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]
| 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 / 32.08361; 76.96639 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Nagara Style |
| Creator | Ahuka and Manyuka |
| Website | |
| https://bababaijnath.in/ | |
Two long inscriptions are engraved on stone slabs in the main hall. These inscriptions are in Sanskrit written using Sharada script and local Pahari languageinTakri script. These inscriptions provide details about the construction of the temple by the merchants Manyuka and AhukainIndian 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]
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]
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