During the sacred month of Sawan, a massive wave of devotees gathers at the Baba Ratneshwar Nath Dham temple situated in the Shivpur area of Godda district. This historical Shiva shrine, dating back approximately four00 years, holds profound religious significance among the local population. It is widely believed that worshippers who offer sincere prayers to Lord Shankar at this sacred site are blessed with the gift of a son, a unique belief from which the temple derives its name, Baba Ratneshwar Nath.
Simultaneous Worship of Three Shivlingas
According to temple priest Vivekananda Thakur, more than ten thousand devotees arrive at the temple premises every Monday during Sawan to perform Jalabhishek and offer prayers. What makes this temple truly distinctive across the entire district is the rare tradition of worshipping three distinct Shivlingas simultaneously: Baba Ratneshwar Nath, Baba Dhaneshwar Nath, and Baba Kapleshwar Nath.
Historical Background and Royal Patronage
Local resident Surjit Jha shared that in earlier times, the temple was nestled deep within dense forests, and only a handful of worshippers visited for prayers. However, during the 1900s, the ruler of Baneli State undertook the renovation of the temple and commissioned a new structure. Following these developments, the fame and reputation of this holy site spread far and wide across multiple districts in both Jharkhand and Bihar.
Devotion and Pilgrimage Traditions
The burgeoning popularity of the temple eventually led to the surrounding locality being named Shivpur, which lies north of Hatia Chowk in Godda. While devotees visit throughout Sawan, Mondays witness a special ritual where worshippers walk all the way from the Barari Ganga Ghat in Bhagalpur carrying holy water to offer to Baba. As the sole location in Godda where three Jyotirlingas are venerated together, thousands of pilgrims travel from across the state every Sawan to seek the blessings of Lord Shankar.
