Shrawan Mela | Shrawani Mela | Shrawan Mela in 2008 : 19 July to 16 August

Shrawan Mela in 2008 : 19 July to 16 August

The importance of Babadham increases during the month of Shrawan. During this period, lakhs of devotees throng the Baba Baidyanath temple. Most of them first visit Sultanganj, which is 105 km from Babadham.

In Sultanganj, the Ganges flows to the North. It is from this place that the devotees collect water in their kanwars and carry the holy Ganges water, with the kanwars on their shoulders. They walk 109 km up to Baba Baidyanath temple at Babadham reciting Bol Bam on the way.

On reaching Babadham, the kanwarias first take a dip in the Shivaganga to purify themselves, and then enter the Baba Baidyanath temple, where the Ganges water is offered to the Jyotirlingam. This pilgrimage continues during the whole of Shravan for 30 days, during July-August. This is the longest religious fair in the world.

People from foreign lands also visit Babadham not only during Shrawan month but also during the rest of the year. The sight on the way from Sultanganj to Babadham is of a 109 km long human chain of saffron clad pilgrims. It is estimated that within this period of one month around 50 to 55 lakhs pilgrims visit Babadham. Besides the great pilgrimage of Shrawan, almost the whole year remains under fair with Shivaratri in March, Basant Panchami in January, Bhadra Purnima in September.

source : babadham.org

Why the kanwarias offer ganges water in the Shravana month?

The legend says that when the churning of oceans - Samudra Manthan - took place in the month of Shravan, fourteen different types of rubies came out. Thirteen of these were distributed amongst the deamons, except Halahal (poison). Lord Shiva drank the Halahal and stored it in his throat. Hence the name Neelkantha (meaning blue throat) is attributed to Shiva.

To reduce the strong effect of poison, Lord Shiva wore the crescent moon on his head. All the Gods, thereafter started offering the Ganges water to Lord Shiva to make lessen the effect of poison.Since, this happened in the month of Shravan, since then the Shiva devotees offer the Ganges water in this month.

Source : babadham.org

Importance of Bol - Bam

The word Bam is a short name for Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. The letters BA came from Brahma and Vishnu and M came from Mahesh.

It is a long efficacious mantra (a hymn). When it is chanted during the way, it generates energy and enthusiasm amongst the kanwarias and gives them the psychological strength to carry on walking and succeed in covering the long distance from Sultanganj to Babadham.

According to the Skand Purana, those who complete the holy journey by reciting Bam-Bam obtain the virtues of Ashwamedha Yajna.According to the Puranas, the daemon king Ravana had brought the Ganges water from Haridwar and offered to Lord Shiva.

Source : babadham.org

Guidlines for the Kanwarias

Essential articles:

1. A kanwar
2. Two water - pots
3. A towel
4. A bag
5. Required money
6. A piece of plastic cloth
7. Two pairs of saffron - coloured dresses
8. A torch and a few candles
9. A carpet and two sheets (Chadar)
10. A match box and a packet of Agarbatti (incense sticks)

Rules and Norms:

1. To maintain celibacy (Bramhacharya)
2. To remember Lord Shiva by keeping mind, heart and speech pure
3. To speak the truth
4. To be inspired by charity and service
5. To take bath before taking the kanwar
6. To recite Bam - Bam
7. Not to use oil and soap
8. Not to wear shoes
9. Not to take any article made of leather
10. To avoid dogs. (dogs should not be touched)

