Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

Near Dwarka (on the Dwarka to Bet Dwarka road), Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat

Jyotirlinga 8/12
12 Jyotirlingas

Traditions differ: Three places are linked with this jyotirlinga. The temple near Dwarka in Gujarat is the most widely known. In Maharashtra, Aundha Nagnath in Hingoli district is revered as the eighth jyotirlinga, and some identify that region as 'Darukavan'. Jageshwar in Almora district, Uttarakhand, set in a deodar forest, is also held by some traditions to be the Nageshwar jyotirlinga. All three are places of deep faith.

About

Nageshwar is the eighth jyotirlinga in the order of the stotra, and Nageshwar means the Lord of Serpents. Its best-known temple is on the Saurashtra coast of Gujarat, on the road between Dwarka and Bet Dwarka. The stotra places it in 'Darukavan', the forest of Daruka. To see the linga, pilgrims go down into a sanctum below the ground. In the temple grounds, a seated statue of Shiv about 80 feet tall can be seen from far away. Most families visit it along with the Dwarkadhish temple.

The story

The Shiv Puran tells of a demoness named Daruka and her husband Daruk. Daruka had pleased Maa Parvati with tapasya and was given power over a forest near the western sea, which came to be called Darukavan. Daruk and the other demons began to trouble sages and good people and took them captive.

Among the captives was Supriya, a merchant and a true devotee of Shiv. Even in prison he did not give up his worship. He set up a Shivling and began to chant 'ॐ नमः शिवाय' with the other prisoners. When the demons rushed to kill him, Shiv appeared, gave Supriya a divine weapon and put an end to the demons' terror. Shiv then stayed there as the jyotirlinga Nageshwar, and Maa Parvati as Nageshwari. Devotees believe that Shiv shows the right path to those who worship him here.

Visiting

October to March is the pleasant season. Nageshwar is about 15 to 17 km from Dwarka, so most pilgrims also visit the Dwarkadhish temple, Gomti Ghat, the Rukmini Devi temple, Gopi Talav and Bet Dwarka, which is now linked by the Sudarshan Setu bridge.

Festivals

Maha Shivratri

12 Jyotirlingas

Sources