Nāgeśvar

Lord of Serpents · near Dvārakā, Gujarat (also Aundha and Jageshwar)

The Stotra places Nāgeśa “dārukāvane”, in the Dāruka forest, and three places hold this tradition. Many pilgrims visit the Nāgeśvar temple near Dvārakā in Gujarat, with its large seated Śiva statue. In Maharashtra, Aundhā Nāganāth in Hingoli district is revered as the Jyotirliṅga. In Uttarakhand, the ancient cluster of stone temples at Jāgeśvar in Almora district is also regarded by many as Nāgeśa.

Each is a living place of worship with its own devotees, and pilgrims usually honour the tradition of their own region. Winter is the comfortable season for Gujarat and Maharashtra; spring to autumn for Jāgeśvar.

According to the Śiva Purāṇa, a demon named Dāruka and his wife Dārukā ruled a forest by the sea. Dāruka captured a merchant named Supriya, a great devotee of Śiva, along with others. In prison Supriya kept chanting Śiva’s name and taught the others to do the same. Śiva appeared, destroyed the demons, and remained there as Nāgeśa.

Gujarat / Maharashtra / Uttarakhand · Dāruka forest · Three traditions · Mahāśivarātri

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