Introduction to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
All the 12 Jyotirlingas in India hold a special religious significance amongst the people who profess the Hindu religion. Nageshwar Mahadev Jyotirling or Shri Nageshwara Mahadev Temple or Nageshwar Temple or the Nageshwar Temple Dwarka is venerated and worshiped by devotees from all over India and abroad.
The sacred temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, is called by numerous names viz., Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Nageshwara Jyotirlinga, Nageshwar temple, Nageshwar Shiva Temple, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Gujarat, Nageshvara Jyotirlinga, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Nageshwar Mahadev Temple, Shri Nageshwar Mahadev Temple, Nageshwar Mahadev Mandir, and Nageshwar Mahadev Jyotirling.
Jyotirlingas, the column or pillar of light, are a self-manifested form of Lord Shiva. Nageshvara Jyotirlinga, located in Dwarka, Gujarat is the seat of power bestowing good health, prosperity, and prowess to devotees, who incessantly throng at the Nageshwar Temple Dwarka, around the year.
During the festival seasons of Shravan months i.e. July-August, devotees from far and wide visit the Jyotirlinga temples including Nageshwar Mahadev Jyotirling to seek blessings of Lord Shiva.
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple in Dwarka, Gujarat
Nageshvara Jyotirlinga or Nageshwar Jyotirlinga temple or the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Dwarka finds mention in the Shiva Purana. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga location- People often ask about Jyotirlinga near Dwarka. As far as the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga location is concerned, the Nageshvara Jyotirlinga or the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is the Jyotirlinga near Dwarka. In fact it is in Dwarka, State of Gujarat, India.
Pooja rituals at the Nageshwar Mahadev Mandir or Nageshwar Temple Dwarka:
Devotees offer holy water from Ganges, flowers, Stone Apple or Wood Apple( Aegle marmelos or Bel Patra leaves), Datura or thornapples or jimson weeds or devil’s trumpets or mad apple, Ber or Indian jujube fruit and milk to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple which is commonly called by different names such as Nageshwar Mahadev Temple, Shri Nageshwar Mahadev Temple, Nageshwar Shiva Temple, Nageshwar Mahadev Mandir, Nageshwar Mahadev Jyotirling and Nageshwar Mahadev.
12 Jyotirlingas In India:
One interesting fact is that the 12 Jyotirlingas occupy the sacred seats in all the four directions- East, West, North, South and in the middle of India as well.
-Jyotirlingas in the middle of India– Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, Ujjain; Shree Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga at Omkareshwar in the State of Madhya Pradesh.
-Jyotirlingas in the East– Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi; Baba Baidyanath Jyotirlinga, Deoghar, Jharkhand.
-Jyotirlingas in the West- Somnath Jyotirlinga, Veraval, Gujarat; Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Gujarat, Dwarka or the Nageshwar Temple Dwarka or the Jyotirlinga Nageshwar.
-Jyotirlingas in the North- Kedarnath Jyotirlinga in Uttarakhand.
-Jyotirlingas in the South– Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, Nasik, Maharashtra; Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga, near Pune in Maharashtra; Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple, in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra near Ellora; Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh; Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga in Tamil Nadu.
Thus, the natives from any of the regions in India have easy access to seek blessings from all or any of the 12 Jyotirlingas as per their convenience.
Meaning of Jyotirlinga:
12 Jyotirlingas symbolize the infinite form of Lord Shiva. Jyoti in Sanskrit means “Light” and Linga, a sign radiating light. The sacred presence of 12 Jyotirlingas, in all the zones in India is a testament of the omnipresence of Lord Shiva.
The lingam or the Stambh(the pillar) represents the beginningless and endless infinite nature of the Supreme power, the Lord Shiva.
Shiva legend about the emergence of 12 Jyotirlingas:
The Shiva legend has it that in order to prove who amongst Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, is powerful, Lord Shiva pierced through the three worlds with His huge and infinite Stambha(the pillar, Jyotirlinga).
As per the story, so as to ascertain the beginning and end of the column of light, Brahma and Vishnu ascended/descended on the pillar umpteen number of times.
For this purpose, Vishnu incarnated into the Varaha avatar and Brahma of Hansa(Swan). Brahma lied and produced Ketaki flower as proof while Vishnu admitted that he could not find neither the beginning nor the end of the light radiating from the Stambha, the pillar.
Angered at the dishonest approach of Brahma, Shiva cursed that he would not be worshiped and in respect of Lord Vishnu declared that he would be worshiped eternally for his honest approach.
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga History:
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga or the Nageshvara Jyotirlinga has a unique story of its emergence. As per the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga history, here demon Daaruka imprisoned Supriya, a devotee of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva came to the rescue of His devotee Supriya and defeated the demon. Later, Daaruka’s wife Daruki too started troubling Supriya, the Shiva devotee. According to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga history or the history of Jyotirlinga Nageshwar, Lord Shiva appeared again to render help to Supriya.
A self-manifested Shiva Linga appeared at Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Dwarka.
Places to visit near Nageshwar Mahadev Mandir or the Nageshwar Mahadev Jyotirling:
Visitors include in their itinerary both the religious and tourist places in their tour of Gujarat. They prefer to visit Gir forest, Dwarkadhish Temple , Beyt Dwarka Temple, Somnath Jyotirlinga and Nageshwar Jyotirlinga or the Nageshvara Jyotirlinga. The devotees and visitors who go to visit Somnath Jyotirlinga, prefer to visit Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple or the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Dwarka to seek the blessings.
