In India, the cult of the Bābā Bālak Nāth is especially popular in the Himachal State, where situated his main shrine, and in the eastern part of the Punjab State, which is attached to it. At past, the small shrines consecrated to him, could be seen mostly all over the area of the Himachal State, but nowadays, the cult of the Baba Balak Nath is slowly spreading all over India. In the twentieth century, the numerous temples consecrated to him, were built at the various cities of the country. This was done mostly by the people who originated from the same state, and who worship him as their patron deity.
Although the name of the Siddh Bābā Bālak Nāth is one of most well-known amongst other names of the Great Natha Siddhas, in accordance with most legends about him, he never became the member of the Natha Order (or the disciple of Goraksh Nath). His relationship with the Nātha yogis in general, and with Guru Gorakh Nath in particular, are not easy to understand. It is much possible that he was a yogi of the Natha Sampradaya, but at the same time, from the various legends about him, it appears clearly that he tried to establish himself as somewhat apart from it. What is most remarkable about him is that he repeatedly refused to perform the splitting of his ears by the Guru Goraksh Nath and preferred to remain aughar life-long. As can be seen from his name, possibly that he was initiated into the Natha Order by some yogi of the sect, whose name became lost in time; in accordance with some legends by Guru Goraksh Nath, and in accordance with others by the Lord Shiva himself. The name Bālak Nāth is the common name used amongst the Natha Yogis even today, and usually it is given to those of them, who became yogi while they still were very young (Bālak means a young boy). At present, within the Natha Sampradaya there are still existing few yogis with the same name. It is difficult to say was the Baba Bālak Nāth the disciple of the Guru Goraksh Nath or not, but all legends unanimously agree that he met him, and even has the contest of magical powers with him.
The main shrine sacred to the Baba Balak Nath and the place of his penance, also known as the Baba Balak Nath Siddh Peeth, are located at the places Deot Siddh and Shaha Talai in the district Hamirpur of the Himachal Pradesh (state). The small city Shaha Talai is situated in the lower part of a hill and Deot Siddh shrine on its peak, about six kilometers above it, if go by motor road, or about one kilometer, if go by direct foot path. The both places form one complex consecrated to the worship of Baba ji, consisting from the different temples scattered at the different places associated with various periods and events of his life. The most of those temples appear as being built not long time ago, but the tradition related to them of older origin. Today this place is the popular spot of pilgrimage, and visited through year by the thousands pilgrims as from the Himachal State, as well as from the other parts of India.
The main place of worship of Baba Balak Nath, known as Deot Sidh (Siddha), situated in the natural cave on the top of the hill. Inside the cave, there is a stature of Baba ji, seated in padma asana, and using the yogic stand (adhārī) as the support of his hands. In older times, the use of this kind of staff for the supporting of the body weight, was widely prevalent amongst the Natha Yogis, and in India this tradition undoubtedly associated with the Nath Panth. About the origin of the name Deot Sidh, the local legend says that the light of deot, which is the local spelling of the Hindi word deepak or oil lamp, lighted by Baba Ji, was extraordinary, and could be seen in all distant villages around. Because of this phenomenon, the people started calling Baba ji ‘Baba Deot Sidh’, and later the place became famous under this name.
In his main shrine, Baba Balak Nath is worshiped by the offering of rot parsad (the food which is first offered to the deity, and then distributed amongst worshipers), which is prepared in the form of thick chapatti, consisting from ghee (clarified butter), wheat flour and jaggery (half-refined sugar of brown color). There are many different kinds of parsada associated with the various deities of the Hindu Pantheon, out of them the name ‘rot parsad’ is always associated with the Nath Panth and with the Guru Goraksh Nath, although their formula of its preparation is more complicated then used in this place. The original rot prasad, as it prepared by the Natha Yogis, include in itself many costly ingredients, and the process of its preparation consumes a lot of time and energy. However, numerous Natha yogis, situated in remote ashramas, who does not have that many resources, sometimes prepare it in the simplified form, which is similar with the mentioned above. Probably this tradition was started by the Baba Balak Nath himself, and now, after the financial issue is no more problem, it is still maintained in its original form, which came down from his time.
As it is customary in many others mountain temples, sometimes goats are also offered to the shrine, although nowadays they are not slaughtered, but left unbound. It is widely believed that Baba Balak Nath is still present around this place, being invisible, and that by visiting his shrine, his blessings are obtained, and the desires of worshipers become fulfilled. Presently the temple complex is not in the possession of the Natha Yogis, and it is said that it never was. After Bābā Bālak Nāth departed from there, it was managed by the local priests, and nowadays, it was taken over and managed by the Government of the Himachal State (Siddh Baba Balak Nath Temple Trust). Presently, the trust conducts numerous religious activities and maintains the premises of the place.
Shah Talai
In accordance with the legend current presently at Shah Talai, Bābā Bālak Nāth has come there from the region of Kurukshetra, which is the area located in the modern Haryana State. This area mostly famous because it is believed that the Great battle Mahabharata, described in the epic with the same name, has taken place somewhere near to the place presently known as Thanesar. At some distance from the place, there exist huge tank filled with water, known as Brahma Sarovar, which is the popular place of pilgrimage. The spot is sacred, and at the time of solar eclipses and ‘Somavati Amavasya’ (Sacred No-Moon Day that happens on a Monday), thousands of people come here to take bath in it. Presently there exist many religious establishments situated on the banks of the tank, one of which belongs to the Natha Yogis. As it usual at the places of pilgrimage, there many sadhus staying at the place trough year.
