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Nageshwar Jyotirling | Dwarka, Gujarat

Nageshwar Jyotirling (Gujarati:નાગેશ્વર જ્ય્હોતીર્લીંગ, Hindi:नागेश्वर ज्योतिर्लिंग)  is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shivais and located between Dwarka and Dwarka island in Gujarat on the coast of Surat, Dwarka, Gujarat.

Nageshwar Temple - Abstract

 

Primary Deity:

Nageshwar : Jyotirlinga

Important Festivals:

  • Makar Sankranti
  • Yashoda Jayanti
  • Mahashivratri
  • Holi/Phool Dol Utsav
  • Ramnavmi/Rukmini Vivah
  • Diwaso
  • Shri Krishna Janmotsav
  • Bhadrapad
  • Navratri
  • Ashwin
  • Diwali
  • Kartik  Maasm

 

Nageswar-Jyotirlinga-Dwarka

Nageswar-Jyotirlinga-Dwarka


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  • The temple opens at 5 am with morning Aarti and 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.

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  • The Jyotirlingam appears to be made of a stone popularly known as Dwaraka Shila which has small chakras on it. The shape of the Jyotirlingam is more or less like an oval three-mukhi Rudraksha. The Shiva Lingam here is facing South and the Gomukham towards East.
  • The area where the Nageswara Jyotirlingam is situated is known as Darukavanam, a forest area belonged to and ruled by a demon Daruka. As usual with all the Hindu temples in India, the Muslim Ruler Aurangazeb tried to destroy this temple also and when his soldiers tried, thousands of bees came out of the temple and attacked the Soldiers and Aurangazeb. Unable to face the bees, they left the demolition work midway and went away. Later, the devotees rebuilt the partially destroyed temple.
  • According to the Puranas, this city was established by Raiwat, a descendent of Vaivaswat Manu, which is why it is also known as Raivatpuri.
  •  This place was very prosperous in the early years of the Christian era and was considered as the western entrance to India. This feature also gave it the name of Dwarvati.
  •  The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea refers to it as Baraca harbour, while Ptolemy’s Geography mentions about it as Barake harbour.
  • The oldest evidence in the form of an inscription is the Palitana copper plate of Sinhaditya from 574 A.D.
  •  Aadi Guru Shankaracharya established his Kalika Peeth (Western Math) over here in the early years of the ninth century.
  •  The idol of Dwarikadheesh was taken from the main temple to Dakor in the 13th century and a new idol was installed here.
  •  After the Mughals, the region came under the control of the Marathas. Sayajirao Gaikwad also built a port here.
  • Present Temple was renovated by Late Gulshan Kumar. He initiated the work in 1996 and his family completed the work after his assassination. The entire project cost Rs.1.25 crores. Gulshan Kumar Charitable Trust bore the entire expense of the project.

Architecture:

Nageshwar Temple is visible from a distance of 2 km. 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.

The Nageshwar Temple designed in accordance with the principles of VASTU-SHASTRA and is in harmony with the traditional Hindu Temple Architecture of Western India. The Temple faces the West direction (Paschim-mukhi), wherein the devotee while offering his morning prayers of Shivji (Shiv-Linga) also faces the Sun God.

Nageswar Temple PlanThe Planning of the Temple is based on SAYANAM Posture, and is analogous to the Human Body.

The Mahadwar (1) is the feet of the Body. The devotees enter the Temple from the feet, proceed through the Entrance Porch (2) flanged on the sides by the Divine Consorts GANESHJI and HANUMANJI at the hands of the Body, move to the Rangamandapa (3) at the chest and abdomen, worship the NANDI in Antarala (4), to finally reach the SHIV-LINGA in Garbhagriha (5) which is the Head of the Body.

Basically the Temple is on 3 levels. The Garbhagriha. Is 4’-6” below ground level. The rangmandapa is 2’-0” above ground level. At an intermeidate level is the Antarala where the Nandi is situated guarding the Shiva Linga in Garbhagriha. This is the transition level between the devotees in Rangamandapa and the God in Garbhagriha. The Pujaris (Pandits) represent this transition stage.

Basically the Temple is on 3 levels. The Garbhagriha. Is 4’-6” below ground level. The rangmandapa is 2’-0” above ground level. At an intermeidate level is the Antarala where the Nandi is situated guarding the Shiva Linga in Garbhagriha. This is the transition level between the devotees in Rangamandapa and the God in Garbhagriha. The Pujaris (Pandits) represent this transition stage.

