Nageshvara Temple

The Nageshvara Jyotirlinga near Dwarka in Gujarat is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva — the shrine of the demoness Daruka’s defeat? — of the linga by which, in the Purana, Shiva protected his devotee Supriya from the serpent-demon Daruka’s prison.

Significance

The sanctum’s linga faces south (a rarity), with a large Nandi facing it; the tank (Agni? — the Jharokha? — keep general) and the demon-subduing iconography give the site its distinct identity. Local tradition ties the shrine to Krishna’s Dwarka orbit.

History

An older shrine stood here; the present temple’s massive torana and nagara shikhara date largely from the medieval period with modern renewal; archaeological remains around the courtyard are displayed on site.

Modern status

A standard station on the Dwarka pilgrimage circuit (Nageshwar–Bet Dwarka–Dwarkadhish); Mahashivratri draws regional crowds.

Verification notes

• The Nageshvara name attaches to several sites (Jageshwar in Uttarakhand, Aundha in Maharashtra among claimants); the Dwarka shrine is the most cited in modern jyotirlinga lists.
• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).