Bateshwar Sthan
Bateshwar Sthan ( Sanskrit: बटेश्वर स्थान ) is an ancient site related to the Vedic sage Brahmarshi Vashishtha at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, India.[1][2] It is believed as the Taposthali ( penance place ) of the sage Vashishtha where he established Shivlinga known as Bateshwar Nath Mahadeva.[3][4]
बटेश्वर स्थान | |
 Entrance of the cave at Bateshwar Sthan | |
| Location | Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur district, Bihar |
|---|---|
| Region | Mithila region |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Hinduism |
Etymology[edit]
The temple was named after the sage Vashishtha. Earlier this temple was known as Bashishtheshvar ( Vashishtheshwar ) Mahadev, which later came to be known as Bateshwar Mahadev. Thus the place is called as Bateshwar Sthan.[3]
Description[edit]
It is said that Sage Vasishtha performed his penance here and worshiped Lord Shiva there.[5] There is a temple of Lord Shiva known as Baba Bateshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir in the campus of Bateshwar Sthan. The temple is at foothills of Bateshwar mountain on the bank of the north flowing Ganga located ten kilometres away from Kahalgaon. This is also the confluence point of the Ganga and Kosi rivers. According to legend, it is said that in Puranas it is mentioned that Kahalgaon's Bateshwar Sthan was planned to make Kashi Dham but due to lack of some land it remained incomplete in the making of Kashi Dham.[5] According to legendary story, after the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, they were living at Kailash. But Goddess Parvati was not feeling comfortable there because Kailash was in the territory of Parvatraj Himalaya. It is said Lord Shiva realised it and he wished to fullfill by choosing another destination for living. Devashree Narada and Lord Vishwakarma was assigned to find piece of land equal to Kailash. For this, the condition was that the entire plot of land should be situated on the bank of Ganga river where Ganga flows northwards ( Uttarvahini Ganga ) and that place should also be sacred. Then Devashree Narada and Lord Vishwakarma searched three places, they were Bateshwar Sthan of Kahalgaon, Chitabhumi of Devgarh in Jharkhand, and Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh. Due to the presence of Shaktipeeth at Chitabhumi, this place was not considered suitable for the residence of both of them. Similarly there was a shortcoming with Bateshwar Sthan situated near Kahalgaon, this land was a bit less than the size of Kailash. After that Varanasi was finally selected as Kashi of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. According to Puranas, Bateshwar Sthan is also known as Gupta Kashi.[2][4] It is believed that Lord Buddha also stayed here for three months to do meditation during the Varshavasa period.[6]
There is a temple of Maa Kali just opposite of the Bateshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir. It is said that in ancient times, it used to be a major center of Tantra Vidya. The origination of the ancient Vikramshila University is also related to this place which is three kilometers away from the temple. Earlier Tantra Vidya was taught in the ancient Vikramshila University.[5]
History[edit]
It is said that the temple was built in 1216 CE by the King of Sen Dynasty in Bengal. According to the Vangiya Kayastha Kul Panchika, during the reign of the Sen rulers of Bengal, Ballala Sena came here and worshipped the Shiva lingam on the occasion of declaring his father-in-law Vata Krishna Mitra as the king of Magadha.[1] Similarly it was renovated in 1272 CE by Mathuranatha Chattopadhyaya who a resident of Hooghly in Bengal.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "अब पर्यटकों को लुभाने के लिए विकसित किया जाएगा बटेश्वर स्थान, कहा जाता है बिहार का काशी". Zee News (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ a b Puratan. Department of Archaeology and Museums, Madhya Pradesh. 1989.
- ^ a b "Sawan Somvar 2021: गंगा और कोसी के संगम तट पर स्थित बाबा बटेश्वरनाथ मंदिर में दूसरे राज्यों से भी पहुंचते हैं श्रद्धालु, भादो और माघ में हर साल लगता है मेला - Sawan Somvar 2021: Devotees from other states also reach Baba Bateshwarnath temple located on the confluence bank of Ganga and Kosi". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ a b "हिन्दुस्तान स्पेशल: वशिष्ठ मुनि ने स्थापित किया यह मंदिर, महादेव के सामने विराजती हैं मां काली". Hindustan (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ a b c "बिहार: काशी धाम बनते-बनते रह गया कहलगांव का बटेश्वर, पुराणों में है उल्लेख". आज तक (in Hindi). 2021-06-29. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ a b "बटेश्वरनाथ मंदिर : यहां ऋषि वशिष्ठ ने किया था तप, भगवान शिव की आराधना, गौतम बुद्ध से भी जुड़ा है इतिहास - Bateshwarnath Temple: Rishi Vashisht did penance, worshiped Lord Shiva, history is also associated with Gautam Buddha". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-05-03.