Baidyanath Jyotirlinga – The Amazing Legend of Panchshool and Ravana

Among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, Baidyanath Jyotirlinga is the ninth Jyotirlinga. Devotees believe that their wishes come true here. Every day, lakhs of devotees come here to offer sacred water. People also call Baidyanath land a cremation ground and its Jyotirlinga a Kamana Ling. They call it so because worship here fulfills special desires. A fascinating legend is associated with the establishment of this Jyotirlinga.

According to the legend, once Ravana wished to bring his beloved Lord Shiva to his kingdom Lanka. He performed intense penance and pleased Lord Shiva. To please Lord Shiva, Ravana cut off his nine heads and offered them in a sacrificial fire. When he was about to cut off his tenth head, Lord Shiva appeared and gave Ravana his Atmalinga (Shivalinga) as a boon. He also put a condition that once the Shivalinga touched the ground, it would remain established there forever.

The Establishment of the Linga

If Ravana had established the Shivalinga in Lanka, it would have caused great disaster. Ravana’s intention behind it was also not pure. When Lord Vishnu understood Ravana’s motive, he created a plan for the welfare of the gods. When Ravana was taking the Atmalinga to Lanka, the gods urged Varuna Dev to make Ravana feel the need to urinate. When Ravana went to relieve himself, he saw a cowherd. That cowherd was Lord Vishnu. Ravana requested the cowherd to hold the Shivalinga and went to relieve himself. As soon as he went, Lord Vishnu placed the Shivalinga on the ground, causing it to become established there. Some stories describe that cowherd as Lord Ganesha.

Ravana returned after a short while, but by then the cowherd had already placed the Shivalinga on the ground. Ravana tried hard, but he could not lift the Shivalinga. In anger, he tried to press it down, which caused a part of the Linga to sink into the earth. Since then, Lord Shiva began residing here in the form of Baidyanath and devotees worship him in this form.

Why Is This Place Called Baidyanath?

When Lord Shiva healed the pain of Ravana’s severed heads, he appeared in the form of a physician (Vaidya). Therefore, people began calling this place “Baidyanath.” Anyone who performs the sacred ritual of Lord Baidyanath with devotion gets relief from physical and mental ailments very quickly. This is why a large number of patients and devotees visit Baidyanath Dham.

Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Has Panchshool

In other Jyotirlingas across the country, you will see Trishuls. But in the Baidyanath temple complex, which has a total of 22 temples, Panchshools are installed. The Panchshool represents the five elements of the human body—earth, water, fire, sky, and air. It also signifies the destruction of five human vices—lust, anger, greed, attachment, and jealousy.

There is also a legend associated with the Panchshool. Religious texts mention that a protective shield in the form of Panchshool existed at the gates of Ravana’s Lanka. Ravana knew how to break this protective shield, while Lord Rama could not penetrate it. Only after Vibhishana’s advice could Lord Rama enter Lanka. Some beliefs say that the same Panchshool is installed in the Baidyanath temple of Deoghar. Because of this, no natural disaster has been able to damage the temple.