In this month of Sawan, Bhole Bhandari listens to the wishes of his devotees and grants them a boon. Although Bhole Bhandari listens to his devotees even during the rest of the days, the devotion of Lord Shiva done in the days of Sawan gives special results. Shiva listens to his devotees, that's why Shiva is the favorite deity of the devotees as well and people remain engrossed in the devotion of Shiva. The biggest proof of Shiv bhakti is the one abode of Shiva, Baijnath Dham. This abode of Shiva is also known for his biggest devotee i.e. Ravana. So let's know about this Dham.
Nestled amidst the Dhauladhar mountain ranges in the beautiful green valleys of Himachal, the ancient Shiva temple narrates the story of the devotion of the greatest devotee of Mahadev. That Shivling is established here, which looks like any common Shivling. But its touch gives a unique feeling to the devotees. The worship of this Shivling fills the devotees with immense power because it is the Shivling of Ravana, which he used to worship. If legends are to be believed, Ravana wanted to take this Shivling with him to Lanka.
Baijnath Dham is situated on the banks of Binwa river at a distance of 54 km from Kangra and 56 km from Dharamshala in Himachal. Which holds a special place because of the natural beauty that surrounds it. It is said that in the 12th century, two merchants named Manyuk and Ahuk got this temple constructed, after that King Sansar Chand got this temple renovated.
According to mythological belief, in Treta Yuga, Ravana had done penance for Lord Shiva. When Mahadev was not pleased even after severe penance, at last Ravana cut off their heads one by one and started offering them to Lord Shiva by sacrificing them in the Havan Kund. Before the tenth and last heads were cut off, Lord Shiva appeared and held Ravana's hand, and restored all Ravana's heads like a doctor.
Pleased with Ravana's penance, Shiva asked him to ask for a boon. Ravana said I want to establish your Shivling form in Lanka. Shivji said Amen and disappeared. Before the intervention, Shivji had said to give two symbols of his Shivling to Ravana that do not keep them on the ground. When Ravana went to Lanka, he reached the Gaukarna area on the way, then Ravana got a little doubt. After explaining everything to the cowherd named Baiju, he held the Shivling and went to clear the doubt. Due to Lord Shiva's illusion, Baiju could not bear the weight of those Shivlings for long and kept them on the ground, and went to graze his cattle. In this way, both the Shivlings were established there. The Shivling in front of the casket in which both the Shivlings of Ravana were kept became famous as Chandrabhal and the one at the back was known as Baijnath.
