Shravan, Shiva & the journey from Sultanganj to Deoghar

Q:> Which is the holiest month for the Hindus, Watson?, asked Holmes!
A:> Jolly Goodness! I don't know that for us Brits & you expect me to answer that.
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Well the conversation happened in my imagination but I am willing to ask the same question to many of our friends and I do expect an answer.

The month of Shravan , or Shravana Mas, is supposed to be the holiest month. In fact Shravan Month is also the first month in the Chatur Mas - four holy months. Though the whole month is considered sacred, the most famous and the most special place is reserved for the Mondays in Shravan month which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The month is so sacred that many north indians give up taking non-veg and garlic and onions during the period. One can also find many people (esp. girls) observing the famous Somvar Vrat( Fast on Monday, in search for a good soulmate). The Shravan Month this year begins on July 8 and ends on August 6.

One can know that the month has started, from the sudden urge of people to start wearing orange coloured robe and the rush to offer water & milk in Shiva temple.
The whole of north india as if by a miracle turns saintly in sight, and the national news channels will be seen in a frenzy to cover the event. Many cities will see worsening of traffic, but it is also the month when the faith of millions of people comes alive and pulsating into our lives and we are forced to respect the faith!

The legend ( there are many in India) says that when the churning of oceans - Samudra Manthan - took place in the month of Shravan, and fourteen different types of things came out. Thirteen of these were distributed amongst the devs & demons, except Halahal (poison). Nobody was ready to touch it, while it played havoc with the ecosystem. Lord Shiva, being of a kind heart, drank the poison and stored it in his throat. Since then he is called as Neelkantha (meaning blue throat).


To reduce the strong effect of poison, Lord Shiva wore the crescent moon on his head. Moon, or chandrma is seen to be of a cool character (sheetal). All the Gods, thereafter started offering the Ganges water to Lord Shiva to make lessen the effect of poison. Since, this happened in the month of Shravana, since then the Shiva devotees offer the Ganges water in this month. Well you know how these legends go!!

Well this month is truly auspicious and the first monday of the month is considered most sacred by the devotees of Lord Shiva. Since I spend my childhood years at Deoghar, I have come to know a bit about the length the devotees go through to see Lord Shiva.The importance of Babadham ( Deoghar )increases during the month of Shrawan. During this period, lakhs of devotees throng the Baba Baidyanath temple.

But many among them first go to Sultanganj, where the Ganges flows to the North, about 109 kms away from Babadham.(Babadham, Baidyanath Dham, Deoghar, Jasidih and Ravaneshwar mahadev are some of the name for the place). It is from this place (sultanganj) that the devotees collect water in their kanwars and carry the holy Ganges water, with the kanwars on their shoulders. They walk 109 km up to Baba Baidyanath temple at Babadham reciting Bol Bam on the way.


On reaching Babadham, the kanwarias first take a dip in the Shivaganga to purify themselves, and then enter the Baba Baidyanath temple, where the Ganges water is offered to the Jyotirlingam. It is said that while on way to lanka with the Shivlinga, Ravana felt a strong urge to pee. But he could not keep the Shivlinga on ground, otherwise it would stay there. Finding a brahmin ( Vishnu in disguise), he handed over the Shivling to him and went to relieve himself. The brahmin in the absence of ravana kept the Linga there itself. Ravana on coming back saw the Ling on the ground and tried lifting it again but could not do so. So in anger he pressed the Shivalinga to the ground by his thumb.

This pilgrimage continues during the whole of Shravan for 30 days, during July-August. This is supposed to be the longest religious fair in the world. The sight on the way from Sultanganj to Babadham is of a 109 km long human chain of saffron clad pilgrims. It is estimated that within this period of one month around 50 to 55 lakhs pilgrims visit Babadham.



Lord Somnath is in the country Saurashtra, Mallikarjuna is on the Shree Shailam,

Mahakala is in Ujjayani, Parameshwar belongs to Onkar,

Kedar in the mountain of Himalaya, Bhimashankar is in the country of Dakini,

Viswesh belongs to Varanasi, the Lord Trayam bakam resides on the shore of Gautami river,

Baidyanath lies on the land of ashes and the Lord of snake lives in the wooden forest.

Lord Rama stays near the sea where it was bridged by him and Lord of Ghushma resides in the abode of Shiva.

If one recites the twelve names in the early morning,

he will get rid of all sins and will get all fruits of his efforts.

Thus the abode of Baidyanath Jyotirlingam is a very ancient sacred place of India. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga kshetra in India. It is also one of 52 peethas. The question of Pithas is associated with Devi Bhagwat, Kubjika Tantra, Kalika Rahasyam, Mundmal Tantra and Rudrayamalam etc. This holy shrine is famous as Chitabhumi.

Baidyanath Jyotirlingam is a great power, gracing great effects. The result of His greatness is the page of Deoghar Jail's history. In British India a jailor was posted at Deoghar. As ill luck would have it he was facing misfortune. His son was missing in a sea together with his ship. Jailor was upset and he did not pay proper attention to his work. He was advised by his staff to meditate and worship Baidyanath as God is famous for fulfilling one's desires. He began to meditate upon Baidyanath Jyotirlingam. Miracles took place. Suddenly news come, he is alive and ship is alright. Since then he started a tradition in the Deoghar Jail and 'Phool Kaman' was created to gather flowers and Vilva Patras for worshipping Lord Baidyanath. Even today the garlands and snake made of wood and flowers is made by prisoners of deoghar jail daily and it is used in the morning Aarti.

I also had an oppurtunity once to go on kanwar mission but being unsure of my strength and my fate I declined the full journey and instead agreed for ony about 30 odd kilometers. Even that was nothing less than climbing a mountain for me. But the line of saffron clad kanwarias and their shout of Bol Bum kept me going. The biggest problem came when we entered the town of Deoghar and the temple was hardly 2 kms away. Then it seemed as if all the tiredness came in one swoop and taking a single step was a great challange. Yet somehow we persisted. And for good too! The feeling that you get when you stand in front of the Linga & meditate... all sorrows stand away, nothing touches you and for an instant you do feel that you came in contact with Mahadev.


Meaning:

Shri Mahadeva said ...

Whoever meditates for a minute, even he is rogue, and he will be graced for all time to come.

One should worship Baidyanath forever. What to speak of his fruits! Even Brahma, the god of creation, fails to appreciate Him.