Temples of India: Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

 

The Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is located in Daarukavanam between Gomti and Dwarka on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat, India.

The revered site is home to one of the 12 jyotirlingas (self-manifested Shivalinga) in India. The red building lies at a short distance from the town. At the end of a large hall is the main sanctum with the Shivalinga. Close to the temple is another important spiritual spot called Gopi Talav Tirth, a lake that is connected to the legends of gopis visiting Lord Krishna and eventually offering their lives to merge with the soil here.

History Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

The legend goes that it was here that a demon called Daaruka imprisoned a Shiva devotee called Supriya. The chants of ‘Om Namaha Shivay’ by Supriya invoked Lord Shiva who arrived here and vanquished the demon. A self-manifested Shivalinga appeared here and is prayed to this date.

It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya laid the foundations of his Western Math at Kalika Peetha here.

Nageshwar means ‘Lord of serpents’, so one who worships Nageshwar will have a poison-free mind and body. Lord Shiva also has a snake (Vasuki) around his neck.

There is a huge statue (25m) of Lord Shiva in a sitting position, a large garden, and a pond in this temple. The linga is made of Dwaraka shila and has small chakras on it. It is in the shape of a tri-mukhi rudraksha (sacred beads representing Lord Shiva) and faces south, while the temple faces east.

The story behind Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

The legend goes that there was once a demon called Daruk who lived in the forest along with his wife, Daruka. Because of a boon from Goddess Parvati, the demons had great powers which they abused to disturb festivities. They even captured and imprisoned a great devotee of Lord Shiva – a merchant named Supriya. Even in prison, Supriya continued his Shiva puja, wearing the holy rudraksha and chanting the Shiva mantra - Om Namah Shivaya. His devotion touched the Lord as he appeared before him, slayed the demon, and saved him. The place where the demon was killed is called Daarukavanam. It is said that the Lord placed the Shiva Linga (called Naganath) there to establish his residence there.

It is also believed that Lord Krishna himself used to worship Lord Shiva here; he is said to have performed the rudrabhishekam here.