Vaidyanath

According to the Shiva Purana, Ravana, the king of Lanka, was a devoted follower of Shiva. He wished for Shiva to reside in Lanka forever. With this wish burning in his heart, he performed severe tapas on Mount Kailash.

The Shiva Purana tells us that Shiva was pleased by his devotion and gave Ravana a Shivalinga to carry home. There was one condition — Ravana must not set the linga down on the ground even once. If he did, it would become permanently fixed at that very spot.

The devas were troubled by this. Together they devised a way that caused Ravana to set the linga down. According to the Shiva Purana, the moment he did, the linga became fixed in the earth at that spot.

This is where Shiva resides as Vaidyanath. Vaidya means physician, and nath means lord — so Vaidyanath is the Lord Physician. Two traditions have come down to us: one places this Jyotirlinga at Deoghar in Jharkhand, and the other at Parli Vaijnanath in Maharashtra. The Shiva Purana contains references that both traditions point to.

What is distinctive about Vaidyanath is that two separate locations have been identified with this Jyotirlinga across different traditions. In the tradition of North India, Deoghar in Jharkhand has been recognised. In the tradition of Maharashtra, Parli Vaijnanath has been worshipped as the site. Both places have references in the Puranas.

The temple complex at Deoghar is also known as Baidyanath Dham. During the month of Shravan, a Kanwar yatra tradition has been observed here, in which devotees walk from Sultanganj carrying Ganga water. The Parli Vaijnanath temple is also ancient, located in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra.

• Both temples are open throughout the year, and devotees come daily for darshan.
• At Deoghar, the Kanwar yatra during Shravan is a deeply rooted tradition.
• At Parli Vaijnanath too, Shravan and Maha Shivaratri have traditionally been times of special observance.
• Both temple complexes include other ancient shrines within their grounds.