BABA Bateshwar Asthan : Bhagalpur ,Bihar

BABA Bateshwar Asthan

Kahalgawn is about 33 kms far from Bhagalpur and Bateshwar asthan is further 10 km i.e. it is 43 kms from Bhagalpur. Flow of the Ganges is northerly here also so this place becomes religiously important. It is an isolated hilly area known as Bateshwar hill which is a part of Raj mahal system of trappean rocks. There are two temples of lord shiva. The temple on the bank of the Ganges is on a spheroidal block of hilly rock. This is called Bridheshwar nath or Burha baba Second temple. It is about 150 metres up slope on eastern side on the hill top. It is called Bateshwar nath or Madeshwar nath.

Mythology goes that the area was developed by Buddhist saint teacher and professor Kampilya, who mastered the art of meditation in Mahamundtri from the Nalanda university.

Another mythology goes that the area was ruled by rude administrator Vakul and Vikram He did not like salvation preaches of lord Budha So lord Budha on his retirement stay during one rainy season destroyed them on the rocks of Bateshwar. So the name Vikram shila.The place where Kali is in front of shivling is most suited for Tantra sadhna. This is also called place of 84 confirmed tantric -meditators,(chorasi sidho ki pith) Many saints are seen meditating before Kali temple at present also. Status of 84 medit-ating saint are seen encarved on the hills of Bateshwar asthan .The size of the stone block on which these statues have been made is 50’x 5’. They used to meditate in the cave and the tunnel whichare stil reserved in the hill. They are

1. Tri gufi--- West of thakurbari hill near the bank of the Ganges

2. Basibt meditation center near bateshwar temple.

3. Patalpuri cave—In the North West side of the hill, it is the biggest of all the caves.

Archiologist have found a statue of Bhairawi which has four eyes and twelve hands.Is made of eight metals(ast dhatu) It is preserved in Indian museum at Kolkata. Figures and sketches of Ramayan and Mahabharat are also seen engraved on different stone blocks of the hill.Many ful l size statues and partial statues of lord Vishnu ,Nagkanya and Budha can seen .A beautiful statue of the Sun God is also worshiped in the temple .

Naga baba temle is another attraction of the site.