Baba Balak Nath
Baba Balak nath is believed as a form of Lord Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Baba Balak Nath is worshipped in the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The shrine, ‘Deotsidh’ is 45 km away from Hamirpur, in Himachal Pradesh.
The temple is situated in Chakmoh village, in a natural cave. A number of devotees visit the temple and the shrine daily. For the local people of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh Baba Balak Nath’s blessings means a lot.
Everyday prayers are offered to Babaji. With flowers and agarbatti priests do pooja. In the temple, devotees are offered roti (Indian flour bread) and gur (jaggery). In return goats are offered to Babaji. However, unlike many other temples, goats are not slaughtered here. Rather they are taken care of and are fed well. Women devotees are restricted from entering into the cave. Women can catch a glimpse of the idol-image of Baba Balak Nath from a raised platform which is there just in front of the cave.
Six kilometres ahead of the Temple of Baba ji, there is a small town called Shah-talai – where Baba Balak Nath is believed to have practiced penance. This place of Shah-talai was earlier known as Changer-talai. After Baba Blak Nath’s worship, this place was renamed as Chah-talai, which eventually became Shah-talai. Babaji had practiced Dhyana in this place.
In Punjab Pakistan, in the district of Jhelum, is a tilla yogian. The tilla, located near Rohtas Fort is referred to as Balak Nath tilla by the local residents, which is also associated with the famous love story of Heer-Ranjha. Ranjha is said to have visited Baba balak Nath and turned jogi by piercing his ear and wearing an ear-ring.