Sahebganj Archives

06/Aug/2022

India is a wonderful land of history, culture, and tradition. India is very different from other countries in everything from thoughts, clothes, languages, customs, and culture. Just as modern India known in science, literature, and culture, this country is not behind in various religious dogmas and strange customs. This presentation organized around some of the unique events spread across pluralistic India of 1.3 billion population.

Known as the second ‘Baba Dham’ Jharkhand – Gajeshwarnath Dham of Shivgami. The temple was not built by any person. Developed in a completely natural way. It is a cave temple. The natural beauty of the hills and the scenic view of the waterfalls give this temple a heavenly look.

Location:

This Gajeswarnath Dham of Shivgadi therefore becoming more attractive day by day to the devotees. The temple is located 6 km north of Barei block in Sahebganj district of Jharkhand state.

The Temple:

This temple of Baba Gajeshwarnath is located on the hill. To visit the temple, one has to climb up 195 steps. Earlier this route was very inaccessible. Passengers used to travel in groups on the hilly roads filled with dense forests. Now as the road is a mountain staircase, it is very easy for the passengers to climb the mountain.

Baba Gajeswarnath resides in the form of Shivalinga in a large cave on the hill. As per the laws of nature, the head of Shivalinga continuously showered with water which absolutely amazing. Such a unique common sight is seen in very few places. Gajeswarnath said to have founded the Shivlinga demon king Gajasur.

Legend:

Shiva Purana mentions a demon named Gajasura, who was the privileged son of Mahashaktisha Mahiyasura. For thousands of years, he stood on his toes and performed intense austerities, and received boons from Lord Shankara. Gajasura becomes infinitely powerful when he gets a boon. And due to that power, he became a tyrant, because of his tyranny and fear Munis, Rishis, and Devas started Rahi Trahi Raba.

Sages and gods started worshiping Shankara for relief from Gajasura. Hearing their pitiful prayers, Lord Shankara forced to proceed to kill Gajasu. Gajasur eulogized Lord Shankar on his deathbed. Lord Shankara pleased with that last eulogy of Gajasura’s life. He told Gajasura that this Shivlinga established by you will be famous in the world in your name. People of the world will know it as Gajeshwar Dham or Baba Dham Jharkhand.

It said that Nandi stood on two legs when Lord Shankar riding on Nandi to kill Gajasura. Nandi’s two footprints left on a stone that still exists today. Devotees consider this footprint very sacred and worship here. Today that place is famous as Sivaganga. According to another belief, the Lord during the Mahabharata period.

Shankar visited Arjuna on this mountain. In the sanctum sanctorum after entering the cave, Baba Gajeswarnath’s Pitambari Shivlinga seen. Just above the Shivlinga, water is constantly falling through the stone roof of the cave. A mystery will make you a surprise at Baba Dham Jharkhand.

It seems as if nature itself constantly anointing Lord Shankar. Right in front of the Shivlinga, there are idols of Parvati and Shiva’s vehicle Nandi. The idols of Ganesha and Karthik placed inside the cave. There is another cave inside the cave to the left of the Shivalinga.

It said that in ancient times sages used to fetch water from the Ganga flowing in the Uttaravahini of the Rajmahal and come to this cave to pour water on the head of the Shivalinga and pray. Now the mouth of this cave closed. Outside the temple, there is another stairway leading to Sivaganga on the right side. Here there are two footprints of Nandi on a rock. Even in intense heat, the water from that hoof hole does not dry up.

This is the grace of Baba Gaveshwarnath, known as Sivaganga. Second Babadham is known as Sivagadi at Sivagadi. Visiting devotees never forget to visit Shiva Ganga.In the month of Shravan, Shiva devotees shoulder water from the Ganga ghat at Rajmahal. Gajeshwar, the father of Shivagami, came across the difficult mountain road to pour water on Shiva’s head.

At Baba Goeswarnath Dham temple entrance (cave) the huge hill looks like Shiva standing in the skin of Gajasura. A rare monocot banyan tree exists above this cave entrance. After Buddha Gaya in India, one of the rarest Aksha Bots can be found here. The root of this banyan tree extends from the surface of the temple to the left of the entrance.

From a distance, Lord Shankar’s tangle seems to be swaying in the wind. The banyan tree is known as Manokamana Kalpataru. It is believed that Baba Gajeswarnath fulfills all the wishes of those who tie a stone to the base of this mythical tree. Its side waterfalls flow continuously from Lord Shankar’s confluence for a long time. It is believed that after Lord Shankar attached the Ganga’s stream to his knot, he was flowing nectar on earth. Bathing in this water removes all fatigue from the body and the mind becomes pure. Before entering the Baba Dham cave, devotees bathe in the stream of water falling from the mountain just to the right of the cave to purify themselves and then visit Shivsunda.

How to Reach::

The nearest railway station to reach ‘Shibgadi’ is Barharva JN which is on the Howrah-Delhi loop line. From there, buses, taxis, and autos always go to Shivgadi. The distance to Shivgadi (by road) from these places is as follows:

Nearest Railway Station- Barharwa Jung 26 km, Sahebganj 50 km,

Pakur 50 km, Godda 60 km, Ghumka 100 km, Deoghar 150 km.