Aundha Nagnath Temple

Aundha Nagnath Temple
Aundha Nagnath Temple Location in Maharashtra
Name
Other names	औंढा नागनाथ जोतिर्लिंग
Proper name	Aundha Nagnath Temple
Devanagari	औंढा नागनाथ
Marathi	औंढा नागनाथ
Geography
Coordinates	19°32′14″N 77°02′29″E / 19.537087°N 77.041508°E / 19.537087; 77.041508Coordinates: 19°32′14″N 77°02′29″E / 19.537087°N 77.041508°E / 19.537087; 77.041508
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Hingoli
Location	Aundha Nagnath
Culture
Primary deity	Shiva
Important festivals	Mahashivratri
Architecture
Architectural styles	Hemadpanthi

Aundha Nagnath Temple (Marathi औंढा नागनाथेश्वर देउळ) is an ancient Shiva temple, considered to be one of the Jyotirlinga, located at Aundha Nagnath in Hingoli district of Maharashtra, India.^[1][2]

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History

Aundha Nagnath is supposed to be the eighth (adya)^[3] of the twelve Jyotirlingas in the country, is an important place of pilgrimage.^[4] The present temple is said to have been built by Yadavas of devagiri and dates to 13th century.^[1] The first temple is said to be from time of Mahabharata and is believed to have been constructed by Yudhishthira, eldest of Pandava, when they were expelled for 14 years from Hastinapur.^[2]It has been stated that this temple building was of seven-storyed before it was sacked by Aurangzeb.^[5]

Structure

The temple covers an area of 669.60 sq mt (7200 sq ft) and height of 18.29 m (60 ft)^[1][6]The total area in which temple campus is spread is about 60,000 sq. ft.^[2] Apart from the religious significance, the temple itself is worth seeing for its unbelievably beautiful carvings.^[2] The present temple is built in Hemadpanthi style of architecture. Large number of pilgrims visit this temple on Shivratri and Vijayadashami.

Narratives

In the Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotra - the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is described as follows - :Rameshem (Rameshwaram) in Sethubandh and Nageshem (Nageshwar) in Darauka-Vana. (सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने) (8),^[3] However, there are scholarly disputes about exact Nageshwar jyotirlinga as there are some more temples in India, which claim to be Nageshwar described in Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotra.

But revered Shri Shankaracharya has specifically praised this temple^[1] at Andha Nagnath as the Jyotirlinga of Naganath saying:

"Yamye sadange nagaretiramye vibhushitangam vividhaishcha bhogai Sadbhaktimuktipradamishamekam shrinaganatham sharanam prapadye"

This could be taken to provide evidence that it is located in the south ['yamye'] at the town of Sadanga, the ancient name of Aundh in Maharashtra located 'south' compared to Jageshwara shrine in Uttarkhand and Dwaraka Nageshvara at West end.

The temple is also closely associated with lives of Namdev, Visoba and Dnyaneshwar, the great saints of Varkari sect of Hinduism.

It is here at Aundha Nagnath temple the famous poet-saint Namdev met his guru Visoba Khechara. He was advised to visit this temple by Sant Dnyaneshwar. According to the text Dnyandev Gatha, Dnyaneshwar and Muktai instruct Namdev to journey to temple of Aundha Nagnath in search of a proper guru. In the temple, Namdev finds Visoba resting with his feet on the sacred Shiva-linga, the symbol of god Shiva. Namdev reproached him for having insulted god Shiva. Visoba asked Namdev to place his feet elsewhere, wherever Namdev placed Visoba's feet a Linga sprang up. Thus, through his yogic powers, Visoba filled the whole temple with Shiva-lingas and taught Namdev the omnipresence of God.^[7][8]

There is one famous story told about Sant Namdev and Aundha Nagnath temple. Once when he was chanting Bhajans in front of the temple with his senior gurus like Sant Dnyaneshwar, Visoba Khechara and few more Varkari, the temple pujari told them their singing in front of the temple is disturbing their routine pooja and prayers and asked them to go away from temple. Then all Varkaris went back side of the temple and started singing bhajans there. But Lord Shiva and in order to be in the sight of the pining devotee and listen bhajans, revolved the temple.^[9] It is testimonial to that miracle why Nandi is located on back side of temple.^[9]

Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism is said to have visited Audha Nagnath temple when he tavelled this area and also visited Narsi Bamani, the birthplace of Namdev. It may be mentioned here that Namdev is also revered in Sikhism, as Bhagat Namdeo.^[9][10]

Fair

Every year a fair is held here in Hindu calendar month of Magha, which lasts till beginning of month of Falgun. Thousands of people visit this temple during this time.^[11]

References