Source : babadham.org

The route from Sultanganj to Babadham

Baba Ajgaibinath (Sultanganj) to Kamrai ------------6 km
Kamrai to Masumganj ------------------------------2 km
Masumganj to Asarganj -----------------------------5 km
Asarganj to Rangaon --------------------------------5 km
Rangaon to Tarapur --------------------------------3 km
Tarapur to Madhodih-------------------------------2 km
Madhodih to Rampur -------------------------------5 km
Rampur to Kumarsar -------------------------------8 km
Kumarsar to Vishwakarma Tola --------------------4 km
Vishwakarma Tola to Mahadev Nagar --------------3 km
Mahadev Nagar to Chandan Nagar -----------------3 km
Chandan Nagar to Jilebia More ---------------------8 km
Jilebia More to Tageshwar Nath --------------------5 km
Tageshwar Nath to Suiya ---------------------------3 km
Suiya to Shivalok -----------------------------------2 km
Shivalok to Abrakhia -------------------------------6 km
Abrakhia to Katoria --------------------------------8 km
Katoria to Lakshman Jhula -------------------------8 km
Lakshman Jhula to Inaravaran ---------------------8 km
Inaravaran to Bhulbhulaiya River ------------------3 km
Bhulbhulaiya River to Goryari Inn -----------------5 km
Goryari Inn to Patania Inn -------------------------5 km
Patania to Kalakatia Inn ---------------------------3 km
Kalakatia to Bhutbangla ---------------------------5 km
Bhutbangla to Darshaniya -------------------------1 km
Darshaniya to Baba Baidyanath Temple -----------1 km

Ajgaivinath Temple | Ajgaibinath Temple

Situated at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur District, Ajgaivinath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that the deity of the temple is Swayambhu. The temple is constructed on a rock and has a series of excellent rock sculptures and inscriptions. The sculpture dates back to the Pala period. The splashing waters of the Ganga sanctify the area.

Sultanganj has a railway station on the loop-line of the Eastern
Railway running from Kolkata to Kiul. It is also served by road connecting Bhagalpur with Monghyr and Patna.

Ajgaivinath Temple in 1811- 1878

Jungeira Pagoda at Sultan Gunge" [on the Ganges, in Bihar], a steel engraving by E. H. Locker and W. Alexander, from 'A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in All Parts of the World' by John Pinkerton (London: Longman, Hurst, Rees & Orme, 1811)

"Janghera on the Fakeer's Rock on the Ganges" (at Sultanganj), a steel engraving by C.Stanfield and J. Sands, 1850's

"Devinath, Sultangunge on the Ganges" (in Bihar), a wood engraving by Bickers & Son, London, 1878

For More Information

The Sultanganj Buddha in detail.

The Sultanganj Buddha is 2.3m high and 1m at its widest point and weighs about 500kgs. It was cast by the technique known as the 'lost wax' process, in which a solid core of clay is overlaid with wax. The sculptor models the fine details in the wax coating. The wax is covered with a liquid layering of clay and plaster which hardens to form a mould. When heat is applied the wax melts and molten metal is poured in. The finished statue is finally obtained by removing the outer casting when cool.

The Sultanganj Buddha is a splendid example of the renowned Gupta sculptural style which itself had been shaped by European and Persian influences that came to India through the trade routes with Rome and West Asia.

The Sultanganj Buddha conveys an image of calm and tranquillity and a spiritual detachment from the material world . The Buddha's sangathi (monastic robe) clings so closely to the body that it is almost invisible, but for a series of string-like folds, giving the figure a wet-looking appearance. The right hand is raised in abhayamudra (a gesture of reassurance or protection) while the left hand, with palm outward and held downwards indicates the granting of a favour.

"The Sultanganj Buddha is a great example," continued Martin. "It's a fantastic object. The first object to ever enter the museum's collections and many people would say it's the single most important object in Birmingham Museum."

"It tells us so much. It tells us this incredible history of ancient art and Buddhism, the story of the building of the Indian Railway system, and the impact of British colonialism. The fact that this amazing piece of sculpture was snatched away and brought to Birmingham, to a museum that wasn't even built at the time.

"It was considered it would be a great starting object for the people of Birmingham to have.

"It's been on show in Birmingham ever since it was acquired in 1864, and been on show in the museum ever since the museum opened in 1885, and so that gives it part of Birmingham's own history."

Some of the items chosen have great monetary value, others have little or none, but all are priceless in how they bring to life moments from history.

