it has spacious courtyard surrounded by stone walls. There are many temples in this complex. The Temple faces east. The top of the Lingam is slightly broken. It is believed when Ravana tried to uproot the Lingam the top of the Lingam chipped away. Devotees believe by worshipping Lord Vaidyanath one is relieved of worries and miseries in life, and also attain Moksha. Millions of people visit this temple for a Mela in the month of Sravana to perform Abhisheka to the Lord with holy water of Ganges from Sultanganj. Sultanganj is located near Bhaglpur.

Baba Dham Complex 3

3. Baijnath Vaidyanath Jyothirlingam

According to popular legends, the Sivalingam in Baijnath is Vaidyanath Jyothirlingam. Baijnath is a town at the foothills of Himalayas. Actually it is a town in kangra District in Himachala Pradesh. Baijnath was originally known as Kirangama but its name changed after the temple was dedicated to Lord Vaidyanath or the Lord of physicians. The legendary story is the same as that of the other two places, Parli and Deoghar except the story took place at Baijnath. The present temple for Lord Baijnath was built in 1204 A.D., and has been continuously under worship since that time. The present temple was built by two merchants, Ahuka and Manyuka. The temple was built in Nagara style. The temple was renovated by King Sansara Chandra in 1783 A.D. The earthquake of 1905 that shook the Kangra region caused damage to the temple which was repaired. Now the temple is a protected monument under the Archeological Survey of India. A large number of devotees from all over India visit the temple throughout the year. A five day celebration is held on Mahasivarathri every year. Makara Sankranthi, Vaisaka Poornami, Shravana Mondays are also celebrated on a grand scale.

Baijnath Temple “Vaidyanatham sathatham smarami” 4