Tourism Corridor Deogarh to Bhagalpur

The Home of Lord Shiva Deogarh, Baidyanath Dham: The importance of Jyotirlingam is well known to all. Its renowned sanctity is attached to the Hindu view of the socio-religious life of India. Jyotirlingam means the linga of light, i.e. a symbolic form of a stone tinctured with the cycle of light. It is a very surprising acknowledgment to us that the twelve lingas spray the rays of the light in the panorama of our life. It may be assumed that Jyotirlinga expels the proceeds of light which is generating with spiritual and cosmos consciousness for all. The light of Jyotirlingam is the light of cosmos which is realized by the power of soul as a whole. Being one out of the twelve Jyotirlingas, Baidyanath is famous for all. Deoghar, the home of gods, is modern name. In Puranas we find in its place names like Haridrapeetha, Ketaki van, Haritalik van, Chitabhoomi and Vaidyanath. In Bengal and upper provinces the place is generally known as Baidyanathdham. According to Hindu mythology, Ravana went to Mount Kailash and prayed to Lord Shiva, who gave him a Jyotirlinga to take to his land, with the promise not to place the lingam anywhere else. In case that happened, the lingam would remain fixed on that spot forever. The gods, who were unhappy at the prospect of the divine lingam being established in the enemy kingdom, which would render them powerless against their adversary, worked a trick on Ravana. He mistakenly handed over the lingam to a brahmin, who grounded it at Deoghar. Ravana did his best to uproot it but beyond breaking the tip he was unsuccessful. In deep remorse, he used to come to this place every day and worship the lingam by offering water from the Ganges. Historically the temple is dated to 1596. The temple has almost all god & goddesses and whole temple is built on a single rock. During the month of 'Sawan' people from across the country come to offer ganga jal to the divine Shiva ling. The sanctity of Baidyanath is mentioned in several Puranas which refer to it and as they are unquestionably the golden treasure of Hindu religion and culture, Baidyanath Jyotirlingam has attained great importance. Some of the Puranas ascribe the advent of Baidyanath at Deoghar to the Satya yuga or the first age of the world, when Sati, the wife of Shiva and the daughter of Daksha committed suicide in consequence of the discourtesy shown to her husband by Daksha. Overpowered by grief Shiva, in a fit for frenzy, stuck

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the corpse of his wife on the point of his trident and roamed about like mad god, till Vishnu cut up the body with his Chakra into 52 parts which fell at different place in India. The heart, it is said, fell at the holy shrine Deoghar and hence that place is called Baidyanathdham. The shrine of Baidyanath Jyotirlingam is at Deoghar and Haridrapeetha lay here. Where the heart of Sati fell, the shrine is called Hardyapeetha and the enblem of Baidyanath has been established there since that time by Lord Vishnu. For centuries, devotees, in the month of Shravan (June-July) undertake a rigorous 100-km pilgrimage on foot from Ajgaibinath (Sultanganj) in Bhagalpur district to offer holy water from the Ganges to the lingam at Deoghar. Places to see nearby Deogarh Baba Basukinath Dham: Basukinath is located in Dumka District of Jharkhand. It lies on the Deoghar Dumka state highway and is around 25 km north-west of Dumka & 42 km from Deogarh. It is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus. Basukinath Temple is the main attraction here. Jasidih Junction Railway Station and Jamtara Railway Station are the nearest railheads. Ranchi Airport is the nearest airport. It is situated at Jarmundi Block on Dumka Deoghar State Highway at a distance of 24 km from the District headquarters Dumka. In a year lacs and lacs people from different parts of country come here to worship Lord Shiva. In the month of Shravan people of several countries also come here to worship Lord Shiva. Nandan Pahar It is famous for park in the natural habitat. Vehicles come to the base but one has to walk up. Naulakha Mandir It is a beautiful temple of Radha-Krishna on the outskirts of Deogarh. Satsang Ashram It is a holy place for the followers of Sri Sri Thakur Anukulachandra. It also has a museum and a zoo with a sarva dharma mandir. Tapovan 8 km from Deoghar, Balanand Brahmachari used to meditate here. Balanand Ashram Yogashala, Karnibagh Yoga Institution. Harila Joria 8 km from Deoghar, famous for Shiva Temple. Trikut 16 km from Deoghar, source of the River Mayurakshi - vehicles come to the base but one has to walk up. Prabhu Jagadbandhu Ashrama 4 km from Deoghar, on the way to Tapovan, near Charki Pahari crossing - for short stay in a cool, pristine environment with monks and other ashramiks.

