1The Jyotirlinga
Of the twelve Jyotirlingas, Aundha Nagnath is counted eighth. A Jyotirlinga is a shrine where Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a column of light. For devotees, the darshan of all twelve completes a lifetime of pilgrimage.
Temple Guide
History & Architecture
The Aundha Nagnath temple is the 8th of the twelve Jyotirlingas — sacred shrines of Lord Shiva spread across India.
2The legend
According to tradition, the Shivlinga here was established by the Pandavas during their exile. The forest around Aundha was known as Darukavana, and the demon Daruka was defeated by Lord Shiva in the form of a serpent (Naga). The presiding deity is therefore called Nageshwar — the Lord of the Nagas.
3Architecture
The temple is built in the Hemadpanti style — named after Hemadpant, the minister of the Yadava kings — using black stone with intricate carvings, without mortar. The sanctum sits below ground level, and uniquely, the Nandi (Lord Shiva's bull) faces away from the shrine.
4Temple timings
The temple opens early in the morning for abhishek and darshan and closes after the evening aarti. Timings can vary with seasons and festivals — confirm the current schedule with us before your visit.