Tirth Yatra GuideVaidyanath jyotirlinga
Deoghar district, Jharkhand (also claimed by Parli in Maharashtra and Baijnath in Himachal Pradesh): the story, the temple and what to know before you go.
About Vaidyanath
- Place
- Deoghar, in the Santhal Parganas
- District and state
- Deoghar district, Jharkhand (also claimed by Parli in Maharashtra and Baijnath in Himachal Pradesh)
- Deity
- Shiva, as a jyotirlinga (a column of light)
Vaidyanath is worshipped as the "Lord of physicians". The tradition says that the demon-king Ravana worshipped Shiva here for a boon and offered his heads one by one; Shiva came as a physician to heal him. The pilgrimage of the "Kanwariyas", who carry water of the Ganga from Sultanganj on foot, is a large annual event in the month of Shravan.
There is a long-standing difference about which Vaidyanath is the true jyotirlinga: the temple at Deoghar in Jharkhand is the most visited, while Parli Vaijnath in Maharashtra and Baidyanath at Baijnath in Himachal Pradesh also claim the place. Here we simply record that each has its devotees.
Getting there and when to go
The nearest railway stations are Jasidih and Deoghar. The Shravani Mela from July to August draws a very large number of pilgrims, and it is better to avoid it if you want a quiet visit.
Read our guide to planning a yatra and the notes on temple etiquette. This is jyotirlinga number 9 in the usual list of twelve; see all twelve.
Previous: Trimbakeshwar · Next: Nageshwar
Questions people ask
Where is Vaidyanath?
Deoghar, in the Santhal Parganas, in Deoghar district, Jharkhand (also claimed by Parli in Maharashtra and Baijnath in Himachal Pradesh).
What is a jyotirlinga?
A jyotirlinga, "lingam of light", is a place where Shiva is believed to have appeared as a column of light. Twelve are named in the Shiva Purana tradition.
Temple rules, opening seasons, booking arrangements and routes change. Before you travel, check the official website of the temple or the state tourism board, and be careful of anyone who asks for money to book darshan or a stay by phone or message. We do not sell tours or packages. Information on this page was last checked in November 2026.