Baba Balak Nath ji Temple

India is country of many beliefs and i came to know about one more last year. Baba Balak Nath ji is a Punjabi and Hindu deity worshipped in the northern Indian states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The shrine is known as "Deotsidh". Baba balak Nath ji's Temple is situated at village Chakmoh of district Hamirpur on the hill top. The temple has a natural cave carved in the hills which is considered to be the abode of Babaji. A murti image of Babaji is placed in the cave. The devotees offer rot, which is prepared with flour and Sugar / Gur, at the altar of Babaji. Goats can also be offered to Babaji as a gesture for his love. Goats are not killed there, rather they are being fed there. The entry of females in the cave is forbidden. However, there is a raised platform just opposite to the cave from where the females can have Darshan of the Babaji's image. Six kilometers further from the temple, is a place named "Shah-talai" where Babaji is said to have practiced Dhyana mediatation.

The story of Baba Balak Nath can be found in the Baba Balak nath Amar Katha. It is believed that Baba Balak Nath Ji has been born in all the yugas(periods) Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kal Yuga the present age, and known by different names for each period. He was known as 'Skanda' in 'Sat Yuga', 'Kaul' in 'TretaYuga', and 'Mahakaul' in 'Dvapra Yuga'. In each incarnation, he helped the poor and destitute, and removed their problems and miseries. In each birth, he was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. During the Dvapra Yuga, Mahakaul, while going to 'Kailasha Parvata', met an old woman on the way. The old lady asked about the mission and destination of Baba Ji. After knowing his desire to meet lord Shiva, the old woman advised Mahakaul to meditate at the bank of Mansarovar River and request Mother Parvati (who occasionally came there for bathing), to help him in reaching Lord Shiva. Mahakaul acted as was told and became successful in his mission of reaching Lord Shiva. On seeing Balayogi Mahakaul, Lord Shiva became very happy and blessed Baba Ji to be a Sidha symbol of worship for devotees till Kali Yuga and blessed him child like image to remain for ever.

In Kala Yuga Baba Balak Nath ji was born as 'Dev' in Gujarat, Kathiabad. The name of His mother was Laxmi and his father was Vishno Vaish. Since childhood Baba Ji was always lost in 'Bhagvad devotion'. Seeing this, his parents decided to marry him; but Baba Ji didn't agree and left his home in search of 'Parma Sidhi'. On his way, he came across 'Swami Dattaitreya' in Junagarh on Girnar hill, a historical place. It is here Baba ji learnt the basics of 'Sidhas' from Swami Dattaitreya, became Sidha, and came to be known as Baba Balak Nath Ji.

There are two other distinct evidences of Baba Balak Nath ji's presence. One is the Tree of Garuna. It is a bush tree still present at Shahtlai town. This was the tree where Baba Ji used to meditate. Second is an old Police Station in Town Bursur where some cows were kept when they destroyed the crops. Baba Ji were employed by one lady named Ratno to look after these cows. Baba Ji practiced Brahmchyra (celibacy) throughout. That is why as a mark of respect the women devotees don't enter the sanctum established in the gufa (cave) where he is believed to have disappeared. Baba Ji was so engrossed in his tapasya (worship) that he never consumed the rotis (bread) offered to him by Mai Ratno who had employed him to look after her cows. Once when she criticised him for not doing his job well though being fed so well by her, he reproduced the rotis hidden in a tree trunk and Lassi from the ground.Boloo Jai Babe Di.