Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga

So next I went to Vaidyanath, or Baidyanath Jyotirlinga.  This one is also known as Babadham.

Now many of you must have read the stories of the origin of this jyotirlinga....but here is an excerpt from the website of the jyotirlinga itself:

The Puranas speak of the Baidyanath Jyortiligam. According to the Shiva Purana, it was in the Treta yuga that the demon Ravana, king of Lanka, felt that his capital would not be perfect and free from enemies unless Mahadeva stays there forever, he paid continuous meditation to Mahadeva. Ultimately Shiva got pleased and permitted him to carry his lingam with him to Lanka. Mahadeva advised him not to place or transfer this lingam to anyone. There should not be a break in his journey to Lanka. If he deposits the lingam anywhere on the earth, in the course of his journey, it would remain fixed at that place forever. Ravana was happy as he was taking his return journey to Lanka.

His fate willed otherwise. The gods took it ill. They never liked to see Mahadeva as his protector. They devised a plan for outwitting Ravana. They requested Varuna to enter into the belly of Ravana. So, on his way Ravana felt a severe urge to release water. He began looking for a man to whom he could temporarily entrust the lingam. Vishnu appeared before Ravana in the guise of a Brahmin. Unaware of the mystery, Ravana handed over the lingam to the Brahmin. Unfortunately, Ravana could not ease himself soon. In the meanwhile the Brahmin placed the lingam at this place which was and which is now Baidyanathdham.

Ravana tried hard to remove the lingam from the spot where it had been placed. He could not turn out the lingam even an inch. This made him frustrated. He used violence but he only succeeded in pushing  the lingam by thumb. Later on he felt guilty of his doings and begged for pardon.

He returned to Lanka but visitied daily to worship the lingam. This continued forever. The place where Ravana descended on the earth is identified with the present Harilajori about four miles north of Baidyanathdham and the place where the lingam was kept, is now Deoghar and the lingam itself is known to all as Baidyanath Jyotirlingam.

The very name of Baidyanath bears the history of Ravana as mentioned in the Shiva Purana which is as such:

Shri Shiva Mahapurana, Kotirudra Samhita 28th Chapter

Meaning:

Ravana asked Shiva for limitless power and if Shiva pleases upon him then nothing will be rare for him. Shiva was pleased and granted all as Lord is kind enough and gave his wishes fulfilled. He also preached him for future. Looking into heads of Ravana with graceful vision and repaired his heads as there were in the original form. By the grace of Lord Shiva he gets all fruits of his deeds. Being in a posture of grace and love Shiva was prayed by Ravana and since then Shiva is known to all as Baidyanath in the famous three worlds. By means of worshipping and seeing the emblem of Maheshwar as Jyotirlingam, one gets the pleasure of world and becomes free from the bondage of this corporal power and becomes helpful to all. He came to worship this great Jyotirlingm and worshipping in a special way. He came and worshipped this lingam to conquer the three worlds.

 

The Padam Purana also mentions the story of Baidyanath Jyotirlingam.

Matsyapurana narrates about the sanctity of the holy place where Shakti remains forever and frees people from diseases i.e. Arogya Baidyanathe tu.

Brihad Dharmapurana mentions about the Jyotirlingam of Baidyanath. It describes Haridranagar (Baidyanathdham - Deoghar) where the lingam of Baidyanath exists.

Debi Bhagwat also mentions the abode of Baidyanath in course of its pith nirnaya.

Bhavishyapurana also narrates the existence of Baidyanath. It refers to the tract comprising the present district and Birbhoom as Narikhand, and describes it as follows: Narikhande is district abounding in thickets. It lies west of the Dwarikashwari River. It extends along the Panchakuta hills on its west, and approaches Kikta on the north. The forests are very extensive, chiefly of Sakhota, Arjuna and Sal trees with a plentiful addition of brushwood. The district is celebrated for the shrine of Baidyanath. The deity is worshipped by people from all quarters, and is the source of every good in the present age.

This is the link of the website:

http://www.babadham.org/index.php