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How to reach Babadham Babadham is located in north-eastern Jharkhand, four miles from Jasidih railway station on the main line of the Eastern Railway from Howrah to Delhi. There is a small railway branch line from Jasidih to Babadham. The railway station at Babadham is called Baidyanath Dham. Babadham stands near the G.T. Road connecting Calcutta with Delhi. From the G.T. Road, we can take a turn to the state road at Bagodar or at Dumri. Devotees coming down from Kolkata or other parts of West Bengal can take the route via Jamtara. In the North-East Dumka, Rajmahal and Bhagalpur; in the North-West Munger; in the West Hazaribag and in the South Giridih district border the region. Passenger buses run regularly from Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Hazaribag, Bhagalpur, Dumka, Patna, Gaya, Munger, and other places in Jharkhand and Bihar to Deogarh. Taxis and Rickshaws are available at Babadham and at Jasidih railway station. Nearby Airports are - Ranchi, Gaya, Patna and Kolkata. Bhagalpur: Bhagalpur, a town of historical importance in the state of Bihar in the eastern part of India is situated on the southern bank of the Ganga River. It is situated 220 KM east of state capital Patna and 410 km north-west of Calcutta. Bhagalpur is famous for its silk production and has the distinction of having a Silk Institute. Thats why it is also known by the name of silk city of Bihar. Reference of Bhagalpur can be found in great Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata where Bhagalpur has been described as the kingdom of Anga. Mandar Hill situated 52 km south from Bhagalpur is believed to be used as Churner during Samudra-Manthan by God & Danav according to Indian epics. Ancient cave sculptures of Emperor Ashoka regime (274-232 B.C.) are found in the neighborhood and at Sultanginj, 20 Km west of Bhagalpur, temple of Gupta period (320-500 A.D.) still exist. The tomb of Suja, brother of Moghul Auranjeb in the heart of the town reminds history. We all know that culture and trade prosper and develop near the bank of river. Bhagalpur is one of them. Bhagalpur district is a part of ancient Anga and is an area hoary with traditions and legends. Atharva-veda mentions the people of Anga. It is said that Titikshu, the second son of Mahamanas, the, seventh in descent from Anu, had founded the kingdom Anava and named it after its ancestors. The Asura king Bali had five kshetraja sons from his wife Sudeshna, namely, Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Pundra

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and Sumha. The Anava kingdom was expanded under that Asura king and five kingdoms were carved out of it and named after his five sons. Separated from Magadha by the river Champa, Anga comprised of the modern districts of Bhagalpur and Monghyr. Malini was the capital of Anga desha and later on, in Matsya Purana we find mention of Champa Malini as the capital. There is frequent mention of the place in the Vana Parva of Mahabharata as a place of pilgrimage. Not much is known about the genealogy of the kings of Anga, but Lomapada, the seventh in the genealogical list, was known to be a friend of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. Champa was the great grandson of Lomapada and during his time the capital was re-named as Champa or Champapuri. Champapuri is often mentioned in the Mahabharata and later in the Buddhist works. It has been a citadel of Buddhism as well as Hinduism. The large finds of Buddhistic relies throughout the district indicate that Anga desha was very much under Buddhistic influence, The area was also sanctified as the birth-place of Basupujya, the 12th Jaina Tirthankara and was closely associated with Parsva, the 23rd Jain Tirthankara. Lord Mahavira Vardhamana, the 24th and last Jaina Tirthankara, had spent three rainy seasons at Champapuri. At the time of the Buddha, Champa was one of the six great cities, along with Rajagriha, Sravasti, Saketa, Kausambi and Varanasi. Subhadrangi, Asoka's mother, was born at Champa. Champa is also associated with a number of Jataka stories, wherein we read of merchants boarding the ships at Champa and going to Ceylon and other areas. Anga desha was virtually the confluence of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Places of interest to move in and around nearby Bhagalpur Kuppa Ghat Also known as Mehi Ashram, it was founded by revered Hindu saint Maharshi Mehi Das. Situated on the bank of river Ganga, it is an epitome of peace and serenity and it is a divine experience to spend time here. Among the attraction is also a cave built by Mir Kasim. Jain temple The famous temple of Vaasupujya Bhagwan Mahavir Jain is located at Nathnagar, and it attracts thousands of tourists and Jain devotees from across the country. It is the birth place of 12th Jain Titrthakar Vasupujya. All the 5 Kalyanaks of Lord Vasupujya were performed here. Another jain temple is located in Champanagar, near Bisahari Sthan. Visitors from across the world comes throughout the year to see the place.

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Karngarh Situated in the Nathnagar area on the outskirts of Bhagalpur city, it used to be the abode of King Kama. The grandiosity with which Dussehra puja is organised here is to be seen to be believed.

Burhanath Temple Situated on the bank of river Ganga in Jogsar locality, this ancient Lord Shiva temple, known to command mystic energy, attracts people from different walks of life. It is also known as Dudheshwara Mahadev Temple. Baba Bateshwar Mandir This temple of Lord Bateshwar (Shiva), built in between 6th to 8th Century on the bank of river Ganga at Antichak-Vikramshila in the Kahalgaon sub-divsion (about 45 km. east of Bhagalpur) is of religious and historical importance.

