BAIJNATH, Bageshwar
Baijnath temple is located in Baijnath town at
Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand, India. The temple complex is a cluster of 18
temples situated on the bank of Gomti river. This temple holds great
significance because, according to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva and Parvati were
married at the confluence of River Gomati and Garur Ganga. These group of
temples consist of main shrine of Lord Shiva in form of lingam and 17
subsidiary shrines called as Kedareshwar. Here Lord Shiva is worshiped as
Vaidyanath – Lord of Physicians.
Baijnath temple is renowned for possibly being one the
very few temples in the world where Goddess Parvati is depicted with her
husband Lord Shiva. The depiction of Goddess Parvati, made of black stone is a
marvel of art. Another sculptural element of note is a life-size image of
Kalbhairava in visasana seated outside the temple.
History
Several
inscriptions dating back to AD 1202 have been found in the Temple complex.
Baijnath was capital of Katyuri Kings, who ruled the area from 9th-12th
century. Baijnath, then known as Kartikeyapura, was the seat of the Katyuri
Kings who rules over area consisting parts of Garhwal and Kumaun in modern-day
state of Uttarakhand, India and Doti in modern day Nepal. When the Katyuri
Kings shifted their capital from Joshimath to Kartikeyapura, a large number of
followers of esoteric Shaiva sects like Lakulisha, Nath, Jangam, Vairagi and
Sanyasi also followed them. In order to rehabilate them, the Katyuris built a large complex of temples dedicated to
Vaidyanath Shiva, the name later got changed to Baijnath.
Today, pilgrims arrive here on the occasion of Maha
Shivratri and Makar Sankranti.
Baijnath offers magnificent scenic views and pleasant
climate and the visit can be clubbed with Kasauni, about 17 kilometers away.
Kausani is nestled amongst deep pine forests, on a hill top where the view of
the snowcapped Trishul and Nanda Devi is so clear that one feels the snow is at
a touching distance.
Lodging and boarding facilities are also available in
Baijnath. These include good and budget accommodation at state run tourist
reception centre and good rooms with all modern amenities can also be awailed
at very cheap rates. Booking can be done from Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam offices
and website.
How to reach
The Baijnath Temple complex lies in between Almora
- Karnaprayag National highway, Uttarakhand. People who are willing to visit
here can easily reach by road as state owned buses and cab facility connect
Baijnath to hill stations like Almora, Ranikhet and Kausani. Those who want to
travel by train have to reach Kathgodam railway station which is at a distance
of nearly 148 kilometers from Baijnath Temple.
Om namah shivay
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