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Timings:
The devotees can ensure darshan of the presiding deity Nageshwara Jyotirlinga or Nageshvara Jyotirlinga smoothly by following the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Timings.
The management committee of the Nageshwar Shiva Temple has prescribed Nageshwar Jyotirlinga timings to enable hassle free darshan of the deity.
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga temple darshan in the Morning:
For devotees, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga temple darshan opens at 6.00 am in the morning. It remains open for darshan till 12.30 pm.
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga temple darshan in the Evening:
The Nageshwar Jyotirlinga temple timings for evening darshan are- 5.00 pm till 9.30 pm in the night.
Dwarka to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Distance:
Dwarka to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga distance is approximately 16.6 kms. Devotees usually cover Dwarka to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga distance in about 25 minutes by cab or taxi.
Dwarka Railway Station to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Distance:
Dwarka Railway Station to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Distance is about 17 kms. People can cover this distance in about 30 minutes either by shared auto, bus or taxi. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Nearest Railway Station or the nearest Railway stations to Nageshwar Mahadev Jyotirlinga or Nageshwar Dwarka or Dwarka Jyotirlinga is the Dwarka Railway Station.
The distance between Dwarka Railway Station and Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is approximately 18 kms.
Nearest Airport to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga:
As far as the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga nearest Airport or the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga or the Jyotirlinga Nageshwar’s nearest Airport is concerned, it is Jamnagar Airport in Gujarat. Pilgrims must take note of the fact that the nearest Airport to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is at a distance of about 130 kms.
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga nearest Airport or the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga or the Jyotirlinga Nageshwar’s nearest Airport is undoubtedly Jamnagar Airport but for the pilgrims from Ahmedabad and Rajkot, it is brought to the notice of readers that Ahmedabad to Nageswar distance is about 440 kms & Rajkot to Nageshwar distance is about 283 kms.
Somnath to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Distance:
Somnath to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Distance is approximately 253 kms. It takes around 4 hr 30 minutes. The Somnath to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga distance can be covered in the picturesque environment all along the coast of Arabian sea. It can also be conveniently covered by train as well. Somnath Jyotirlinga is located near Veraval District.
Nageshwar Mahadev Temple Saputara:
Nageshwar Mahadev Temple Saputara is located on the bank of Saputara Lake. Saputara is a picturesque hill station in Gujarat. Nageshwar Mahadev Temple Saputara is a beautiful pilgrimage spot in the District Dang. Nageshwar Mahadev Temple Saputara is about 170 kms from Surat and 250 kms from Ahmedabad.
Conclusion:
The devout devotees in India, long to seek blessings of Jyotirlingas round the year in general and during the month of Shrawan (July-August) in particular. Most of the ardent devotees, silently nurture an undying urge to visit all the 12 Jyotirlingas, at least once in lifetime.
For the devout devotees, visiting temples and seeking blessings of Gods and Goddesses is not merely a festival or a mega religious event but it is a whole way of life as per Hindu traditions, culture and religion.
Hindu temples of Gods and Goddesses, Jyotirlingas and Shakti Peeths teach one and all the basic tenets of peaceful living, to show respect and regard to others, treating guests as Gods (अतिथि देवो भवः), to respect teachers (गुरू ब्रह्मा गुरू विष्णु गुरू देवो महेश्वर। गुरू साक्षात पर ब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः।।), the whole World is one family i.e. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (वसुधैव कुटुंबकम्)- and many other pertinent teachings of tolerance, valor and courage etc. which are inherent in the Hindu rituals, traditions and culture.
Jyotirlingas altars have been a guiding spirit for masses in India that enshrines peaceful and harmonious living. The 12 Jyotirlingas hold a special place in the heart, soul, body and mind of the devout devotees.
The large congregations of the masses at the twelve Jyotirlingas including the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, deeply resonate the religious and spiritual fervor.
FAQs About Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
Q 1. How to reach Nageshwar Jyotirlinga?
Ans.1. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga or the Jyotirlinga Nageshwar’s nearest Airport is Jamnagar. Nearest Airport to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is at a distance of about 130 kms. Ahmedabad to Nageswar distance is about 440 kms; Rajkot to Nageshwar distance is about 283 kms.
Q.2. Where is Nageshwar Jyotirlinga?
Ans. 2. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is in Dwarka, Gujarat.
Dwarka to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga distance is approximately 16.6 kms.
Q.3. What is the significance of Nageshwar Jyotirlinga in Hindu mythology?
Ans.3. As per the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga history, here demon Daaruka imprisoned Supriya, a devotee of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva defeated the demon and thus, ensured peaceful living for His devotee.
Q.4. How can I reach Nageshwar Jyotirlinga from Dwarka?
Ans.4. Dwarka to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga distance is approximately 16.6 kms. Devotees cover Dwarka to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga distance in about 25 minutes by taxi.
Q.5. What are the timings for visiting Nageshwar Jyotirlinga temple?
Ans. 5. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga temple darshan opens at 6.00 am to 12:30 pm. The Nageshwar Jyotirlinga temple timings for evening darshan are- 5.00 pm to 9.30 pm.