  • The original floor level of the Garbhagriha with Shiv Linga and Rangamandap was 4’-6” below Ground Level. The level of Rangamandap is now raised 2’-0” above Ground Level to facilitate healthy light and ventilation in the sultry hot climate, and also to check the inward flow of rain water.
  • The Garbhagriha (Sanctum or Altar) is Octagonal in shape 16’-0” x 16’-0”, roofed with a tall Shikhara. It can accommodate 4-5 Pujaries.
  • The Rangmandapa (Main Hall), 76’-0” x 84’-0” with a ceiling height of 20’-0”, gives sufficient volume of space and can accommodate 1250 devotees at a time. It is provided with large windows on opposite sides and a Samran (Pyramidal roof) above which has ventilators to keep the area airy and ventilated on occassions of Mahapuja etc.
  • At the Entrance Porch, the two Divine consorts – Ganesh and Hanumanji are housed in beautifully carved Gokhlas. They are provided with smaller Shikharas, where as the front and side entrance porches have smaller Samrans.
  • Stores are provided on both sides of Garbhagriha to meet with the requirements of contemporary Pujaries. Dholaks, Nagaras, Divine Ornaments and accessories are stored here. A rear side access is provided for Pujaries.
  • With its grandeur of shikharas and samrans the temple soars to a height of 110’-0” above ground level. Also, a lot of decorative elements like arches, fluted round columns, Lotus shaped capitals and bases, marble jalis add to the style of the temple. Religious symbols like kalash and swastik are incorporated in the design of parapets and chhajjas. Lions are placed all around the temple as if to guard the holy place from evil. The Shikhars and Samrans are also decorated beautifully.
  • The temple by itself stands as a wonderful example of traditional Hindu Temple Architecture.

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GOVERANCE content goes 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.

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Legends

Pandavas came here during their Vanvas (life in forests) build a hermitage for themselves. Their cows used to go to the same river bank to drink water. After drinking wate, milk used to automatically flow into the river as if the cows were offering to the river. One day Bhima saw this miraculous event. He promptly told Dharmaraja about the same. Then Dharmaraja said, “Surely, some great God must be living in this river”. Then the Pandavas started removing the water from te river. The middle part of the river was so hot that the water there was boiling.

Bheema lifted his mace attacked the river thrice. The water gave way instantly. At the very moment, instead, blood started oozing like a spring. Lord Shankara’s Linga could be seen as the JyotirLinga

According to the another legend, there was a businessman with an immeasurable faith in god and karma . He was highly devoted to Lord Shiva.Despite being busy in his business and work, whatever spare time he used to get, he exhausted it in praying, adoring, and serving Lord Shiva.

A monster names Darukk got angry always looked for an opportunity, to disrupt merchant’s devotion. While merchant was going in a boat for some business purpose.  He attacked the merchant’s boat and took all the travellers to the capital and imprisoned them. Even in the prison, the merchant use to pray Lord Shiva constantly.  The monster, started to resent at the merchant when the demon saw, that his resentment is not affecting the merchant at all, he instructed his slaves to kill the merchant. The merchant kept on praying for his and his fellow people’s liberation.  Lord Shiva was pleased with this devotion and  appeared before him immediately and destroyed the entire group of demons.

The Lord laid open the entire island for all the four classes of people for living. On the other land, Parvati here granted a boon to Daruka. As a result, at the end of that era, only Demons would be created and she would rule Daruka. Lord Shiva accepted this. Then Shiva and Parvati stayed there. Shiva once again assumed the form of JyotirLinga, with the name Nageshwar and Parvati was known as Nageshwari.

