SRI NAGANATH Temple in Darukavanam
Purana of Aunda Nagnath temple
Pandavas came here during their Vanvas (life in
forests) build a hermitage for themselves. Their cows used to go to the same
river bank to drink water. After drinking wate, milk used to automatically flow
into the river as if the cows were offering to the river. One day Bhima saw
this miraculous event. He promptly told Dharmaraja about the same. Then
Dharmaraja said, “Surely, some great God must be living in this river”. Then
the Pandavas started removing the water from te river. The middle part of the
river was so hot that the water there was boiling.
Bheema lifted his mace attacked the river thrice.
The water gave way instantly. At the very moment , instead, blood started
oozing like a spring. Lord Shankara’s Linga could be seen as the JyotirLinga.
On the west coast in an area of 16 Yojanas Daruka
and Daruk need to live. The hermits were tired of being harassed by Daruk, and
others. So they went and sought refuge with Orvamuni, who in turn cursed the
Demons that they would be destroyed. The Devas launched an attack on the
Demons. Now, the Demons began to worry. Daruka, who received some special boons
from Parvati, lifted the entire forest, took it away on the path of the sky and
put it in the middle of the sea. Only then, did the Demons relax and continue
to live there. They used to go by boats and capture the hermits and imprison
them the island. Once, there was a Shiva devotee by the name Supriya who was
among the prisoners. He never ate food or drank water without worshipping
Shiva. He continued to do Puja even while in prison.
When the guards informed their chief about his,
he ordered that Supriya be put to death. Then Supriya prayed to Lord Shankara
for his life. The Lord appeared before him immediately and destroyed the entire
group of demons including their families. The Lord laid open the entire island
for all the four classes of people for living. On the other land, Parvati here
granted a boon to Daruka. As a result, at the end of that era, only Demons
would be created and she would rule Daruka. Lord Shiva accepted this. Then
Shiva and Parvati stayed there. Shiva once again assumed the form of
JyotirLinga, with the name Nageshwar and Parvati was known as Nageshwari.
Specialities of Aundha Naganath Temple
The architectural beauty of the Nagesh Temple is
simply exquisite. This temple built with stones during the Pandava period is
strong. The four walls of the temple are very strong and the corridors are
large. The court hall is supported by eight pillars. It is oval shaped. Both
this and the Nagesha Lingamurthy is located in the small internal Garbhagriha.
Here, there is no Nandi idol in front of
Mahadeva. There is separate Nandikeshwara temple back of the main temple. On
all the four sides of the main temple, smaller temples for the twelve
JyotirLingas are constructed. Apart from these, VedavyasaLinga, bhandareshwar,
Nilakanteshwar, Ganapati, Dattatreya, Muralimanohar, Dasavatar temple and idols
etc., are there. In all, there are 108 Shiva temples and 68 shrines are located
here.
The
structure of the Naganath temple is very beautiful. Inside it, there is another
shrine called Runamochan teerth. Both these shrines are called “Mother-in-law-
Daughter-in-law” shrines. Every 12 years, at the time of Kapila Shashti, kashi
Ganga offering as “Padarpan” is performed. During this the water in the teerth
kund looks crystal clear. Again at a specific time it becomes ‘Shivala Yukt”.
Close
to the Naganath temple, there are several statues of various divines. Besides
these there are many more idols of animals, soldiers relating some stories.
These stones idols are very beautiful to look at. At a huge corner, there is an
idol of Paravti, who is sulking with Shiva trying to pacify her. This statue is
amazing to look at with its stunning features. It is unmatched in its
expression of emotions.
Aurangazeb
was intolerant towards other religions and wanted to destroy this Hindu temple.
When he tried, thousands of bees came out of the temple and attacked Aurangazeb
and his army. He left the demolition work midway and went away. The devotees
rebuild the broken temple.
Sometimes
snakes with their hoods open can be seen standing guard on the Naganath Linga
idol. When they drink the milk left in cups for them, is never known.
“Amardakamidam Kashi Dughdeyamkila Jahnave|
Vishwesho Naganadhoyam, Bhawani Kanakeshwara||”
Vishwesho Naganadhoyam, Bhawani Kanakeshwara||”
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