Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

Nageshwar Temple or Nagnath Temple is located on the route between Gomati Dwarka and the Bait Dwarka Island on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat. The Jyotirlinga enshrined in the Temple of Nagnath is known as Nageshwar Mahadev and attracts thousands of pilgrims all round the year.

This powerful Jyotirlinga symbolizes protection from all poisons. It is said that those who pray to the Nageshwar Linga become free of poison.

Nageshwar Temple :

A huge, attractive statue of Lord Shiva in meditation pose greets devotees outside the temple. It's a 125 feet high and 25 feet broad statue. Main entrance is simple but beautiful. First is a hall or sabha mandap, where the Puja material counters are located. The Jyotirlinga is in a basement type sanctum. Main Jyotirlinga is situated below the sabhamandap floor. The Jyotirlinga is moderately big and shalunka is plated with silver. A silver replica of Nag (snake) is also placed. Behind the Jyotirlinga there is an idol of Goddess Parvati. At Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, only male devotees can enter and perform puja in Garbhagriha. They have to wear a dhoti. No one knows the reason for this male only practice.

Legend :

According to Shiv Purana, a Shiva devotee by name Supriya was attacked by a demon Daaruka while in a boat. The demon imprisoned him along with several others at his capital Daarukaavana where he resided with his wife Daaruki. Supriya advised all prisoners to recite the mantra ‘Aum Namaha Shivaya’. When Daruk came to know about this he ran to kill Supriya. Instantly Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a Jyotirlingam and vanquished the demon with the Paasupata Astram.

This Jyotirlinga manifestation of Shiva is worshipped as Nageswara. Two other sites in India, one near Audhgram near Purna in Andhra Pradesh and another near Almora in Uttar Pradesh also enshrine temples to Nageswara Jyotirlingam. According to the Shiv Purana, any one who ever with devotion reads the birth and greatness of this Jyotirlinga shall beget all material happiness and divine status in the end.

Temple Timings :

The temple opens at 5 am with morning arti. It opens for devotees from 6 am. In the morning hours, different pujas/abhisheks are performed by the Pujaris and devotees..The devotees have a Sringar darshan at 4 pm and after that entry to Garbhagriha for devotees is closed. Depending upon the season, sayam arti is performed at 7 pm. The temple closes at 9 pm. However during special occasions like Holy Shravan month, Navaratri and Diwali festival, Kartik Purnima and Mahashivaratri, the temple remains open for long time.

Pujas at Temple :

There are different pujas performed at Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.

HOW TO GET HERE :

By Air - Jamnagar, 145 kms away, is the nearest airport.

By Rail - Dwarka is a station on the Ahmedabad-Okha broad gauge railway line connected to Jamnagar, Rajkot (217 kms) and Ahmedabad (378 kms).

By Road - There is regular bus service from Jamnagar, Rajkot and other nearby towns connected to Dwarka.