From Sultanganj To Deoghar

Baidyanath Dham is situated in the Santhal Pargana of Jharkhand. Kamana Linga of Lord Shiva is situated here. Every monsoon (in the month of Shravan) countless devotees undertake a rigorous 100 km pilgrimage on foot from Ajgaibinath (Sultanganj) to offer holy water to Baba Baidyanath. The pilgrimage is deemed complete with homage paid at Basukinath, almost 43 km from Deoghar.

The auspicious month-long Shravani Mela, as the pilgrimage is called, began Monday with worshippers walking all the way from Bihar's Sultanganj town, the only place where the Ganga flows northwards before turning east again.

Legend has it that Ravana was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He urged Shiva to travel with him to his kingdom Lanka so that it would be easy for him to pray to him. Ravana travelled all the way from Lanka to Kailash to bring the Lord,' explained Parmeshwar Panda, who belongs to the family of temple head priests.

The Royal University of Vikramsila

The royal university of Vikramsila, 38 km from Bhagalpur ranks next to Nalanda and owes its origin to Dharmapala (770-810 A.D.), the devout Pala king who loved to call himself Paramasaugata (chief worshipper of the Buddha)and was a great patron of Mahayana Buddhism.

Dharmapala was impressed by two things which prompted him to establish Vikramsila university. Firstly, the rocky hillock anchored around the confluence of Kosi and Ganga at Vateshwarasthan was not only a scenic attraction but a popular tantric site as evident from the presence of a Kali temple (instead of Parvati’s) in front of Shiva temple, besides various other caves and rock cut sculptures dating back to the 6\7th century A.D. Secondly, the place was associated with pilgrimage due to Uttarbahini which drew large crowds during Varsavardhana.

Unlike Nalanda, sources of information on Vikramsila is confined to Tibetan texts and they make us believe that Dharmapala in his earlier birth was an accomplished acharya, Kampilya, who had attained siddhi or perfection in Mahayana mudra mysticism here and was determined to build a monastery one day. For More Info

Vikramshila University

Remains of the ancient Vikramshila University have been excavated at village Antichak in the Bhagalpur district.

Excavation at this site were done in 1960-61 and have disclosed different periods of habitation. The natural structures exposed and the anfiquites discovered reiterate that the site was probably the remains of a large monestery. A number Buddha images of stone and terracottas have been discovered. Some inscribed seals and stupas have also been found.

King Dharampala who founded the University had generously endowed it with his minificent grants. The University building made provisions for the maintenance of 108 residential Professors and also for a number of non-residential Professors, pilgrims and other members of the staff. A big Vihara (monastery) was constructed in the university quarters and it was profected by strong wells. In the centre there was a big Buddhist temple, surrounded by 108 smaller temples

The affairs of the University were entrusted by king Dharampala to one very eminent and learned scholar who was also highly religious. The controlling authority which administrate the affairs of the Vikramshila University also looked after the Nalanda University.

Sultanganj is a place of hoary antiquity

Sultanganj is a place of hoary antiquity. It is traditionally associated with the sage Jahnu, whose ashram was a centre of learning and culture. Jahnu Muni's ashram was located on the rock jutting out of the bed of the Ganga River. Now the site has the Shiva temple of Ajgaivinath, also known as Gaibinath Mahadeo. The story is that the river Ganga on her way to the ocean interrupted the Muni in hismeditation by the rush of her currents. The sage swallowed the river in a gulp. Bhagiratha intervened and the Muni again let her out by making an incision in his thigh. That is why the river Ganga is also called Jahnavi.
Traditionally Sultanganj formed a part of the great Anga, State. In the days of the Mahabharata, Karna, the sixth brother of the five Pandavas, ruled in Anga. The capital of Anga was Champa. Champa is the present Champanagar situated three miles to the west of Bhagalpur. King Karna had his castles at Champa (modern Champanagar) and Jahnugiri (modern Sultanganj). At present Champanagar, the- site of Karna''s castle, is well known as Karnagarh. Karnagarh is practically a part of Bhagalpur town now.