Khanqah-e-Shahbazia Situated at Mulanachak, near the Bhagalpur railway station, it has been an important religious place and seminary of the Muslim community since the Mughal era. A rich library having books on Arabic and Persian theological works is also there at Khanqah-eShahbazia. It has a Holy Quran transcribed by Murshid Quli Khan, the Nawab of Murshidabad.

Moulana Chak Mosque It was built during the reign of Mugal emperor Jahangir and farukhshiar is famous pilgrimage for muslims because the sacred remains of Prophet Mohammed Shah is preserved here.

Ghuran Peer Baba Situated near the Kutchery Chowk, the place is famous among followers of all faiths. Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs as well as others assemble here every Friday to seek the blessings of 'Peer Baba', who is believed to command sacred powers.

Mandar Hill Nearly 50 km from Bhagalpur at Bounsi on Bhagalpur-Dumka state highway, the site is associated with' a legend according to which this is the mountain that was used for 'Amrit Manthan' (to churn the ocean for procuring nectar). The legend has it that a 'naag' or snake was tied around the mountain to churn the ocean, and people believe the snake that was used as rope has left an impression on the hill. A month-long Bounsi Mela is organised on the foothills of Mandar every year. Mandar Hill is equally revered by Jains who believe that their 12th Tirthankar attained 'nirvana' here.

Ajgaibinath Temple Situated nearly 25 km from Bhagalpur city at Sultanganj on the bank of river Ganga, Ajgaibinath Temple of Lord Shiva is visited by lakhs of devotees throughout the year. The rush is huge during the Shravan month of Hindi calendar. During the month-long Shravani fair, people pay obeisance to Lord Shiva before proceeding to another temple at Deoghar in Jharkhand. They also collect holy water from the river Ganga here and carry it to Deoghar for offering it on the 'Shivalinga' in the Deoghar temple.

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Ruins of Vikramshila University Situated at Antichak in Kahalgaon sub-division, 38 km from Bhagalpur, ancient Vikramshila University was hailed as an epitome of learning and civilization during the Pala dynasty period of 783-820 AD. The university was established by King Dharampala of the Pala dynasty of the then Bengal province (now Kahalgaon) in the year 783 AD. Vikramshila is known to us mainly through Tibetan sources, especially the writings of Taranatha, the Tibetan monk historian of 16th-17th Century AD. Vikramshila was one of the largest Buddhist universities, with more than one hundred teachers and about one thousand students. It produced eminent scholars who were often invited by foreign countries to spread Buddhist learning, culture and religion. The most distinguished and eminent among all was Atisa Dipankara, a founder of the Sarma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Subjects like philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, Indian logic etc. were taught here, but the most important branch of learning was tantrism. It is still a visual delight for visitors. The Vikramshila Museum is at the entrance of the Excavation site. It holds many exhibits which have been excavated from the ruins; these include monuments, art figures, utensils, coins, weapons and jewellery. It remains open from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm every day except Monday. Entry is free. Every year, Bihar tourism organizes Vikramshila Utsav in the premises of Vikramshila University in which many cultural program use to take place. It last for 3days every year.

The Residence of Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyaya Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, an eminent Bengali novelist. He received his early education while residing at his paternal uncle's house in Bhagalpur and it was there that he wrote his famous novel Devdas. He wasted 20 years of his life in Bhagalpur and a significant portion of his novels were either written in Bhagalpur or based on his experience in Bhagalpur.

Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary It is located in Bhagalpur District of Bihar, India. The sanctuary is a 50 km stretch of the Ganges River from Sultanganj to Kahalgaon. Designated in 1991, it is the only protected area for the endangered Gangetic dolphins in Asia. Once found in abundance, only a few hundred remain, of which half are found here.

The Gangetic dolphins have been declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India. The Sanctuary also contains rich diversity of other threatened aquatic wildlife, including the Indian smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), a variety of freshwater turtles, and 135 species of waterfowl. Rabindra Nath Bhavan (Tilha Kothi) It is also one of the must visit place in Bhagalpur. Built by the first Commissioner of Bhagalpur, Augustus Cliveland 'Cliveland House' is now known as

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Rabindra Bhawan. Rabindra Nath Tagore occupied Tilha Kothi close to the University Campus for a considerable period. Parts of the Nobel awarded Gitanjali was written in Tilha Kothi. It comes under the university premises of T.M.Bhagalpur University. Yogini Dham Nearly 100 km from Bhagalpur in Godda district, it is a famous religious place of Goddess Durga. The original temple is situated on the mountain, and the route to the temple is a replica of the famous Vaishno Devi cave in Jammu. Hindus believe that people's wishes are fulfilled after a visit to the temple and that the sick are cured after they lie down on the platform of the temple.

The traveler sees what he/she sees, the tourist see what he/she has come to see.