18/03/2014
S pread over three acres, Budhanath temple is on the
banks of the Uttarvahini (flowing from south to north)
Ganga river. the oldest temple situated in Bhagalpur
town, it hardly takes twenty minutes by road to reach
this temple. Giving the citation of Shivapurana, says the
priest Shivanaryan Giri there are 108 Nath in India and
Budhanath is one of them.
the original name of Baba Budhanath which is
mentioned in Shivapurana, is Baba Bal Vridheshwarnath.
the name of Baba Bal Vridheshwarnath has been
mentioned in the first section of the eighth chapter of
Shivapurana and the present name is the result of many
years of incorrect pronunciation. the linga of this temple
is self incarnated but as to when it originated, is still a
mystery. Vashishtha Muni, guru of Lord Rama, by
following all necessary holy rituals established the linga
during Satyuga.
About two hundred years ago, it is said Mahant
Balwanand Giri dreamt of the Shivalinga lying around
somewhere. He started to explore and finally reached
the place where the linga was buried deep underground.
He cleaned it carefully and started to worship it. this
was during the British regime in India. the British
Supreme Court of England pronounced the death
sentence to two brothers of Sakarpur Estate (presently
Khagaria). Luckily both lives were saved by Mahant
Balwanand Giri and in turn both brothers made the
Shiva temple.
Simple like many other temples but very spacious, the
entire temple is painted in white colour. Rajasthani
marble was used on the floor of temple. Being a
Siddhapeetha, a large numbers of devotees visit the
place everyday.
During the month of Shravan (August) lakhs of devotees
arrive here to worship the Shivalinga traditionally with
bel patra, milk, Gangajal and flowers. On this day the
Shivalinga can be seen in special shringar with flowers
of multiple colours. the whole day the priest of this
temple with other priests organises Rudrabhishek and
maha arti. the entire temple at that time is decorated
with special lights.
Other than the Shivalinga idols of Ganesha, Ma Parvati,
Nandi, Radha- Krishna and many gods and goddesses
can also be seen. there is also a temple of Ma Bhavani
beside the Shivalinga. As per legend the idol of Ma
Bhavani is actually that of Ma Chandi of Munger, that
travelled from Munger through the Ganga river and
banked near the Budhanath temple. One day the
goddess came in the dreams of a man there on the
premises. He found and placed her on the campus of
Budhanath temple.
Goats are sacrificed here every Tuesday and Saturday,
when a large crowd descends here from adjoining areas.
the second branch of Baba Vridheshwarnath temple is
located in Rishikund of Bariyarpur which falls in Munger
division. there are seven waterfalls of different colours
and as per mythological claims, leprosy can be cured if
infected person takes a dip in all the seven different
