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Story of Nageshwar Temple in Dwaraka – Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Story


Nageshwar Temple, believed to be a Jyotirlinga Temple, is located between Dwarka and Beyt Dwarka Island on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat. The story of this important Lord Shiva Temple is very interesting as it is associated with Darukavana – an ancient place mentioned in Puranas and Shiva is believed to have appeared here.

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Story

Legend has it that the group of dwarf sages known as Balakhilyas performed intense meditation in the Darukavana. It is believed that the present day Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is located in Darukavana.

To test the devotion, self control and patience, of the sages Shiva appeared as a nude ascetic.

The wives of the sages got attracted to the nude asetic.



This disturbed sages who were outraged and cursed the young ascetic to drop his linga.

When the curse materialized, it caused havoc in the universe.

Vishnu and Brahma requested Shiva to forgive the sages and take back the linga.

Shiva relented and this resulted in peace returning to universe.

But the presence of the linga in the form of unexplainable energy was felt in Darukavana. This later took the form of the present day Shivling worshipped in the Nageshwar Temple in Dwaraka.

This story is mentioned in the Vamana Purana.

Notes

  • Please note that there are numerous stories associated with Nageshwar form of Shiva. This one is associated with the temple in Dwaraka in Gujarat.
  • Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, at Aundh (Aundha in Hingoli District) in Maharashtra, is also considered to be one among the twelve Jyotirlinga temples.