Baijnath Temple, Kangra – Legends

Baijnath Temple, Kangra – Legends

According to the legend, it is believed that during the Treta Yuga, Ravana in order to have invincible powers worshiped Lord Shiva in the Kailash. In the same process, to please the almighty he offered his ten heads in the Havan Kund. Influenced by this extra ordinary deed of the Ravana, Lord Shiva not only restored his heads but also bestowed him with powers of invincibility and immortality. On attaining this incomparable boon, Ravana also requested Lord Shiva to accompany him to Lanka.

Shiva consented to the request of Ravana and converted himself into Shiva Linga. Then Lord Shiva asked him to carry the Shiva Linga and warned him that he should not place the Shiva Linga down on the ground on his way as Shiva said wherever you will keep me, in this Linga form, I will rest there only, the Linga will stay there only. Ravana started moving south towards Lanka and reached Baijnath. He was thirsty and saw Lord Ganesha, disguised as a shepherd and asked for water.

Lord Ganesh had requested Lord of Water/Lord of Sea (Varuna) to fill the entire in the small pot of water which he offered to Ravan. On drinking it, Ravana, felt the urge to answer nature's call and handed over the Shiva Linga to Ganesh and went away to get himself relieved. Lord Ganesh put the Linga on the ground and thus the Shiva Linga got established there and the same is in the form of Ardhanariswara (God in form of Half Male & Half Female).

Another version also suggests that while Ravana was descending from the Himalayas with the Shiva Linga Lord Shiva had awarded him after years of worship which was supposed to be established at Lanka, now Sri Lanka, which would have blessed him (Ravana) with undefeatable powers even to the Gods which was not to be placed anywhere during the course of travel, even during resting, Ravana was tricked by one of the Devas (Gods), who posed as a beggar and wanted help from Ravana and promised to hold the Shiva Linga for him while he (Ravana) could fetch some food for the beggar.

The Deva posing as beggar placed the Shiva Linga on ground, in absence of Ravana. The Shiva idol or the Shiva Linga at Baijnath temple is the same Shiva Linga which was placed by the Deva after tricking Ravana. In the town of Baijnath, Dussehra festival in which traditionally the effigy of the Ravana is consigned to flames, celebrated all over the country is not celebrated as a mark of respect to the devotion of Ravana towards Lord Shiva.