Sri Jaya Durga Shakti Peeth Temple, Deoghar

Address

Sri Jaya Durga Shakti Peeth Temple, Shankar Rd, Shivganga Muhalla, Deoghar, Jharkhand 814112

Diety

Shakti: Jaya Durga, Bhairava: Baidyanath , Body part or ornament: Heart

Introduction

Jayadurga Temple at Baidyanath is the place. Here Sati is worshipped as Jai Durga and Lord Bhairav as Vaidyanath or Baidyanath. The Shakthi Peeth is popularly known as Baidyanath Dham or Baba Dham. Since the heart of Sati fell here, the place is also called as Hardapeetha. Lord Bhairav as Vaidyanath is worshipped as one of the important twelve Jyotirlingas. Within the campus, Jayadurga Shaktipeeth is present exactly opposite to the main temple of Vaidyanath. Both the temples are connected by red colored silk threads in their tops. There is a belief that the couple who binds these two tops with the silk will have a happy family life by the blessings of Lord Shiva and Parvathi.

Puranic Significance

It is said that while lord Shiva was wandering in the universe with the body of Sati, “HEART” of Sat had fallen at this place. That time, lord Shiva performed the cremation of her heart. Hence, this place is called Chita Bhumi.

ANOTHER STORY OF SATI: In Hindu mythology, the son of Brahma, King Prajapati Daksha had a daughter named Sati. Princess Sati grew up adoring the legends and tales of Shiva, and when finally her age of getting married came, she knew it was only the ascetic Lord Shiva of Kailash where her heart and soul resided. Soon enough, Daksha’s daughter left her father’s luxuries and palace and began her meditation to win Shiva’s heart. She performed intense penance in dense forests and renounced food completely. When she finally pleased Shiva through her austerities, the lord of Kailash appeared in front of her and agreed to marry her. The legend goes that Sati and Shiva were happy in their marital bliss, but their marriage had not gone down too well with King Daksha, who considered ascetic Shiva nothing short of an uncouth lad who lives a hermit’s life not worthy of his daughter. So when Daksha organized a great yajna, he invited all the deities, gods and sages–but consciously excluded his son-in-law Shiva to insult him. Hurt by her father’s decision, Sati decided to visit her father and demand the reason for not inviting them. When she entered Daksha’s palace, she was bombarded with insults directed towards the Shiva. Haughty and proud King Prajapati Daksha called him all sorts of names right from a dishevelled god who hung out in graveyard to the supposed ‘lord of the beasts’. Unable to bear anything against her husband, a devastated Goddess Sati threw herself in the glowing scared fire of yajna. When Shiva’s attendants informed him about the demise of his wife, he grew enraged and created Veerbhadra from a lock of his hair. Veerbhadra created havoc in Daksha’s palace and killed him. Meanwhile, mourning his beloved soulmate’s death, Shiva tenderly held Sati’s body and started his dance of destruction (taandav). To save the universe and bring back Shiva’s sanity, Lord Vishnu cut Sati’s lifeless body using Sudharshan Chakra into 51 pieces.

Beliefs

Baidyanath Shakti Peeth is the not just a Shakti Peeth, but also, an auspicious place where a person gets relieved from disease of leprosy. It is believed that the person who visits this place, he gets freedom from all sorts of disease and all kinds of sins. Bad or negative thoughts are removed from a person’s brain. Individual gets a spiritual growth. Hence, it is called Baidyanath.

Special Features

The temple is 72 feet tall white plain old structure with spreaded small temples dedicated to various Gods. Within the temple the idols of Durga and Parvathi are present on a rock stage. People usually climb it up and offer flowers and milk to the goddesses. Many Tantriks worshiped Jayadurga and got her blessings. Here Jaganmata is worshiped in two forms. The first one being Tripura sundari / Tripura bhairavi and the second one being Chinnamasta.

Festivals

Every year in the months of Shravan (around July), Magh (around February) festivals are conducted in the temple of Vaidyanath. Ashviyuja Navaratri (around October) festivals are also conducted.