Caliber at 03:57, 24 January 2026

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{{Short description|Cluster of 18 Hindu temples, Baijnath, Uttarakhand, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Baijnath Temple Complex
| image = Temples of Baijnath, Uttarakhand, India.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Group of Temples at Baijnath, Uttarakhand, India
| map_type = India Uttarakhand
| map_caption = Location in Uttarakhand
| coordinates = {{coord|29.92|79.625|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = India
| state = [[Uttarakhand]]
| district = [[Bageshwar district]]
| location = [[Baijnath, Uttarakhand|Baijnath]]
| elevation_m = 1125
| deity = Vaidyanath ([[Shiva]])
| facade_direction=
| temple_tank =
| tower =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Nagara architecture|Nagara]]
| temple_quantity = 18
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 12th century CE
| creator = [[Katyuri Kings]]
| website =
}}

'''Baijnath Temple Complex''' is a cluster of 18 [[Hindu temple]]s which are situated in the town of [[Baijnath, Uttarakhand|Baijnath]] in [[Uttarakhand]], India. The complex is located in [[Bageshwar district]] along the banks of [[Gomati river]] at an elevation of {{convert|1125|m|ft|abbr=on}} above the mean sea level.<ref name="Budhwar 2010, pg-39">{{harvnb|Budhwar|2010|p=39}}</ref> These temples are renowned for possibly being one of the very few temples in the world where [[Parvati]] is depicted with her husband [[Shiva]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sharma|first1=Seema|title=Tourists disappointed on not finding antique idols in Baijnath temples - Times of India|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/Tourists-disappointed-on-not-finding-antique-idols-in-Baijnath-temples/articleshow/55403947.cms|access-date=8 June 2017|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=13 November 2016|location=[[Baijnath, Uttarakhand|Baijnath]]|language=en}}</ref> Pilgrims arrive here on occasion of [[Shivratri]] and [[Makar Sankranti]].<ref>{{harvnb|Nag|1999|p=82}}</ref>

It is a cluster of 18 stone temples situated on the left bank of [[Gomati river]].<ref name="Handa 2009, pg-184">{{harvnb|Handa|Jain|2009|p=184}}</ref> There are 102 stone images, some of which are under worship, while other have been reserved by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref name="Handa 2009, pg-184"/> The principle deities at Baijnath temple complex are the ''Vaidyanath ([[Shiva]])'', ''[[Parvati]]'', ''[[Ganesha|Nritya Ganapati]]'', ''[[Karttikeya]]'', ''[[Narsimha]]'', ''[[Brahma]]'', ''[[Navadurga|Mahishasurmardini]]'', ''Sapta Nartikas'', ''[[Surya]]'', ''[[Garuda]]'' and ''[[Kubera]]''.<ref>{{harvnb|Nag|1999|p=80}}</ref>

==Location & Architecture==
[[File:Baijnath Dham with Himalayas in the backdrop.jpg|thumb|left|The temple complex is situated in the eastern part of [[Baijnath, Uttarakhand|Baijnath]] town.]]
Baijnath Temple complex is located in the eastern part of the [[Baijnath, Uttarakhand|Baijnath]] town at {{coord|29.92|79.625}}, on the left bank of [[Gomati river]].<ref>{{harvnb|Pande|1993|p=83}}</ref> It is located in the [[Bageshwar district]] at a distance of 22 km from [[Bageshwar]] and 16 km from [[Kausani]]. The temple is approached from the riverside by a flight of steps made of stones constructed by the orders of a Katyuri queen.<ref name="Budhwar 2010, pg-39"/>

The main shrine in the complex is dedicated to Vaidyanath Shiva in the form of a lingam. The depiction of Parvati, made of grey chloride schist, is a marvel of art. Another sculptural element of note is a life-size image of Kal Bhairava in vilasasana seated outside the Vaidyanath Temple.{{cn|date=April 2020}}

==History==
When the [[Katyuri kings]] shifted their capital from [[Joshimath]] to [[Baijnath, Uttarakhand|Kartikeyapura]], a large number of followers of estoric [[Shaivism|shaiva]] sects like the ''[[Lakulisha]]'', ''Nath (Kanphata)'', ''[[Jangam]]'', ''[[Vairagi]]'', ''[[Sanyasi]]'' also followed them.<ref name="Handa 2009, pg-185">{{harvnb|Handa|Jain|2009|p=185}}</ref> In order to rehabilitate them, The katyuris built a large complex of temples dedicated to Vaidyanath Shiva, the name later got corrupted to Baijnath.<ref name="Handa 2009, pg-185"/>

Several inscriptions dating back to 1202 CE have been found in the Temple complex.<ref>{{cite web|title=Baijnath: Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 6, page 217 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library|url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V06_223.gif|website=dsal.uchicago.edu|access-date=9 June 2017}}</ref> The temples were restored and rebuilt during the reign of [[Chand kings#List of Chand Kings|king Gyan Chand]].<ref>{{harvnb|Handa|2002|p=86}}</ref> The temple complex was plundered by the [[Rohillas]] in 1743-1744 CE which led to the destruction of the ''Shikhar'' of the main shrine.<ref>{{harvnb|Handa|Jain|2009|p=191}}</ref>

==References==
===Footnotes===
{{reflist|25em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last1=Handa|first1=O.C.|last2=Jain|first2=Madhu|title=Art & architecture of Uttarakhand|date=2009|publisher=Pentagon Press|location=[[New Delhi]]|isbn=9788182744172|edition=1st Indian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XTfmGNfaoC4C|language=en}}
* {{cite book|last1=Pande|first1=Badri Datt|title=History of Kumaun : English version of "Kumaun ka itihas"|date=1993|publisher=Shree Almora Book Depot|location=[[Almora]]|isbn=9788190020947|edition=1. publ.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BXZwQgAACAAJ|language=en}}
* {{cite book|last1=Handa|first1=O.C.|title=History of Uttaranchal|date=2002|publisher=Indus Pub. Company|location=[[New Delhi]]|isbn=9788173871344|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_Ct9gzvkDQC|language=en}}
* {{cite book|last1=Budhwar|first1=Prem K.|title=The Call of the Mountains: Uttrakhand Explored|date=2010|publisher=Har-Anand Publications|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788124115299|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VWuAZvAuTIQC|language=en}}
* {{cite book|last1=Nag|first1=Prithvish|title=Tourism and Trekking in Nainital Region|date=1999|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788170227694|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H4MC8SSM6xEC|language=en}}

{{Hindu temples in Uttarakhand}}

[[Category:Bageshwar district]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Hindu temples sacked in the Muslim period in the Indian subcontinent]]

Baijnath Temple Complex - Revision history

Caliber at 03:57, 24 January 2026