Nageshwar Jyotirlinga | Tirtha Bharat

Overview

Lord of Serpents

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga (also known as Nageshwara or Nagnath) is located approximately 18 km north of Dwarka in Gujarat. The name "Nageshwar" means "Lord of Serpents" — Shiva is worshipped here in his aspect as Nageshwara (the god who holds serpents), reflecting the ancient connection between Shaivism and the Naga (serpent) tradition in Indian spirituality.

The temple is notable for an enormous 25-metre-tall seated statue of Lord Shiva visible from the highway, making it a striking landmark long before the temple itself comes into view. The Jyotirlinga is located underground in the sanctum, and devotees descend steps to offer worship. The combination of Nageshwar with the nearby Char Dham site of Dwarka makes this a particularly efficient inclusion in a Gujarat pilgrimage.

JyotirlingaDwarkaNagdevGujarat

History

Protection from Daruka

According to the Shiva Purana, a merchant named Supriya was an ardent devotee of Shiva. He was captured by the demon Daruka and imprisoned in the demon's underwater city. Even in captivity, Supriya continued his devotion, chanting the mantra "Om Namah Shivaya". When Daruka tried to stop this worship and threatened to kill Supriya, Shiva appeared from within a Jyotirlinga and slew the demon.

After this miraculous event, Shiva agreed to remain at that spot as a Jyotirlinga, promising that all who worship him here would be protected from fear, danger and enemies. The name "Nageshwar" ("Lord of Nagas/Serpents") refers to the serpents that adorn Shiva — Vasuki being the chief serpent worn around Shiva's neck.

The current temple was built by Gulshan Kumar, founder of the T-Series music label, who was a prominent devotee and major donor to the temple's expansion in the 1990s. The 25-metre statue is attributed to this renovation era. The temple's proximity to Dwarka makes it a natural add-on to the Char Dham Yatra circuit for devotees completing the western circuit.

Plan Your Visit