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. The Rudra Samhita sloka refers to Nageshwar with the phrase ‘Daarukaavane Naagesham

Lord Shiva in meditation pose greets devotees outside the temple

Lord Shiva

Main Entrance

Maha Dwara -Nageshwar Temple

sabha-mandapa

sabha-mandapa

Significance of the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga: 

  • The Jyotirlinga in the temple is known as Nageshwar Mahadev.
  • The lingam at Nageshwar is, however, unique. It is made from a stone known popularly as Dwarka Stone, which has small wheel imprints on it. The lingam is shaped like a three-faced oval Rudraksha, which literally means the tears of Shiva.
  • In this temple the Shivalinga faces towards the south and the Gomugam is on the east. Giant statue of Lord Shiva allures the devotees with its aesthetic appeal. On the eve of Shivaratri, the temple premises witnesses huge turnout of devotee and which virtually changes the entire ambiance into a place of festivities.
  • The Jyotirlinga situated in the temple is considered to protect everybody from all sort of poisons. It is believed that one who offers prayers in the temple becomes poison free.
  • Skand Puran mentions that the King Raivat of Kushsthali was an avtaar of Takshak Nag and he ruled over this region. Interestingly, Dwarka is also known as Kushsthali in Hindu scriptures.

Other Temples ,  notable  places near Nageshwar Jyotirlinga:

Dwarka-Temple

Dwaraka-Temple

Dwarka Mandir is an important pilgrimage centre and just 10 kms away from Nageshwar Jyotirling Temple.  It is steeped in legends, being associated with the life of Lord Krishna. The temple of Dwarkadheesh, also known as Jagat Mandir, is built on the north bank of the Gomti Creek. The temple dates back to 2,500 years. Architecturally the temple is constructed on the same plan and system as most of the Hindu sacred edifices of antiquity. Sixty columns support the roof of the audience hall of the Jagat Mandir. The main temple is five-story high with the lavishly carved conical spire rising to a height of 157 feet. There is the one-meter tall, four handed black idol of Ranchhodrai, the ruler of Dwaraka.

Lord Krishna - deity in dwaraka temple

Lord Krishna

In addition to its temples and legends, Dwarka is also sanctified as the seat of Adi Shankaracharya, who established four seats (maths) in four different directions in the country. Research work in Sanskrit is carried on at the Shankaracharya’s seat known as Sharad Peetha.

Dwarka temple darshan timings start from morning 7.00 to Afternoon 12.30 and Evening 5.00 to 9.30

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Rukmini_Devi_Temple

Rukmini_Devi_Temple

This small temple, 1.5km north of town, is an architectural masterpiece. Rukmini is the most important of Krishna’s 16,108 wives. The temple walls are decorated with beautiful paintings depicting her pastimes with Krishna. This temple is said to date back to the 12th century.

The story behind this temple is that one day, Durvasa Muni, who is easily angered, was invited by Lord Krishna and his wife, Rukmini, to dinner. When a person is invited to dinner, etiquette dictates that the host should not eat until the guest has been satisfied. On the way to dinner, Rukmini became thirsty and asked Krishna for help. Krishna then put his foot in the ground and the Ganges waters flowed forth from the earth while Durvasa was not looking. As Rukmini was drinking the water, however, Durvasa turned and saw her drinking without his permission. He became angry and cursed her to live apart from Lord Krishna. That is why Krishna’s temple is in the town and hers is located outside the town.

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Gomati Sangam Ghat

Gomati Sangam Ghat

Gomati, the descended Ganges, meets the sea at Chakra-tirtha Ghat. To take bath where the Gomati meets the ocean is said to offer liberation. If we  go out the back entrance of the Dwarkadish Temple, we can see the Gomati River. The temple is located almost at the spot where the Gomati meets the ocean.

The Samudra Narayana Temple (Sangam Narayana) is an imposing temple at the confluence of the Gomati and the sea. Panchanada Tirtha consists of five sweet-water wells surrounded by seawater. At Chakra Narayana, Lord Vishnu was manifested as a stone marked with a chakra on the seashore. The Gomatiji Temple has an image of the Gomati River in it, said to have been brought down from heaven by Vasistha Muni.

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gopi talavThis is  the kund (pond) where Lord Krishna met the gopis when they came to see him at Dwarka. The sacred clay from Gopi-tallava is known as gopi-candana and is used by devotees of Krishna to make the tilak marks on their bodies. It is 20km north of Dwarka on the way to Bet Dwarka.

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Bhalka theerth

Bhalka theerth

The spot where Lord Krishna was mistaken for a deer and struck by a arrow hile sleeping in a deerskin. It is said Lord Krishna was cremated at Dehotsarga at Triveni Ghat..

 

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One Response to Nageshwar Jyotirling | Dwarka, Gujarat

  1. Anilmochi August 2, 2016 at 10:48 pm #

    very nice shiva tempal

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