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Why Deoghar is Famous | What is the Old Name of Deoghar?


Deoghar is a holy city located in the Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand state and is best known for the Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple.

Deoghar is mainly famous due to the coexistence of Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple, which is one of the 12 Shiva Jyotirlingas in India, and Jay Durga Shakti Peetha which is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India.

Different Names of Deoghar Jharkhand

The literal meaning of Deoghar (also pronounced as Dev-Ghar) is the Adobe of Gods. (In Hindi, देवों का घर). It is also known by the different names:

Haritaki Van and Ketaki Van

During the Vedic era, the entire region of Santhal Pargana was a dense forest (van). In the Vedic scripture and Sanskrit texts, Deoghar is referred to as Haritaki Van and Ketaki Van.

Arogya Baidyanath

The holy place where Shakti lives and assists Shiva in freeing people from incurable diseases. It is mentioned as Arogya Baidyanath in the Matsya Puran.

Baidyanath Dham

Due to the famous Baidyanath Jyotirlinga site, this place is known as Baidyanath Dham. Adi Sankaracharya mentions it as Baidyanatham (बैद्यनाथं) in the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotra.

Read More: About Baidyanath Dham

baba-baidyanath-dham-mandir | Deoghar | Baijnath dham | Babadham

Baijnath Dham

Some people also pronounce Baidyanth Dham as Baijnath Dham which is now widely used and accepted. Some people also pronounce and write it as Vaidyanath Dham.

Baba Dham | Babadham

Deoghar is also known as Baba Dham. It seems like a short form of Baba Baidyanth Dham.

Hridaya Peeth | Hardapeetha

As per our religious literature and Purans, the heart (Hridaya) of Mata Sati has fallen here and for this reason, this place is also known as HridayPeeth (हृदय पीठ) or Hridaya Peeth.

Chita Bhumi

The cremation of Mata Sati’s heart and the rest of the body was done in Baidyanath Dham, so this place is also called Chita Bhumi. In chapter 38 of Shiva Purana about the Dwadash Jyotirlinga, there is also a mention of Baidyanatham Chitabhumou (बैद्यनाथं चिताभूमौ).

Different Names of Baidyanath Dham Temple

Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple

Deoghar Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples in India and the most sacred abode of Shiva. As per Dvādaśa Jyotirliṅga Stotram (द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिंग स्तोत्रम्), Baidyanath Jyotirlinga is the 7th Jyotirlinga.

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथंच श्री शैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् | 
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोङ्कारममलेश्वरम्॥ ||

वैद्यनाथम् चिताभूमो च डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करम् |
सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुका बने ||

वाराणस्या तु वश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमी तटे |
हिमालये तु केदारं घुशमेशं च शिवालये ||

एतानि ज्योतिर्लिंगानि सायं प्रात: पठेन्नर: |
सप्त जन्म कृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति ||

Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple

As per Matsya Puran, this shivalinga is referred to as Arogya Baidyanth (who treats us from incurable diseases), so this linga is also called as Vaidya (Doctor) nath jyotirlinga. Here Shakti lives and assists Shiva in curing the diseases of devotees.

Also Read: Jay Durga Shakti Peeth

Manokamna Linga

It is believed that all the wishes of devotees fulfilled who pray and offer Ganga Jal to Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga, therefore it is also known as Manokamna (who fulfills all wishes) lingam.

Ravaneshwar Baidyanath

Baidyanath Jyotirlinga is established by Ravana, the king of Lanka who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Therefore this linga is also known as Ravaneshwar Baidyanth Jyotirlinga.

Read More: Story of Ravaneshwar Baidyanath

Baijnath Dham Mandir

There is another story regarding this name. There was a person named Baiju who was a great devotee of shiva and used to worship shiv linga every day. Pleased with the devotion of Baiju, Lord Shiva added Baiju in front of his name and thus called Baijnath thereafter.

Other names of Deoghar temples are Baba Mandir, Baidyanath Temple, Baba Baijnath Dham, etc.


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