Deoghar

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This article is about the municipality in India. For its namesake district, see Deoghar district.
Deoghar (Hindi: देवघर)
city
CountryIndia
StateJharkhand
DistrictDeoghar
Area
 • Total2,479 km2 (957 sq mi)
Elevation
254 m (833 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total203,116
 • Density602/km2 (1,560/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialHindi, Santali
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
814112
Telephone code00916432
Vehicle registrationJH-15
Sex ratio921 ♂/♀
Websitewww.babadham.org

Deoghar (Hindi: देवघर)is the main city of the Deoghar District (Hindi: देवघर जिला) in the Santhal Parganas division of the state of Jharkhand, India. It is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre with the Baidyanath Temple being one of the twelve Shiva Jyothirlingams in India and one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India.

Origin of name

Deoghar is a Hindi word and the literal meaning of 'Deoghar' is abode ('ghar') of the Gods and Goddesses ('dev').

Deoghar is also known as "Baidyanath Dham", "Baba Dham", "B. Deoghar". The origin[1] of Baidyanathdham is lost in antiquity. It has been referred to as Haritakivan or Ketakivan in Sanskrit Texts. The name Deoghar seems to be of recent origin and probably dates from the erection of the great temple of Lord Baidyanath. Although the name of the builder of the temple is not traceable, certain parts of the front portion of the temple are said to have been built by Puran Mal, an ancestor of the Maharaja of Giddhour, in 1596.

Geography

Deoghar is located at 24°29′N 86°42′E / 24.48°N 86.7°E / 24.48; 86.7.[2] It has an average elevation of 254 metres (833 feet).

Deoghar is set in an attractive, undulating landscape, with water courses and small hills. To the north of the town there is a wood called Baba Jungle, named after a fakir; to the north-west is a low wooded hill called Nandan Pahar; and to the east about 10 miles away there is a low range of hills known as Trikuti or Trikutaparvata. There are a number of small hills to the south-east, south and southwest. Two rivulets, Yamunajor and Dharua, run near the town.

The climate is dry and Deoghar is considered a health resort in spite of congestion due to the temple of Baidyanath (also spelled Vaidyanath), as well as being the site of criminal and civil courts and a large number of Government establishments.

The nearest railway station is Baidyanathdham. Jasidih Junction is about 7 km from Baidyanathdham railway station, which is on the main line of the Howrah-Delhi route of the Indian railway. It is about 229 km from Patna (capital of Bihar), 322 km from Ranchi (capital of Jharkhand), and about 315 km from Kolkata (capital of West Bengal).

There is a nearby city called Rohini that is well known for its independence struggle.[citation needed]

Education

Major educational institutes in Deoghar include S.K.P Vidya Vihar, BIT Deoghar, extension centre of BIT Mesra, St. Francis School Jasidih, Deoghar College, AS College, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, St. Francis School, Modern Public School, R.Mitra High School, established in 1914, DAV Public School and Dev Sangha National School, R.L Shroff High School, Red Rose School, Superb Scholar School, S.J Academy, St.Xaviers School, Blue Bells School and many more educational institutes.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census,[3] Deoghar has a population of 203,116 and 17.62% of the population is under 6 years of age. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Deoghar has an average literacy rate of 66.34%, lower than the national average of 74.4%. Male literacy rate is 79.13% and female 52.39%.

See also: List of cities in Jharkhand

Transport

Deoghar is connected to Ranchi, Patna, Calcutta and all nearby major cities by road.

Deoghar is an important railway station on the Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat railway line, 6 km from Jasidih junction. A railway line from Jasidih to Deoghar has existed for a long time, due to the importance of Deoghar as a religious place, with a railway station (called Vaidyanathdham or Baidynathdham Deoghar railway station) within Deoghar town. The station is connected with Ranchi by a daily express train.

A new railway line has been built from Jasidih and, because the railway line could not be extended through a built-up area, a new Deoghar railway station has been built north of Deoghar town. Two railway lines branch out from this new Deoghar railway station. The railway line to Dumka goes east from Deoghar and will eventually connect with Rampurhat, perhaps in 2014, but has been completed as far as Sikaripara. The new line from Deoghar to Sultanganj goes north and, while it will eventually connect with Sultanganj railway station on the Kiul-Jamalpur-Bhagalpur railway line, has been completed as far as the Chandan railway station. A daily passenger train runs from Jasidih to Chandan.

