Nageshvar Jyotirling

In Shaiva tradition the twelve Jyotirlingas are the most sacred shrines of Shiva in the form of a pillar of light, and Nageshwar, 'lord of serpents', is one of them. The well-known hymn naming the twelve places Nageshwar in Darukavana, the Daruka forest. The Devbhumi Dwarka district says the temple site was once called Darukavana and tells a local legend about it. In the story, the dwarf sages called Balakhilyas did penance in the forest, Shiva tested them in the guise of a naked ascetic, and the angry sages cursed him. When his linga fell and shook the earth, Brahma and Vishnu stepped in, and Shiva promised to stay at the spot forever. This is a matter of faith, not historical record.

Which temple is the true Nageshwar is an old question, and lists vary. The Aundha Nagnath temple in Hingoli district, Maharashtra, is also venerated as the eighth Jyotirlinga, a claim the Hingoli district administration repeats. One version of Adi Shankara's Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram puts Naganatha 'in the south, in the town of Sadanga', a line often cited for Aundha. Pilgrims to Dwarka nonetheless treat Nageshwar as one of the twelve, and the Prime Minister's 2024 address at Dwarka named it among the town's sacred sites.

Crowds peak on Maha Shivaratri and during the main holiday seasons. Darshan timings and rules on offerings or dress inside the underground sanctum are not published by any official source we could check, so confirm current arrangements with the temple management or the Devbhumi Dwarka district tourism office before travelling.

Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 5 October 2026.