The known part story of Bābā Bālak Nāth starting from this place, and almost nothing known about his life of before he came there, excluding above mentioned legend of Mani Mahesh. It is told that he along with few other saints (possibly Natha Yogis), has came to Kurukshetra to participate in one of such great bathing at the time of solar eclipse. After it he went towards mountains, and reached the place where situated Bachhretu Mahadev temple, and from there he went to place presently famous as Shaha Talai. It is said that the old name of the place was Changer Talai. There he has met an old woman, ‘Ratno Mai’, about which it is said that at the time of her previous life at Dwapara yuga, she was in close relationship with ‘the Maha-Kaul Baba ji ’(i.e. Balak Nath) and even was his spiritual guide (probably the same woman who advised him how to meet Shiva). As result, Baba ji has unfulfilled karmic debt to her from his previous life, without finishing which, he was unable to proceed further with his yoga practice. To compensate for done by her in their previous lives, the Baba Balak Nath has accepted the responsibility of taking care of her cows. He decided to settle in Shaha Talai, where he spent the next twelve years of his life under a huge Banyan tree. He told to Ratno Mai that he will be taking care of her cows, and side by side with it, would continue his penance. He asked her to bring him daily ‘roti’ (kind of unleavened bread) and ‘lassi’ (mashed curd left after removing butter) for food. Before accepting this commitment, Baba ji has put forth one condition that he would work for her as long as she would remain satisfied by his work. Daily he was sitting under the Banyan tree, watching for her cows and doing his yogic practices side by side; Ratno Mai was bringing him roti and lassi as she promised, and in such way twelve years has passed. There were not any complains from her during all this time.
Miracles
Near the end of the 12th year, protests started coming from the people of the village that cows neglected by Baba ji, started damaging their crop. Ratno Mai tried to pacify people by herself, remembering about her agreement with Baba ji, until the day came when the village head publicly scolded Ratno Mai for the serious damage of his crop by her cows. This time Ratno Mai has lost her patience and for the first time in twelve years she started reproving Baba ji for his negligence. On hearing this, he took her and the village chief to the field about which they were complaining. When they reached there, they saw that to their wonder, it became miraculously restored, and there was no any damage at all. Numerous people, who were much astonished to see this wonder, saw this miracle.
Ratno Mai has understood that it was Baba ji, who by his Yogic powers did this, and she apologized for her imprudence, but it was too late. After this, the Baba Balak Nath has taken her to the Banyan tree where their agreement has taken place, and told her that now it was terminated, and she has to take care of her cows by herself. He told her that his karmic debt to her was extinguished and it was time for him to live the place. Ratno Mai has became very upset by what happened, because she developed strong motherly affection for Baba ji, who became her as her own son during passed years. First, she tried to dissuade him from going and accused him for ungratefulness, for all done by her for him. Then she reminded him that although his previous karmic debt has ended, a new one was created, because of food she provided him during passed twelve years; therefore, he has to recompense it also.
Baba Ji answered her that destined events happening by their own way and it is impossible to change them. He told her that he has not created any new debt because he never used roti and lassi she was daily bringing to him. Then Baba Ji thrown his fire tongs (chimta) at the trunk of the Banyan Tree under which he used to sit during passed 12 years and told, ‘Now take your roti, mai!’ When the fire tongs strike the trunk of the tree, a piece of wood became slashed from it, revealing the heap of chapattis inside it. Then he pushed his chimta into ground and told her, ‘and here is your lassi (curd) Mai.’ And, immediately from that very place came out a spring of curd, which soon became a pond of curd. This pond is still could be seen in Shaha Talai, and the place got its new name because of it. Chach talai means ‘the pound of curd’, and later word ‘chach’ became distorted into Shah. At the place where was situated that legendary banyan tree, presently was constructed hollow structure symbolizing it, which is called ‘Vat Vriksh Tapo Bhoomi’ or ‘the Land of penance under hollow tree’. Close to it is a temple with images of the Baba Balak Nath, Guga Chauhan and Nahar Singh. It is believed that the soil of that place is an effective medicine against foot diseases of cattle.
Amazed to see miracles performed by Baba ji, Ratno Mai was not able to argue further; being very sad about him leaving the place, all she could do, was to start weeping in front of him. On seeing her sorrow, Baba ji comforted her by saying that he is not going far away, but would stay in jungle above, at the distance about half kilometer from the old place. There she may see him whenever she want. After this, he has shifted his ‘Dhuni’ in jungle at the place situated below a thorny bush.
As it was mentioned before, the relations of the Baba Balak Nath with Nathas and the Guru Gorakh Nath were not much easy to understand. It is said that Guru Goraksh Nath wanted Baba ji to join His sect, in accordance with other sources he wanted only to split his ears and put earrings (kundals) into them (in such way intending to became his chira guru).
In accordance with the local legend, Goraksh Nath thought that it could be useful for the Nath Sect to get such a distinguished yogi admitted into it. Baba ji was not willing to do neither of these. Non-declared contest has taken place amongst both yogis, as result of which Balak Nath finally succeed in his intentions. There exist two different versions of the legend about this contest, one which is circulated as spoken tradition around the temple, and another amongst the Natha Yogis. The first shows Goraksh Nath as being defeated by Baba Balak Nath and second as being victorious, but living him without splitting his ears.