Temples in Jharkhand

Temples of Jharkhand are the preservers of the rich culture and tradition of the bygone ages of the state. The temples in Jharkhand depict the past glory of the religious heritage of India. There are still several temples in the newly formed state of India which was previously a part of Bihar, which have immense historical importance and they not yet known to many. A tour of Jharkhand will enable one to venture into the fame and glory of the land by visiting some of the very ancient and beautifully constructed temples which tell the tales of the glorious past.

Deoghar

is one of the districts of Jharkhand having a very striking natural setting. Towards the north of Deoghar, the Data jungle is there which is named after the fakir. The north-western part of this land is the Nandan Pahar, which is having some low range hills. The Tiur or Trikutaparvata consists of a low range of hills which is situated at a distance of ten miles towards the eastern part. Several other hills to the southwest and southeast of Deoghar are there. Dharua and Yamunajor are the two small streams flowing near the town of Deoghar. The Deoghar countryside is having a mesmerizing view with water courses, undulation and small hills. Deoghar experiences a very dry and friendly weather and it is therefore regarded as a health resort. The place is filled with a large number of crowds throughout the year because of the Baidyanath temple and the civil and criminal courts and various other establishments of the Government. Baidyanath Jyotirlinga is regarded as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India and thus it is the most sacred places for the Hindus and the abode of Lord Shiva. The Baidyanath temple is situated in the Santhal Parganas division of Jharkhand, at Deoghar. This holy place is also famously known as the Baidyanath dham or Baba dham.

As per the beliefs of the Hindus, Ravana, the king of demons worshipped Lord Shiva at this place in Deoghar. He offered Lord Shiva his ten heads and the Lord satisfied with this cured Ravana who was injured by cutting his heads and also blessed him with certain power with which he created turmoil in the world. Since Lord Shiva acted as a doctor to cure Ravana, he was also referred to as a doctor or a Vaidya and from this the Shiva temple at Deoghar got its name. Baidyanath dham is the nearest railway station to this temple in Jharkhand. This temple is at a distance of 223 kilometers from Patna, the capital city of Bihar. The mela of Shrawan (a month in the Hindu calendar) is beautifully celebrated in Deoghar.

Jagannath Temple in Ranchi Jharkhand

Jagannath Temple in Ranchi Jharkhand is another significant temple which was constructed by Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo of Barkagarh Jagannathpur principality. The construction work of the temple was finished on the 25th of December, 1691. The Jagannath Temple at Ranchi is placed on the top of a small mound and it is ten kilometers away from the main town. This temple of Ranchi is alike the world- renowned Jagannath Temple at Puri, Orissa. The architectural design of the Jagannath temple in Ranchi is similar to that of the Jagannath temple in Puri, but the former is of a smaller size. The Rath Yatra or the car festival of Lord Jagannath in Puri which is celebrated every year is also followed in a similar manner in the Jagannath temple in Ranchi. Various non-tribal and tribal devotees of Ranchi and other neighboring areas visit this place to enjoy the annual car festival of Lord Jagannath. This temple in Ranchi The temple collapsed on the 6th of August, 1990 and the restoration work started on the 8th of February, 1992. The restoration work of the temple has been over.

There is a village in Jharkhand by the name Maluti which is at a distance of 55 kilometers from Dumka in Jharkhand. This village possessed 108 temples of which 72 temples remain today. It is believed that the temples in the Maluti village date back to the Mughal era and are constructed by terracotta stone. This village has thus become one of the most favourable tourist destinations for those interested in ancient spots of historical importance. A majority of the temples devoted to the Lord Shiva which has earned for it the name Gupt Kashi and the pattern of the construction of the Shiva temples in the village Maluti are termed as Shikarshaili. The temples of this village do not follow any fixed pattern of architectural design but they form a special pattern and style by incorporating the designs of various other sections of eastern India. There are few temples which follow a trend of the Birbhum and Bengal temple architecture. Among the 72 temples in this village, Shiva is the main deity in 58 temples and the remaining 14 temples are devoted to Maulisha, Lord Vishnu and Goddesses Kali. The Maluti temples possess the mythological stories of Lord Krishna and Ramayana which is a very beautiful example of delicately sculpted terracotta art works of the past.