Baijnath ,Himachal Pradesh

Good morning.

Baijnath is famous for its 13th century temple in Himachal Pradesh dedicated to Siva as Vaidyanath, ‘the Lord of physicians’. Originally known as Kiragrama, the town lies on Pathankot-Chakki-Manali highway (National Highway No. 20) almost midway between Kangra and Mandi. The present name Baijnath became popular after the name of the temple. The town is located on the left bank of the river Binwa, a corrupt form of ancient Binduka, a tributary of river Beas.

History:-

According to the legend, it is believed that during the Treta Yug, Ravana in order to have invincible powers worshiped Lord Shiva in the Kailash. In the same process, to please the almighty he offered his ten heads in the havan kund. Influenced by this extra ordinary deed of the Ravana, the Lord Shiva not only restored his heads but also bestowed him with powers of invincibility and immortality.


On attaining this incomparable boon, Ravana also requested the Lord Shiva to accompany him to Lanka. Shiva consented to the request of Ravana and converted himself into Shivling. The Lord Shiva asked him to carry the Shivling and told him that he should not place the Shivling down on the ground on his way. Ravana started moving south towards Lanka and reached Baijnath where he felt the need to answer the nature’s call. On seeing a shepherd, Ravana handed over the Shivling to him and went away to get himself relieved. On finding the Shivling very heavy, shepherd kept the ling on the ground and the Shivling got established there and the same is in the form of Ardhnarishwar (God in form of Half Male & Half Female).


In the town of Baijnath, Dussehra festival in which traditionally the effigy of the Ravana is consigned to flames is not celebrated as a mark of respect to the devotion of Ravana towards Lord Shiva.

Nirth a famous sun temple

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Nirth is at 950 m from sea level.Nirth is famous for Sun Temple .which has unique shape of  “Nagara”.The one and only Sun temple in North India.There are only two sun temple in  India.This is 18 km from old province of Rampur Bushahr .One Sun temple is in  Nirth (Himachal Pradesh) and another one at Konark (Andhra Pradesh).
Nirth is a  small beautiful village located on left bank of sutlej  river .This village is  dedicated to god  Surya Dev (Sun) and set it deity chhaya the consert of surya Dev. Carved wooden pillars and cornices decorate parts of the temple. Motifs of flowers and flower buds are beautifully carved on wood. Aedicules in walls have deities that are stone-like but really of red sandstone blackened by years of worship and offering.Nirth is rich in culture, old ladies still wear Rajtu , Dhatu and Gacchi.People follow Hindu religion ,they celebrate  all the festivals Holi ,Diwali,Dussehra and Maha Shivratri.

This Historical temple is concealing so many secret of purna.There is legend that Pandavs stayed in Nirth during their exile.They made separate temple for goddess , earlier there used to be one temple only.


Buddi Diwali is very famous fair of Nirth .People from near by village comes to see the fair.It comes every year in the month of  December.
Lord Ganesh is the disciple of Surya Dev. Lord Ganesh comes from Majhvati village in his  palanquins .Lord Ganesh will dance with the beats of drums and tunes of other musical instruments. On the shoulders of  his devotees his colourful palanquin  swings  up & down and left & right. These palanquins are not very big or with covering, these are open one just like big stools with four horizontal wooden poles to be carried by devotees. But these are beautifully decorated with mostly blood red coloured clothes. On the top rested main idol of the face of Deity made of eight different metals. This one is profoundly decorated with garlands of scented flowers and of coins, various ornaments, golden crown and with a gold umbrella.