Nageshwar

Story behind the Twelve Jyotirlingas

Hinduism plays a significant role in human life from Krutha, Thretha and Dwapara eras continuing in present Kali era. In the entire eras, God wears several incarnations to punish evil and to protect sages and his devotees. The demons get boons from Brahma, the creator and used to show their sadism on sages and devotees of God in all these eras. Vishnu, status god and Shiva the destructor wear several incarnations to punish the evils and protect sages and their devotees from their harassment. The places where Vishnu and Shiva wear incarnations  spread all over India are came in to existence as holy places with the respective incarnation names. There are 64 Temples of Shiva and twelve only being called as Dwadasa Jyothirlingas and holy places of Shiva The holy places of Dwadasa Jyothirlingas spread from Kedareswar in north to Rameswaram in South and from Vaidhyanath in the east to Somanath of Gujarat in the West protecting our nation from times immemorial.

The legend is that Brahma and Vishnu argued about supreme creation. Shiva prepared the three worlds as an endless Jyothirlinga pillar of light. Brahma decides to travel downwards along with the pillar and Vishnu to treavel upwards respectively, to find the end of the light. Brahma lied that he had found the end, while Vishnu agreed his defeat. Shiva appeared as a second pillar of light and find the lie told by Brahma. Shiva got angry on Brahma and cursed Brahma him not to have place in ceremonies and Vishnu would be worshipped in eras.

Nageswar is at south of Jageswar of Uttarakhand State and west to Dwaraka. It is so Nageswar at Dwaraka of Gujarat State has to be considered as Nageswar Jyothirlinga. Nageswar Jyothirlinga is at a distance of 20 km from Dwaraka in Dwaraka to Bet Dwaraka Road. The temple releases from all kinds of poisons.    

Legend says in Siva Puranam that Nageswara Jyothirlingam is in the forest area Darukavanam in India. Siva Puranam says about Nageswara Jyothirlingam that a demon Daruka captured Supriya, a devotee of Lord Shiva along with other devotees and imprisoned in Daruka Town guarded with sea snakes and demons. The prisioners at the  exhortations of Supriya started chanting Lord Shiva. Shiva appeared and Daruka surrendered to Lord Shiva. Till them Shiva resided there as Jyothirlinga. The Demon has a wife Daruki and  the devotee of Parvathi Mata. Parvathi satisfied with the penance and sacrifice of Daruki and given boon to name the forest in her name Daruka Vanam. Later Parvathi rounded the forest along with Druki to save the demons from the punishment of Gods. Daruki moved the entire forest into the sea with the power conferred by Parvathi. Daruki continued their campaign against the hermits, kidnapping people and keeping them confined in their new lair under the sea, which was how that great Shiva devotee Supriya wound up there. Supriya made a lingam and chanting Om Namassivaya mantra along with the prisoners. The demons get angry to that chanting and tried to kill Supriya. Lord Shiva appeared and given a divine weapon. Daruki and other demons were defeated and Parvathi Mata saved the other demons.  The Lingam  set up by Supriya called as Nagesha and Shiva once again assumed the form of a Jyothirlinga with the name Nageshwar, while the Goddess Parvati was known as Nageshwari. Lord Shiva then announced that he would show the correct path to those who would worship him. Huge crowd will come here on Mahashivaratri. It is believed that all people irrespective of gender of GEMINI  Zodic sign visit and worship the Naganath Jyothirlingam will be relieved from all their hurdles in life.