Religious Significance

Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar

Deoghar, also known as Baidyanath Dham, is an important Hindu pilgrimage site. It is one of the twelve jyotirlingam and also one of the 51 shaktipeeths, and is famous for the mela of Shrawan, 4th month according to the Hindu calendar system. It is, along with Shrisailam, one of the few places in India where the jyotirlinga and the shaktipeeth are together, lying side by side. Each year between July and August (on the eve of the month of Shraavana) about 7 to 8 million devotees come from various part of India bringing holy water from the Ganges at Sultanganj, which is almost 108 km from Deoghar, in order to offer it to Shiva. During that month, a line of people in saffron-dyed clothes stretches over the full 108 km. It is the longest Mela of the Asia.

The temple[4] of Baidyanath or Shiva is the most important of all the temples in the courtyard. The temple faces the east and is a plain stone structure with a pyramidal tower, 72 feet tall. The top contains three ascending shaped gold vessels that are compactly set, and were donated by the Maharaja of Giddhaur. Besides these pitcher shaped vessels, there is a Punchsula (five knives in a tridenta shape), which is rare. In the inner top there is an eight-petaled lotus jewel called Chandrakanta Mani.

The lingam inside is of cylindrical form, about 5 inches in diameter and projecting about 4 inches from the centre of a large slab of basalt. The top is broken, with an uneven surface, and it is not possible to tell how much of the lingam is buried within the basalt.

There are a number of different porches in the temple. One porch leads to the cell where the lingam is fixed. A second porch is in front with a row of pillars spanned by blocks of basalt. On the right side there is a sandstone image of Nandi.

There are bells fixed to the ceiling and pilgrims are supposed to pull the bell ropes to announce their approach to the divinity.

To the east of the northern verandah of the temple there is a large masonry vat into which flows the water and milk offered to the lingam. The liquid in it is essentially a mix of milk, sandal paste and floral extracts, giving a fragrant smell, and is treated as highly sacred.

