# Patal Baba Is Seen Only Once a Year — Basukinath's Roughly 300-Year-Old Shivling

> About 60 kilometres from Deoghar, deep inside the Shivganga pond at Basukinathdham in Dumka district, the Shivling known as Patal Baba becomes visible only once a year, when the pond is drained before Sawan.

**Category:** Religion · **Published:** 2026-06-12 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/religion/sala-men-kevala-eka-bara-dikhate-hain-patala-baba-basukinatha-ke-isa-shivalinga--180

Baba Baidyanathdham, seated in Deoghar, Jharkhand, is counted among the country's twelve Jyotirlingas. Every year, lakhs of devotees come here to worship Lord Shiva. People believe that Baba Baidyanath is a Manokamana Linga — meaning every wish made with a true heart is granted here. It is this faith that draws devotees from various states of the country to Babadham to offer water and perform worship. Yet very few are aware that the pilgrimage to Babadham is considered incomplete until devotees travel to Basukinathdham in Dumka district and have darshan of Lord Shiva there.

Located about 60 kilometres from Babadham, Basukinathdham is regarded as the shrine that completes the court of Baba Baidyanath. According to the priests here, devotees who, after worshipping at Babadham, also offer water at Basukinath, are certain to have their wishes fulfilled. This is why, whether during Sawan or on ordinary days, large numbers of devotees arrive to seek darshan at both shrines. The Basukinath temple holds its own distinct religious significance, and many of its traditions are deeply tied to people's faith.

Within the Basukinathdham complex lies a sacred Shivganga pond as well. Before offering worship at the temple, devotees bathe in this pond and consider themselves purified. Deep within this very Shivganga stands an ancient Shivling, which people reverently call Patal Baba. On ordinary days this Shivling remains completely submerged under water, which is why it cannot be seen throughout the year. For this reason, the darshan of Patal Baba is considered extremely rare.

Every year, before Sawan begins, a special tradition is observed during the month of Jyeshtha. On this occasion, the priests of Basukinathdham, local villagers and the administration together drain the water out of the Shivganga pond and clean it. As the water level of the pond drops, devotees finally get to see Patal Baba, who remains submerged for years. People wait the entire year for this moment. Shiva devotees travel from far and wide just to witness this rare sight at Basukinath.

Recently, after a long wait, when devotees once again had darshan of Patal Baba, there was tremendous excitement among them. Amid the chanting of Vedic mantras, the temple priests performed a special worship of Lord Shiva using the Shodashopachar method and carried out a grand adornment. Under tight security arrangements, devotees were seen descending into the Shivganga pond to offer water. Many devotees said they did not know when such an opportunity would come again, and so this time the darshan and worship held special importance. Around the pond, the whole atmosphere turned devotional with devotion, reverence and chants of 'Har Har Mahadev'.

An extremely fascinating belief about Patal Baba is also popular among locals and devotees. Local pilgrimage priest Lambodar Mishra explains that this self-manifested (Swayambhu) Shivling appeared roughly 300 years ago. What is astonishing is that, despite remaining submerged in water for years, the bilva leaves, flowers, abir and other offerings placed on Baba appear completely intact. When the water of the Shivganga is drained and Patal Baba comes into view, it seems as though his adornment was done just moments ago. Devotees regard this as the divine grace and miracle of Lord Shiva. This is exactly why the Patal Baba of Basukinath remains, to this day, a major centre of faith for crores of Shiva devotees.

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