In close vicinity to Rikhiapeeth is the temple town of Deoghar, which literally means ‘home of the Gods’. The main temple enshrines Baba Baidyanath, the jyotirlingam, oval shaped stone, which is worshipped as a symbol of the illumined consciousness of Lord Shiva. It is naturally formed out of a single rock and its magnificence and power draws hundreds of thousands of devotees. Narad Muni in his description of Baidyanath Dham to Hanuman describes it as the only place where Lord Shiva grants boons to each and every person whether deserving or undeserving, sinner or saint.
A feature of Deoghar is the annual kanwariya mela, festival, held in the month of Sravan (July/August), in worship of Baba Baidyanath. This is an auspicious time for bathing the jyotirlingam with Ganga water and millions of devotees, rich and poor alike, walk barefoot 104 kilometers from Sultanganj carrying Ganga water in their kanwars or earthen pots. At that time Deoghar resounds with the auspicious mantra Om Namah Shivaya, and the presence of Shiva becomes intense.

Deoghar is also a very important shaktipeeth, spiritual place where the cosmic mother is worshipped. It is said that when Lord Shiva was carrying the dead body of his consort Sati, it was cut into sixty-four pieces, and different parts of Sati’s body fell in the sixty-four peethas, important places for worship of Shakti. Her heart fell at Baidyanath Dham and thus it is known as the Hridaya Peeth or place of the heart. Swami Satyananda said, “Deoghar is the cremation ground of Devi, the place where her heart fell millions of years ago. It is also the birthplace of a new Devi. The message for the awakening of women will go out from here.”

Deoghar is an important seat of both Shiva and Shakti for they are both eternally present here and their influence is all pervading.