Nageshwar is the eighth Jyotirlinga in the Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotra ("नागेशं दारुकावने"), but there are three views on where the Darukavana is: Nageshwar near Dwarka in Gujarat, Aundha Nagnath in the Hingoli district of Maharashtra, and Jageshwar in the Almora district of Uttarakhand. The Shiva Purana’s story places the Darukavana on the shore of the western sea; all three sides are given below.
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- Deity
- Shiva (Nageshwar)
- Tradition
- Shaiva
Where is Nageshwar Jyotirlinga: 3 places are named
The sources do not agree on one place. Each place is given below; which source holds which view is under "Where the sources differ".
Nageshwar, near Dwarka, Devbhumi Dwarka district
Gujarat
About 16–18 km from Dwarka town and its railway station. The district and Gujarat Tourism count it among the twelve and say this place is believed to be the Darukavana. No government page gives darshan hours.
Aundha Nagnath, Hingoli district
Maharashtra
The Hingoli district calls it the "eighth (adya)" of the twelve. According to Maharashtra Tourism, tradition holds it was built by Yudhishthira, and the present Hemadpanti temple dates from the Yadava (Seuna) kings. Two websites run in the temple’s name give different hours, so none are given.
Jageshwar, Almora district
Uttarakhand
The temple committee (an Uttarakhand government site, down on 5 October 2026; its September 2024 archived copy was read) calls it the eighth Jyotirlinga of "नागेशं दारुकावने". The Archaeological Survey of India dates the main temple to about the 8th century but makes no Jyotirlinga claim.
The story of Nageshwar: Daruka and Supriya
According to the Shiva Purana (Kotirudra Samhita, chapters 29–30), a demoness named Daruka and her husband Daruka terrorised a forest on the shore of the western sea; Daruka held a boon from Parvati. After the curse of the sage Aurva they moved to a city in the midst of the sea and seized those who passed by boat.
Among the prisoners was a merchant named Supriya, a devotee of Shiva, who kept everyone worshipping Shiva even in prison. When Daruka ordered him killed, Shiva appeared from a crevice with a four-doored temple, gave Supriya the Pashupata weapon, and the rakshasas were destroyed. Parvati saved Daruka’s line, and Shiva and Parvati stayed there as Nageshvara and Nageshvari.
How to reach Nageshwar
- Nageshwar near Dwarka: about 16–18 km by road from Dwarka railway station; airports at Jamnagar and Porbandar (Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat Tourism).
- Aundha Nagnath: 24 km from Hingoli, 70 km from Nanded; airport at Nanded, railway station at Hingoli (Hingoli district).
- Jageshwar: 35 km from Almora; railway station Kathgodam (about 125 km), airport Pantnagar (Uttarakhand Tourism, temple committee).
Main festivals
Where the sources differ
- Scripture: the Shiva Purana’s story places Daruka’s forest "on the shore of the western ocean" and her city in the sea, which fits a coastal place (Dwarka). The translator’s note to the same chapter says the archaeological lists of the Nizam’s state identify the Darukavana with Aundh, and two other forests of the name are mentioned, one near Badrinath; the note to Shatarudra Samhita 42 places the Darukavana in Garhwal near Kedara. A note in the Gita Press abridged Shiva Purana says some read "द्वारकावने" in place of "दारुकावने".
- Government sources are divided too: the Gujarat sources name Dwarka; the Hingoli district and the Maharashtra Tourism page name Aundha; and the Jageshwar temple committee (citing the Skanda and Linga Puranas) names Jageshwar. Maharashtra Tourism’s own Jyotirlinga leaflet lists "Nageshwar (Dwarka, Gujarat)". Uttarakhand Tourism and the Archaeological Survey of India do not call Jageshwar a Jyotirlinga.
- The story: the Devbhumi Dwarka district page tells not the Daruka-Supriya story but one of the Balakhilya sages of the Darukavana (citing the Vamana Purana, which we have not checked).
- Order: the Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotra names Nageshwar 8th (this site follows that order); the Shiva Purana's list (Kotirudra Samhita 1.21–23) runs in another order and names it 10th.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the real Nageshwar Jyotirlinga?
There are three views: Nageshwar near Dwarka (Gujarat), Aundha Nagnath (Maharashtra) and Jageshwar (Uttarakhand). The Shiva Purana’s story speaks of the shore of the western sea, which favours Dwarka; but translators’ notes and state government sources name different places. Follow your own tradition.
Which lists of tirthas include Nageshwar?
The 12 Jyotirlingas (number 8 of 12 in the list).
How to reach Nageshwar?
Nageshwar near Dwarka: about 16–18 km by road from Dwarka railway station; airports at Jamnagar and Porbandar (Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat Tourism). Aundha Nagnath: 24 km from Hingoli, 70 km from Nanded; airport at Nanded, railway station at Hingoli (Hingoli district).
Sources
- Devbhumi Dwarka district (Government of Gujarat): Nageshwar temple, devbhumidwarka.nic.in/tourist-place/nageshwar-temple; Gujarat Tourism: Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, gujarattourism.com/saurashtra/devbhoomi-dwarka/nageshwar-jyotirlinga.html
- Hingoli district (Government of Maharashtra): Aundha Nagnath, hingoli.nic.in/en/tourist-place/aundha-nagnath; Maharashtra Tourism: Aundha Nagnath, maharashtratourism.gov.in/temple/aundha-nagnath; Jyotirlinga leaflet (2024)
- Jageshwar Mandir Prabandhan Samiti: jageshwar-jyotirlinga.uk.gov.in (web.archive.org copy of 13 September 2024); Uttarakhand Tourism: Jageshwar, uttarakhandtourism.gov.in/destination/jageshwar; Archaeological Survey of India, Dehradun Circle: Almora, asidehraduncircle.in/almora.html
- Shiva Purana, Kotirudra Samhita, chapter 29 और 30 (J. L. Shastri's English translation, wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226530.html; numbered as in the Sanskrit text on sa.wikisource; the Gita Press abridged edition numbers chapters differently)
- Shiva Purana, the note to Shatarudra Samhita 42 (Darukavana in Garhwal), wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226438.html; Gita Press, Sankshipt Shivpuran, note on p. 498
- Shiva Purana, Kotirudra Samhita 1.21–23 (the list of the twelve), Sanskrit text: sa.wikisource.org (शिवपुराणम्, संहिता ४, अध्यायः १)
- Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotra ("सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च …"), text: sanskritdocuments.org/doc_shiva/jyotirling.html
- Wikidata Q1089275, Q15194007, Q116311650 (coordinates, CC0)
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