Gujarat
Somnath
Standing on the Arabian Sea shore at Prabhas Patan, Somnath is honoured as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
Jyotirlinga 5 of 12
Baidyanath, Deoghar
Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar is worshipped as Vaidyanatha — Shiva as the divine physician.
LocationDeoghar
State / RegionJharkhand
Worshipped asVaidyanatha
Best time to visitOctober to March; Shravan (July–August) for the Mela, which is very crowded
Religious significance
The temple is also counted as a Shakti Peetha. During the month of Shravan, the Shravani Mela draws huge numbers of kanwariyas who walk about 105 km from Sultanganj carrying Ganga water to offer here. Note: Parli Vaijnath in Maharashtra is also venerated by many as this Jyotirlinga.
Traditional story
Ravana performed severe penance to take Shiva's linga to Lanka. Shiva agreed on condition that it never be set down on the way. Through the gods' design, Ravana had to put it down at Deoghar, where it remained fixed. Shiva healed Ravana's wounds from his penance, and so is called Vaidyanatha.
Legends are presented as they are told within the tradition; they hold spiritual meaning for devotees and are not offered as historical record.
Visitor guidance
- Book accommodation well ahead during Shravan.
- Visit Basukinath (about 45 km), traditionally visited after Baidyanath.
Continue the journey
More 12 jyotirlingas
Andhra Pradesh
Mallikarjuna, Srisailam
High in the forested Nallamala Hills above the Krishna river, Srisailam is both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
Madhya Pradesh
Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain
In the ancient city of Ujjain, Shiva is worshipped as Mahakala — Lord of Time and of death itself.
Madhya Pradesh
Omkareshwar
On Mandhata island in the Narmada — an island said to be shaped like the sacred syllable ॐ — Omkareshwar is one of the most beautiful settings of any Jyotirlinga.
From the library
Related reading
Planning a Jyotirlinga Yatra: A Practical Guide
How to group the twelve Jyotirlingas into practical regional circuits, when to go, and what to prepare.