Aundha Nagnath Temple (one of the 12 Jyotirlingas) in Hingoli, Maharashtra, is dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped as Lord Nagnath in the region. Pilgrims can learn about the Aundha Nagnath temple’s timings, history, and festivals celebrated in this article.
Aundha Nagnath Temple
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Devotees who pray to Naganath believe that God will guide them to the right path of life, just as they did with the demons in Darukavane.
Aundha Nagnath is one of the 5 Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra. The other 4 Jyotirlingas are:
- Parli Vaidyanath Temple (in Parli)
- Trimbakeshwara Temple (near Nashik)
- Ghrishneshwara Temple (in Aurangabad)
- Bhimashankar Temple (near Pune)
History of Nagnath Mandir
The history of the Aundha Nagnath mandir dates back to the Pandavas period. Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandavas, built this majestic temple for the first time during his exile.
It is also believed that the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb tried to demolish the Aundha Nagnath temple. But it is said that a bee swarm attacked his men, and Aurangzeb surrendered and left the temple.
However, Aurangzeb did some damage to this sacred Jyotirlinga. Later, the Rani Ahilyabai Holkar of the Maratha Malwa Kingdom repaired and restored the temple.
Sant Namdev Maharaj is a famous saint and poet. He is considered one of the gurujis of the Sikh religion, and his writings are part of the Sikh holy book Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
It believes that people praise Lord Shiva every day in the temple. The priests, however, objected that this was disrupting their routine.
They chased him away. Since he was such a trusty devotee, the Lord turned the temple towards him, and the priests left him behind the temple.
Thus, the whole temple had rotated, and the lingam and Nandi’s directions differed from the other temples.
Aundha Nagnath Temple is the 8th Jyotirlinga out of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country.
Aundha Nagnath Jyotirlinga Myth
During the exile, the Pandavas built their monastery in a forest in this area of Hingoli. The cows in their ashram drink water from a nearby river and release milk into the river.
Bhima noticed this one day and informed Yudhishthira. The Pandavas believed that a great god was living in the river. With this, they began to remove the water; the water was boiling at some point.
Bhima hit the river three times with his mace. From there, the bleeding started, and a lingam emerged. Yudhishthira built a temple and erected a Jyotirlinga.
Legend of Nageshwar Darukavane
The Aundha area was overgrown with dense forests inhabited by snakes. It is popularly known as Darukavane after the Asuras – Daruk and Daruka.
The monks living in the area were harassed and captured by the demons. The angry gods fought the demons and drove them away.
But Daruka was a devotee of Lord Shiva and received blessings from Goddess Parvati. That boon gave him the power to turn the whole forest into an island.
And the demons continued to harass the monks from the island. Among the imprisoned monks was a great Shiva devotee named Supriya.
She practised the powerful Rudra mantra along with the priests. Then Lord Shiva appeared and killed the demons.
Daruka repented of their sins and asked Lord Shiva for forgiveness. They had asked to stay in the forest.
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati granted his request and wore the form of Jyotirlinga. They stayed as Nageshwar and Nageshwari in Darukavane.
Structure of Aundha Nagnath Temple
Aundha Nagnath Temple Construction The temple was built with stones from the time of the Pandavas.
The structure of the Aundha Nagnath Temple is strong, with stones dating back to the Pandava period. So this temple is almost 3000 years old.
The sanctum sanctorum and the lingam are at the basement level, and the devotees have to go downstairs to worship the main deity. The lingam is south-facing, and the gomukha is facing east.
The corridors of this temple are huge and are supported by eight pillars in the shape of an oval. Inside the sanctum sanctorum is the Nagesh Lingamurthy.
Runomochan Tirtha, also known as Sas Tirtha and Bahu Tirtha (mother-in-law and daughter-in-law), is one of the shrines within the Aundha Nagnath Temple Complex.
Interestingly, the sas tirtha contains saltwater, while the bahu tirtha contains good water. Once every 12 years during the Kapila Sashti, the waters of the Kashi Ganga are offered here, and the water in the tirtha becomes crystals.
Festivals celebrated
Some of the festivals celebrated at Aundha Nagnath are:
Shravan Month: Shravan falls in the fifth month of the Hindu calendar, from late June to July to the third week of August.
Mahashivaratri: The day on which Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. This festival usually happens from late February to early March.
Vijayadashami: Also known as Dussehra, this festival symbolises the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated nine days after Navratri.
Aundha Nagnath Temple Timings
Aundha Nagnath Temple timings and poojas are:
| Poojas | Temple Timings |
| Rudrabhishek Puja | 4:05 AM |
| Aarti Puja | 12:00 PM |
| Sreesan Puja | 4:00 PM |
| Shejarti Puja | 11:00 AM |
| Sayarakchai Puja | 8:30 PM |
RITUALS
- Rudrabhishek with Bhog
- Rudrabhishek
- Dudhabhishek
- Ek Somvar 1008 Bilva Patra Abhishek
- Char Somvar Ek Ammavasya Rudrabhishek with Doodh
- Char Somvar (four Mondays) Ek Ammavasya Rudrabhishek
- Ek Shravan Maas Akhand Jyot
- Ek Shravan Maas Doodh and Bilva Patra Abhishek
- Rudrabhishek for one year every Somvar
- Laghurudra by 11 Brahmins
- Ek Shravan Maas Jalabhishek
- Ek Somvar 1008 Mahamrityunjaya Jaap
Where should it be nearby?
Aundha Nagnath Temple has some accommodation options. Travellers are mostly staying in Nanded or Parbhani.
Where to eat nearby?
Restaurant options at Aundha Nagnath are minimal. Travellers can eat on the highway or at the dabbas in Nanded and Parbhani hotels.
Temples nearby to visit Aundha Nagnath Temple.
Exploring Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra Apart from the Aundha Nagnath Temple, there are four other Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra. Some temples near Aundha Nagnath:
Mallinath Digambar Jain Temple:
Mallinath Digambara Jain Temple is located in the village of Shirad Shahapur and is dedicated to Mallinath. This 300-year-old temple is located at a distance of 15 km from Aundha.
Parli Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple:
This temple is located in Parli, the Beed district of Maharashtra. The temple is located at a distance of 118 km from Aundha. Devotees believe that worshipping at this temple will improve their health.
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple:
The Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple is located near Pune and is 465 km away from the Aundha Nagnath Temple.
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple:
This Jyotirlinga is located in Verul, Beed district in Maharashtra. The temple is the last of the Jyotirlingas, and for the Jyotirlinga pilgrims, a visit to this temple completes their journey. Grishneshwar Temple is located at a distance of 227 km from Aundha.
Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple:
Trimbakeshwar Temple is located in Trimbak, Nashik District in Maharashtra. The temple is located 286 km from the Aundha Nagnath Temple, and the lingam has three faces symbolising Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma.
How to reach
How to reach Aundha Nagnath Temple Here:
By Air: The nearest airport is Nanded, 54 km from Aundha Nagnath.
By Train: The nearest station is Parbhani, which is 50 km from the temple. We can also find connecting trains to Hingoli Junction.
By Road: Buses are available from Aurangabad, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and other nearby cities in Maharashtra.