Aundha Nagnath Temple

01Nagesham Darukavane

The Dvadasha Jyotirlinga stotra names Nageshvara “in the Daruka forest”, and the Shiva Purana tells how the asura Daruka and his wife Daruki troubled the devotee Supriya, and Shiva appeared as a jyotirlinga to protect him. Three places hold the name: the Nageshwar near Dwarka, Jageshwar in Kumaon, and Aundha Nagnath here; Maharashtra’s tradition and the Varkari saints honour Aundha. The linga is in a small chamber below the floor, reached by a low passage; devotees bend double to enter. The walls of the temple are covered with fine carving of the Yadava age.

02Namdev and the turning temple

The Varkari tradition tells that Sant Namdev came to Aundha and began singing kirtan in front of the shrine, and the priests, offended, drove him to the back. He sat behind the temple and sang on; and the temple turned so that Nagnath faced him. That is why, devotees say, the main door now faces west while Nandi stands to the east. Namdev’s guru, Visoba Khechar, is also remembered here: Namdev found him resting his feet on the linga and learned from him that Bhagwan is everywhere.