Baijnath Temple

Baijnath Temple
Baijnath Temple
बैजनाथ मंदिर
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Kangra
Deity	Lord Shiva as Vaidyanath
Festivals	Maha Shivaratri, Makar Sankranti, Vaisakha Sankranti
Location
State	Himachal Pradesh
Country	India
	Location in Himachal Pradesh
Geographic coordinates	32°05′01″N 76°57′59″E / 32.08361°N 76.96639°E
Architecture
Type	Nagara Style
Creator	Ahuka and Manyuka
Website
	https://bababaijnath.in/

Baijnath Temple (Devanagari: बैजनाथ मंदिर) is a Nagara style Hindu temple situated in a small town of Baijnath located in Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh, India, and was built in early 13th century (1204 CE) by two local merchants named Ahuka and Manyuka. It is dedicated to Shiva as Vaidyanath (Devanagari: वैद्यनाथ), ‘the Lord of physicians’.^[1] According to the inscriptions on the present day Baijnath temple structure, a temple of Shiva had existed before construction of present-day structure. The inner sanctum houses a Shiva lingam. Further images are carved in the walls and in niches on the exterior.^[2]

Archaeology

Two long inscriptions are engraved on stone slabs in the main hall. These inscriptions are in Sanskrit written using Sharada script and local Pahari language in Takri script. These inscriptions provide details about the construction of the temple by the merchants Manyuka and Ahuka in Indian national calendar (Saka) in 8th century.^[3] These inscriptions besides praising Shiva, name the current ruler king Jaya Chandra, list of the names of the architects and the names of donor merchants at time of construction. Another inscription names Kangra district's old name, that is, Nagarakot, the district in which the temple is built.^[4]

Sculptures

Numerous idols are carved on the walls of the temple. Some of them dating prior to the present temple was built. Idols include: Ganesha, Harihara (half Vishnu and half Shiva), Kalyanasundara (wedding of the Shiva and Parvati) and the defeat of asura Andhaka by Shiva.^[5]