Places of interest in and around Deoghar

Naulakha Temple in Deoghar
  • Nandan Pahar is a small hill on the edge of the town which hosts a famous Nandi Temple and faces the famous Shiv temple. The Nandan pahar has a huge park for children, and has a ghost house, a boot house, a mirror house and a restaurant.
  • Basukinath (in Dumka District)is famous for its Shiva Temple, and the pilgrimage to Babadham is considered incomplete without paying homage at Basukinath. It is situated 43 km from Deoghar near the village of Jarmundi and connected by road. It is an indigenous temple decorated with local art.
  • Naulakha Mandir is situated 1.5 km away from the Baba Baidyanath Temple. This temple is similar in appearance to the temple of Ramakrishna in Belur. Inside there are idols of Radha-Krishna. It is 146 feet high and its construction cost around Rs. 900,000 (9 lakhs) and hence it became known as the Naulakha Temple.
  • Rama Krishna Mission is a boarding school run by the monks of RK Mission. The campus is full of greenery and has 12 football fields. The Ramkrishna Mission Vidyapith, a branch of Ramkrishna Mission, Belur Math, Howrah district, was established in 1922 with the objective of imparting modern education combined with the values of ancient culture along the lines of the ancient Gurukula.
  • Satsanga Ashram is a holy place for devotees of Thakur Anukulchandra, in the south-west of Deoghar, established by Anukul Chandra. On 24 September 2012, twelve people died and fifty people were injured in the Satsanga Deoghar disaster.[5][6]
  • Tapovan is situated 10 km from Deoghar and has a temple of Shiva, called Taponath Mahadeva, which attracts pilgrims. A number of caves are found in this hill. In one of the caves, a Shiva lingam is installed. It is said that Sage Valmiki came here for penance and Sri Sri Balananda Brahmachari obtained Siddhi (success through penance) here.
  • Rikhia Ashram is a Bihar School of Yoga (Sri Sri Panch Dashanam Paramhansa Alakhbarah) and was established by Swami Satyananda Saraswati. Thousand of devotees from different corners of the world participate in an annual festival which is held in late November to early December. Foreigner visitors are often seen in the town, especially between November and February. This ashram is considered a sacred place.
Deoghar talab known as Shivganga
  • Shivganga is a pool of water situated just 200 meters away from the Baidyanath Temple. It is claimed that when Ravana was taking the lingam to Lanka, he needed to urinate. Afterwards, wanting to wash his hands before holding the lingam but unable to find a water source nearby, he struck the earth with his fist. Water came out and formed a pond. This pond is now known as Shivaganga.
  • Harila Jori is situated on the northern side of Deoghar, 8 km away from the Baidyanath temple and 5 km away from the Tower chowk. During ancient times, the area was full of Haritaki (Myrobalan) trees. It is claimed that this is the place where Ravana handed over the lingam to lord Visnu disguised as a Brahmin, and went to urinate. A stream flows here and is known as Ravana Jori.
  • Trikuth Parvat - is a hill situated 13 km away from Deoghar, on the way to Dumka, with three main peaks from which it gets its name, Trikutachal. The hill is 1,350 feet (400 m) high. There is also a temple of Shiva here, known as the Trikutachal Mahadeva Temple, and an altar of the goddess of Trishuli. It is the site of Jharkhand's first ropeway, built by Damodar Ropeway and Construction Company, Kolkata. At the height of 1000 ft. is the "Trikutachal Ashram", founded by Param Pujya Sri Sri Swami Sampadananda Gurumaharaj (also known as Yadav Chndra Chakravorty) who lived from 1899 to 1987. Born in Roshan Giri, Bangladesh, Yadav became a disciple of Thakur Dayananda and, in 1924, came to Trikuth Parvat to live in a small cave on the hill, where he meditated for 50 years. Villagers come to see the Yogi to get his blessing. The Trikut Ashram was gradually constructed, initially with small living rooms for disciples to stay in night. Mother Bhakti Prava Devi came with her parents in 1952 and met Swami Sampadananda at the Trikut Ashram. In 1977, she moved into the Trikut Ashram permanently and became a nun. Sri Chandan Swami was initiated in 1987, becoming Sannyasi (a monk) and now managing the Ashram's day to day activities.
  • Koiridih is a historical place near the river with an English rest house and a teak wood forest, the Dighariya forest. This village produced a famous Gandhian freedom fighter, called Ayodhya Prasad Singh.
  • Prabhu Jagadbandhu Ashrama is situated 4 km away from Deoghar on the way to Tapovan, near the Charki Pahari crossing. The ashrama houses the stone-temple of Prabhu Jagadbandhu, a religious preacher born in a hamlet called Dahapara of Murshidabad, Bengal.
  • J.A.P 05 Camp (Dahijor Camp) was established in 1975 abd is situated 9 km away from Deoghar on the way to Dumka on the Bahgalpur road. There is a beautiful Shiv temple (Shakti Nath Mandir) in front of J.A.P 05 main gate and plenty of sports facilities, such as football, basketball, handball, hockey, kabaddi and volleyball.
  • Ram Nivas Ashram is where Sri Sri Balananda Brahmachari Maharaj, a great yogi and guru, used to stay and meditate. His disciple, and the 2nd Mohanta (Head) of the ashram, Mohanananda Brahmachari, also stayed here. The ashram is surrounded by trees and gardens, and has the temples of Tripura Sundari, Radha-Krishna, and Bhagbati Devi. A memorial temple marks the place where the ashes of Sri Mohanananda Brahmachari were put to rest.[7]
  • Jalsar Children's Park has fun rides for children, including a see-saw and toy train.
  • Maa Kali Shaktipeeth is in the Karnibagh area and is also known as Maa Kali Nagar. The deity, Maa, is in the form of pindi[clarification needed] and is popular in the area.[3]
  • Trikuti parvat has the only vertical ropeway in the state of Jharkhand. The ride from the base camp to the summit takes about seven minutes. Today the place has a large population of gray langur monkeys.

References

  1. ^ Sacred Complexes of Deoghar and Rajgir - Sachindra Narayan (b. 1974 )
  2. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Deoghar
  3. ^ Template:GR
  4. ^ http://www.babadham.org
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ [2]
  7. ^ http://www.travellingindians.com/2009/07/deoghar-tryst-with-mythology.html

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deoghar.
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