Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Dwarka, Gujarat

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Dwarka Overview

Nageshwar Temple situated in Dwarka is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. It is located on the route between Gomati Dwarka and the Bait Dwarka Island on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat. Also sometimes known as Nagnath Temple, the main deity here is Lord Shiva, also known as Nageshwar Mahadev. According to the Shiva Purana, those who pray at the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga become free from all poisons, snake bites and worldly attractions.

Unlike other Nageshwar Temples, the statue or the Linga here faces south. A major highlight of Nageshwar Temple is the massive 80 feet tall statue of Lord Shiva. The temple itself is characterised by typical Hindu architecture. The Nageshwar Shiva Linga is made up of stone, known as Dwarka Shila, having small chakras on it. It is in the shape of 3 mukhi Rudraksha.

The importance of Nageshwar Jyotirlinga stems from the fact that it is believed to be the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. Designed on the principles of Vaastu Shastra, the temple is planned on the Sayanam (sleeping) posture of the human body. On the festival of Maha Shivaratri, the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple witnesses grand celebration, drawing flock of devotees from all across the globe.

Legend of Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

Based on Shiva Purana, Nageshwar is believed to be in the "Darukavana", an ancient forest in India. The legend dates back hundreds of years ago to a demon couple called Daruka and Daruki, after whom Darukavana was named (it eventually came to be known as Dwarka).

The demon Daruka, a staunch devotee of Goddess Parvati, once captured a Shiva devotee - Supriya - and imprisoned him along with the others in his capital Darukavana. Supriya urged all prisoners to recite Om Namaha Shivay, the holy mantra for Lord Shiva. Pleased by the devotion, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a Jyotirlinga from the earth. Though he could not kill the demon blessed by his own wife, he assured Supriya and the other devotees that he would protect them in the form of a linga. This jyotirlinga came to be worshipped as Nageshwara form of Lord Shiva.

Another, less popular legend, links the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga to the Pandava brothers of Mahabharat. Bhima, the strongest of the five Pandavas, found a river flowing full of cream and milk with a Swayambhu (self-manifested) lingam in the middle of it. It is believed that the Nageshwar Temple is built on the exact spot.

Architecture of Nageshwar Temple

Built in the western style of architecture and following the principles of Vaastu Shashtra, the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is planned on the Sayanam (sleeping) posture of the human body. It is divided into 5 main parts/portions:

Mahadwar (feet): the main gate to the temple, devotees enter through the feet
Entrance Porch (hands): it falls between the two sacred idols of Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesh symbolising the two hands
Sabha Mandapa (abdomen and chest): The main prayer hall comprising of prayer seats is believed to symbolise the human abdomen and chest
Antarala: This is the worship place of Nandi, Lord Shiva's vehicle
Garbhagriha (head): Housing the main Shiva Linga, the garbagriha is the head in the human body

The Nageshwar Temple faces south while the Gomugam faces east. There is another historical legend related to this. One of Lord Shiva's devotees, Naamdev was one day singing bhajans in front of His statue when he asked by other devotees to move aside and not block the Lord's view. To this, he asked the one direction in which Lord Shiva did not exist. The enraged devotees, out of rage, left him on the south side. Astonishingly, the Shiva Linga suddenly moved toward the south, while the gomugam was facing east.

Best Time to Visit Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

The ideal time to visit the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is during the winter season, from October to February. The pleasant temperature during these months ensure that the devotees do not face much difficulty due to the heat while standing in the (sometimes) long line for a glimpse of the Shiva Linga.

Those who do not mind huge crowd should visit Nageshwar temple during the Maha Shivaratri festival to experience the festive and spiritual aura of the temple at its highest.

How to Reach Nageshwar

The Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is located on the route between Gomati Dwarka and the Bait Dwarka Island on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat. To reach the temple, first reach Dwarka by flight or train.

Flight: The nearest airport to Dwarka is located around 137km away at Jamnagar. The Jamnagar Airport is connected to Mumbai by regular flights. The distance between the airport and Dwarka can be covered in a taxi, which usually costs INR 2000 approximately.

Train: Dwarka railway station is connected to different parts of the countries by daily regular trains.

Nageshwar is located around 18 km (25 minutes' drive) away from Dwarka. Auto-rickshaws are easily available from Dwarka, charging around INR 300-400 for both ways. Taxi are also readily available, costing around INR 800-1200 two-way.