Discover the Secrets of Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga: Story of Ravana and Lord Shiva

Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga is the 5th linga among 12 Maha Jyotirlingas. It is the most sacred shrine in India. Mahadev manifests as a pillar of light. The energy that creates life and destroys evil and the source of the beginning and ending. Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga is the main shrine in the temple complex with 21 other temples in Deoghar, Jharkhand says Hindu mythology and Vedic Story.

Legends of Shiva Jyotirlingas

According to Hindu mythology and Shiva Mahapurana, Brahma, the creator, and Vishnu, the preserver, argued over supremacy. Akashvani put both on a test. They do not know the source of the voice. Shiva pierced the three worlds and appeared as the Jyotirlinga. Lord Brahma and Vishnu begin the race to win supremacy by finding the end and origin of the Linga. However, earlier we narrated the whole story of Lingodbhava Murthy.

Brahma went downward. Vishnu went upwards. Vishnu came to know that there was no ending. Brahma falsely declared that he had found the beginning of the Jyotirlinga. Lord Shiva appeared and cursed Brahma and told them that he was the source of end and origin.

There were 64 jyotirlingas. 12 are the most sacred and named after Lord Shiva.

Significance of Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga

Vaidya is a Sanskrit word. It means physician. Lord Shiva cured the Asura king, Ravana, and served as a doctor; therefore, he came to be known as Vaidyanath, the Lord of Physicians.

Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga is one of the most charming shrines of Lord Shiva. It is also one of the Shaktipeethas of Sati, the wife of Mahadeva.

According to the Shiva Purana, the shrine signifies the divine unity of Shiva and Shakti. Therefore, Sanatan Dharma and Hindu people consider it most auspicious. A newlywed couple visits Vaidyanth Jyotirlinga for a blessed married journey.

Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga finds mention in the Matsya Purana of Matsya avatar of Lord Vishnu, in Sanskrit, “Arogya Vaidyanathitee.” Whoever visits the shrine gets rid of all material problems and attains Moksha.

History of the Baba Baidyanath Story

The story of Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga starts in the Treta Yuga. Ravana was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Ravana felt that his capital and people would be under threat if Mahadev did not shift to Lanka. Therefore, he decided to visit the Himalayas to impress his Lord and began offering the heads one after another.

Lord Mahadev appeared before Ravana, the asura king before he was about to cut off his 10th head. Shiva was impressed with his devotion and revived Ravana and his heads. Thereafter, he bestowed a boon on him, declaring Ravana his greatest devotee. He also installed a “Kamana Linga,” the pillar of desire. It is believed that whoever comes to the Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga shrine and worships Kamana Linga will get their dreams fulfilled.

After getting the status of the greatest devotee of Lord Shiva, he asked Mahadev if he could bring back the Shiva Linga to Lanka. Lord Mahadev agreed on a condition.

Mahadev, the Kailashpati, and the Lord of Destruction warned Ravana that if he put the Linga on the ground during the journey to Lanka, it would install, and he would not be able to uproot the Linga.

Ravana, the asura king, agreed and began his journey to Lanka.

Gods Hatched a Plan to Stop Ravana

Indra, the King of Heaven, was worried. Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Mahadev and Goddess Parvati, was not happy with the decision. They knew if Lord Mahadev went to Lanka along with Asura King Ravana, he would become invincible and evil with his deeds.

Therefore, Indra, along with other gods, visited Vishnu to approach him and request that he stop Asura King Ravana from taking the Linga to Lanka.

Lord Vishnu requested Lord Varun, the King of Ocean, and asked him to transform all the water into a Kumandal, a bassel.

Ganesha took charge of his duty as a son and requested Lord Vishnu that he save his father from this situation.

Journey to Lanka

On the way to Lanka, King Ravana saw that the sun was setting down and about to start Sandhya. Therefore, he desired to pray to Lord Shiva during the Sandhya Vandana, the evening prayer.

Ravana took permission from Lord Shiva for Aachamanam, a purification process. that involves sipping drops of water while reciting the 21 names of Vishnu.

Ravana arrived in Deoghar, meaning the abode of gods, in the evening.

Ganesh Leela to Save Lord Shiva

The Asura King Ravana found Lord Ganesha in the form of a mortal child. He did not know who the child was and requested that he hold the Shiva Linga while he performed Sandhya Puja.

Lord Varuna entered Ravana’s stomach during the Aachamanam, as requested by Lord Vishnu. Varuna poured all the water from his ocean, and Ravana felt the urgency to release himself.

He requested that the child look after Baidyanath Jyotirlinga until he returned.

Surprisingly, Ravana couldn’t feel the relief and felt the strong urge the more he released. He was not aware of the divine activity. Therefore, he took so long to return to complete his Sandhya prayer.

On the other hand, Ganesha was looking for this opportunity, installed the Baidhyanath Jyotirlinga on the ground, and left for Kailash.

Ravana Returned

After so long, Ravana returned to the spot and discovered that the Shiva Linga had been installed on the ground. Asura King made many attempts, but he miserably failed.

Ravana realized Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga would not move because he was pranked.

Later, gods, goddesses, Gandharvas, and other divine beings descended from their abodes and worshipped the Shiva Linga. Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga has a pond on the temple complex, considered the water Ravana released.

Marvelous Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple Structure

Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga is a marvelous epitome of beauty and grace, built by Lord Vishwakarma, the celestial architect. The lotus-shaped temple structure proudly stands 72 feet tall and faces east. It is divided into three sections. The Maharaja of Didhaur, King Puran Singh, donated three gold vessels that are displayed on the tops of the temples.

Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga temple also has a “Punchsula, an eight-petaled lotus jewel” called Chandrakanta Mani, and a five-knife-shaped trident placed on the temple. Apart from the main shrine, there are also 21 temples in the complex with different gods and goddesses, including Maa Parvathi, Maa Kali, Maa Jagat Janani, Kal Bhairav, and Lakshminarayan.