Early modern · Hindu · India

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

near Dwarka, Gujarat · 22.3364°, 69.0870°

Shiva (Nageshwar)ModernModern NagaraJyotirlingadisputed

Contested attributions

This site is counted in the lists below by some sources and not others. We list the claim and the disagreement rather than silently picking a side.

Jyotirlinga — Wikipedia's Jyotirlinga article says the Dvadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram places Nagesh in Daruka-vana, most probably the present-day Dwarka region, and adds that Aundha Nagnath in Hingoli district and Jageshwar in Almora district also claim the same slot; the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga article notes the Dwarka reading rests on Darukavana being readable as Dwarakavana, while the deodar-forest argument is used to support Jageshwar (as of 2026). source

Sacred since

1700 CE

first attestation / structure

Standing structure

rebuilt modern era; 25 m Shiva statue

Modern

History & significance

The serpent-lord Jyotirlinga near Dwarka, guarding devotees from poisons literal and karmic; the site is one of three claimants to the Nageshwar title (with Aundha Nagnath in Maharashtra and Jageshwar in Kumaon) — a live example of how sacred geography is contested and shared. Its 25 m seated Shiva is a modern landmark of the Saurashtra coast.

Sthala katha — the legend

The demon Daruka imprisoned the Shiva-devotee Supriya in his forest of serpents; at her call Shiva burst from the earth as a column of light, destroyed the demon host, and stayed as Nagesha with Nageshwari — the Darukavana of the Shiva Purana.

Reaching there

The shrine lies about 16 km from Dwarka, reached by road along the Nageshwar road off National Highway 947. Pilgrims coming by train alight at Dwarka railway station and cover the last 16 km by road. Those flying in land at Jamnagar or Porbandar and continue overland.

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