Nageshvara Jyotirlinga - tenth of the twelve Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva

Nageshwara Jyotirlinga

Shri Nageshwara Jyotirlinga is the tenth among the twelve Jyotirlinga forms of Lord Shiva. Shri Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is situated on the banks of river Gomati in Devbhoomi Dwarka district of Gujarat state. However, some scholars have different opinions regarding the location of Shri Nageshwar Jyotirlinga. Some believe that the real Nageshwar ji is located between Parbhani and Hingoli region of Maharashtra state. According to Skanda Purana, Shri Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is present on the banks of the river in a forest of cedar trees, at a distance of one and a half miles from the pilgrimage site named Jogeshwara, seventeen miles away from Almora in the state of Uttarakhand.

But according to the description of glorification found in Shiv Purana, the Linga situated in Darukavan area in the state of Gujarat is Nageshwar Jyotirlinga and in the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stuti, the place of Nageshwara Jyotirlinga has been described as Darukavan. According to the description found in the religious scriptures, during their exile, the Pandavas had built a grand temple at this place. By having Darshana of Shri Nageshwara Jyotirlinga, man's great sins are destroyed, and he attains bliss.

Shri Nageshwara Jyotirlinga Origin Story

Suta ji says, in ancient times, a demon named Daruka lived with great pride after receiving a boon from Mother Parvati. Her husband Daruk was also a very powerful demon. Daruk, along with a group of various demons, used to spread unrighteousness and harass the sages and saints who were practicing Dharma. On the west coast there was a dense forest of sixteen Yojana full of all the happiness and prosperity. Wherever Daruka went to indulge in pleasures, the elusive forest also used to come to the same place. Daruka was appointed by Goddess Parvati to protect that forest. Daruka used to roam in the same forest with her husband Daruk and the demon Daruk used to terrorise the people there with his fear. Suffering from the atrocities of that evil demon, the people there finally reached Maharishi Aurva to seek help. Seeing the suffering of the people tortured by Daruk, Maharishi Aurav cursed the demons that if any demon destroys the Havana (fire sacrifice) etc. and does violence towards the living beings, he will die instantly.

As soon as the gods came to know about the curse of Maharishi Aurava, they attacked the demons. If the demons had attacked the gods, they would have died because of Maharishi's curse and even if they had not fought, they would have been defeated and killed. Seeing the end of all the demons, the demon Daruka said, "By the power of the boon received by Goddess Parvati, I am able to take this forest to any place as per my wish." Saying this, Daruka took the entire forest to the sea with his power. All the demons fled from the earth and started living inside the sea and started tormenting the creatures there. After some time, a huge group of boats came out from there. The demons caught all the humans in those boats and put them in prison.

A Vaishya named Supriy was the head of that boat team. Supriy was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and did not even eat food before completing the Shiva puja. He not only worshiped Shiva himself but also inspired his other colleagues to worship Shiva. Therefore, Supriya and his companions got absorbed in the meditation of Lord Bholenath while chanting the Mantra 'Namah Shivaya' in the prison itself. As soon as Daruk received information about this, he became furious and ran to kill Supriy along with other demons. Seeing Daruk and other demons coming towards him, Supriy got scared and remembering Lord Shiva in his mind, he started praying to him to save his life.

Supriy said to Lord Shiva, "O ocean of compassion, O Kailashpati Shiva Shambhu, I take refuge in you. O Bhakta Vatsal, O Lord of the three worlds, O Bhootnath, protect us from this evil demon. You are the giver of our life." Lord. Hearing the pitiful cry of his devotee, Lord Shiva appeared from the same cave, along with him a magnificent temple with four doors also appeared. In the middle of that temple, the Jyotirlinga was shining with divine radiance and nearby all the people of Shiva's family were present. The members were seated. After receiving the Darshana of his deity, Supriy bowed down and worshiped him with devotion. Pleased with the devotion of Supriy, Lord Shiva himself killed all the main demons using his Pashupatastra and saved the life of his devotee Supriy.

After killing the demons, Lord Shiva granted this boon to that forest that demons and evil people should not reside in this forest and these four varnas of Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra should always be followed and worship of Lord Shiva and devotion to Shiva should be done. The religious people who propagate the religion should reside here. Hearing these words from the mouth of Lord Shiva, the demon Daruka started praising Goddess Parvati with full devotion. Pleased with Daruka's prayer, Goddess Parvati appeared there and said to Daruka, I am very happy with your devotion, tell me what is your wish? Daruka, in a helpless state, pleaded with Goddess Parvati, O Mother Bhavani! Protect my family and lineage.

Goddess Parvati requested Lord Shiva saying, "O Lord! May your blessing be fruitful at the end of the age and till that time, grant permission to even the tamasic creatures to reside here." Mother Goddess further said, "O Umapati Mahadeva! I am yours and am present in your half. Therefore, please make my words true, Lord. This demon is Daruka Devi and is a form of my power. She is the most powerful and valiant among all the demons, hence she should rule the entire demon kingdom and the children born from these demon wives should live in this forest, this is my wish, my Lord."

On the request of Mother Parvati, Lord Shiva said, "O beloved, to fulfil your wish, I myself will reside in this forest and take care of the devotees and the person who follows the Varna dharma with full devotion and has Darshana of me will be honoured as Chakravarti emperor.

At the end of Kaliyuga and the beginning of Satyayuga, Veerasen, the son of King Mahasen, will be a very mighty king, who will rule over the kings also. He will be very powerful, valiant, brave and an ardent devotee of Shiva. Veerasen will come to this place and see me, as a result of which he will be famous in the entire world as Chakravarti Emperor."

Concluding the story, Suta ji says, Brahmins, Leeladhar Shiva and Parvati, who thus confused the entire creation with their illusion, sat in the same forest jokingly. That Jyotirlinga form of Lord Shiva became Shri Nageshwar and Mother Parvati became Shri Nageshwari Devi. According to the greatness described in Shivapurana, all the wishes of the person who listens to the story of the appearance of Shri Nageshwar Jyotirlinga daily are fulfilled and by worshiping it, all the sins are destroyed.

Major temples near Shri Nageshwar Teertha Kshetra

1. Dwarkadhisha Temple
2. Rukmani Devi Temple
3. Bhadkeshwara Mahadev Temple
4. Gopi Pond
5. Gomti Ghat
6. Sudama Bridge