Every state in India has its own share of religious temples and shrines, and the northern state of Himachal Pradesh is no different. Among the many temples in Himachal Pradesh, the Baba Balak Nath Temple is one of the most popular. This temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Shiva, and is said to be over 1000 years old. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of this ancient temple.
Baba Balak Nath Sidhpeeth is a well-known pilgrimage site in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, also known as God’s own land. “Deotsidh” is the name of his shrine. It is 45 kilometres from “Hamirpur,” near the border of the Himachal Pradesh districts of Hamirpur and Bilaspur.
The Baba Balak Nath Temple is located on a hilltop in the village of “Chakmoh” in the district of Hamirpur, in a natural cave carved into the hills that is believed to be Baba’s abode. The cave contains an Idol of Baba.
History behind the Baba Balak Nath Temple in Himachal Pradesh
The Baba Balak Nath Temple is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh. The temple is situated in the picturesque village of Tanda, which is located at a height of 3,000 feet above sea level. The temple was built in the year 1783 by Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch.
The DeotSidh in Hamirpur District features ancient cave and temple architecture. Lakhs of devotees from India and from Abroad use to visit this temple to reinforce their firm faith in the “Siddha Tradition”.
The temple is dedicated to Baba Balak Nath, who is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Baba Balak Nath is also known as the ‘God of Tanda’ and is believed to have miraculous powers. Every year, thousands of devotees visit the temple to seek the blessings of Baba Balak Nath.
Baba Balak Nath was born in Junagarh, Gujarat, as Balaka Deva. In Vrindavan, he received Sannyasa Diksha from Dattatreya. It is assumed that he did not eat anything and survived solely on milk. As a result, he became known as Dudhadhari. Gorakhnath wanted to make Babaji his disciple, but he declined because he was a Dattatreya disciple.
He is said to have meditated at Dholgiri in Hamirpur’s Deyot Sidh, where he taught an Aghori the true meaning of Dharma.
Story of Baba Balak Nath temple:
The history behind the temple is quite fascinating. Lord Shiva is said to have fallen asleep while sharing the Amar Katha with Goddess Parvati in the cave of Amarnath. A child-parrot was present in the cave, listening to the entire story and making a ‘yes’ (“hmm..”) noise. When the story was finished, Lord Shiva discovered Goddess Parwati sleeping, and he realised that the story had been heard by someone else. He became enraged and hurled his Trishul at the child-parrot. Trishul followed the kid-parrot out of there to save his life. Rishi Vyas’ wife was yawning in the background.
Through her mouth, the child-parrot entered her stomach. The Trishul came to a halt because killing a lady was considered unreligious. When Lord Shiva learned of this, he arrived and told Rishi Vyas about his problem. Rishi Vyas told him to wait there and kill him as soon as the kid-parrot came out. Lord Shiva stood there for a long time, but the child-parrot never came out. The entire universe became disorganised as Lord Shiva stood there. The Lords then met with Sage Narada and asked him to petition Lord Shiva to save the world.
Then Narada approached Lord Shiva and begged him to let go of his rage because the child had already heard the Amar Katha. As a result, he had become immortal, and no one could kill him now. When Lord Shiva heard this, he told the kid-parrot to come out, and the kid-parrot demanded a blessing from him. Lord Shiva agreed, and the kid-parrot prayed that as he matured into a man, any other child born at the same time would be granted all knowledge and immortality.
As Lord Shiva accepted this, a divine baby emerged from Rishi Vyas’ mouth. He prayed to Lord Shiva and received his blessings. Later, this divine baby was named Sukhdev Muni. Other famous babies born at that time included Nau Nath and Chaurasi Sidh. Baba Balak Nath was one of them.
The Shah Talai region is located about 55 kilometres ahead of Bilaspur on the Bhager-Badser road. This location is only 4 kilometres from the Deot Sidh temple. This location was once known as Changer Talai. Baba Balak Nath’s worship and grazing maa ratno’s cattles, later returning her chach-it mattress became known as chahtalai, which later became Shahtalai.
Description of the temple:
A magnificent idol of Babaji is housed in a rock cave. It is also said to be Babaji’s sacred abode. At Babaji’s altar, devotees offer ‘Rot,’ made with flour and sugar/gur. Some people even bring goats to sacrifice. However, females are not allowed to enter in the inner cave; a raised platform which is just opposite to the cave has been specially erected for female worshippers for Babaji’s ‘Darshan’. Six kilometres from the Baba Balak Nath Temple is a location known as Shahtalai, where Baba is said to have performed penance. Pilgrims regard it as extremely sacred. The Sidh Baba Balak Nath Temple Trust trustee board oversees the temple’s operation and upkeep.
Visitors to Baba Balaknath Temple offer Rot along with sugar or Gur (Jaggery) at Babaji’s altar. Females are not permitted to enter the cave and can only see the idol from an outside dais. Pilgrims flock to the Temple during Navratris. Himachal Pradesh’s government arranges for them to stay in tents and provides them with other necessities. A few kilometres away from the Baba Balaknath Temple is the Shah Talai, which is linked by a ropeway and is also a popular tourist destination.
What makes the Baba Balak Nath Temple in Himachal Pradesh so famous among devotees?
Baba Balak Nath is a well-known Yogi who is said to have had direct visions of Lord Shiva. It is widely believed that listening to Baba Balak Nath ji’s songs or bhajans and worshipping God Shiva will aid in desire fulfilment. He is thought to have lived in modern-day Himachal Pradesh, India. The following story is told about Baba Balak Nath by His followers.
The Baba Balak Nath Temple is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Himachal Pradesh. Located in the town of Dharamsala, the temple is dedicated to Baba Balak Nath, a Hindu deity who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Devotees from all over India flock to the temple to offer their prayers and seek blessings from Baba Balak Nath.
The temple complex also has a number of other shrines dedicated to different Hindu deities. There is also a huge banyan tree which is said to be more than 500 years old. devotees tie threads around the tree as part of their prayers.
Every year, a grand fair is held at the temple complex on the occasion of Shivratri. Thousands of devotees participate in the fair and offer their prayers to Bab
Significance of the Baba Balak Nath Temple in Himachal Pradesh
The Baba Balak Nath Temple is one of the holiest and most revered shrines in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Located in the picturesque hill town of Dharamsala, the temple is visited by devotees from all over India and abroad.
The shrine of Baba Balak Nath is considered to be very sacred and has been a pilgrimage site for centuries. Devotees believe that a visit to this temple will cleanse their soul and bring them closer to God.
The temple complex also houses a number of other shrines and temples, which makes it a must-visit place for all devotees of Lord Shiva.
Baba Balak Nath is also revered as the most gracious god in Hinduism and the Kali Yuga reincarnation of Lord Shiva. Devotees flock to the temple in large numbers to seek blessings. Tourists are also drawn to the ropeway facility near Shahtalai. Without a doubt, Baba Balak Nath Temple remains one of Northern India’s most famous pilgrimage sites.
Conclusion:
Himachal Pradesh is appropriately known as Dev Bhoomi, or the Land of Gods. It is home to numerous magnificent temples that awe both Indian and international visitors. These are not only places of Hindu worship, but also some of the state’s most popular tourist destinations. The temples house a collection of Hindu art, traditions, and rituals that influenced religious practises in the hills. The Baba Balak Nath Temple in Hamirpur is a popular pilgrimage site. It is one of the most well-known temples in Himachal Pradesh and one of the most sacred sites in the state. The cave in this temple is the draw for visitors. Check out the details below for more information on this temple.