Nageshwara Jyotirlinga

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The Sadganga sacred place is near Dvaraka in the state of Gujarat. The deity

is known as Naganath or Nagesvara. Viewedin the aspect of spiritual science,

the word Naga symbolizes the nerves of the human body. Naganatha indicates

the 'Susumna Nadi', the nerve which passes in between the nerves 'Ida' and

'Pingala' in the vertebral column. However, the power Kundalini lying

dormant in the 'Muladhara cakra' at the bottom of the vertebral column is

also known as 'Naganatha'. The southern part of the body is symbolized as a

city in the spiritual sense. It is known as Muladhara. The lord of the city

is Nagesvara or the power of Kundalini. The snake-like Kundalini is power is

an ornament of the brilliance of the Soul i.e, Siva. (The vertebral column

resembles a snake in shape). Hence, Nagalingasvara is a Jyotirlinga i.e.,

the symbol of spiritual brilliance.

 

Long long ago, there was a demon couple by name Daruka and Daruka,

staying

in the west coast of India. It is the popular belief that the couple having

the same name enjoy amicable married life. The demon couple laid a spacious

and beautiful garden on the seacoast and they enjoyed their life freely

roaming about there. It was known as Darukavanam. However, the sad feature

of the garden is that the demon couple always used to pester and persecute

the sages leading a saintly life by all torturous evil deeds. This had

rather become a hobby of the devilish couple. With the passage of time, the

demons tortured even the villages and city people around. Unable to bear the

sufferings caused by the demons, the afflicted people went in a big group

and prayed to the sage 'Ourva' for protection and relief. The sage at once

cursed the demon couple “You will be burnt to ashes the moment you torture

any one on the earthâ€. Coming to know of the curse, the demon couple shifted

their residence as also the entire garden of Daruka using their power of

penance, into the middle of the huge ocean (at present know as the Arbian

Sea). Thereafter they went on looting and pestering the merchants and the

voyagers in the ocean. As the persecution by the demon couple was done in

the water, the sage's curse became ineffective there.

 

Daruka means a bad and hard log wood. The demons were hard-hearted. One

who

tortures others by one's harsh voice is called a Daruka. It is verbal

violence to talk in a harsh way.

 

Only at the time of 'Pralaya', the great deluge and annihilation of the

world, 'Ourvagni' i.e., the sea fire heats up the seawater. This is the

rationale behind the inefficacny of the sage's curse to the demon couple

while the latter were staying in the ocean. After a while, the demon couple,

imprisoned Supriya, a marine merchant, who was a great devotee of Siva.

However, the staunch devotee continued his worship of Siva even in the

prison and by his piety all the co-prisoners became devotees of Siva.

Supriya didn't pay heed to the threats of the demon couple.

 

After some time, the demon couple, accompanied by their attendants came

to

Supriya and started a heated discussion with the latter. Eventually, in a

fit of irresistible anger, the demons were about to pounce on Supriya,

threatening to cut off his body to pieces. However, Supriya closed his eyes

and started to mediate on Siva. The other merchants whole-heartedly chanted

the chorus as “Siva! Siva! Siva!â€.

 

Lo! Behold! At once there was a lightning like brilliance. The devotees

opened their eyes to see the manifestation of a luminous Siva Linga bedecked

with the ornaments of snakes. In a moment, all the demons were reduced to

ashes. As cherished by the dear devotee Supriya, Nagesvara settled down

there as the brilliant Jyotirlinga. By the grace of the Lord, the place in

the middle of the ocean was transformed to become part of the seashore.

 

By recollecting or studying the above saving grace of Siva, one will be

relieved of the calamities, caused by fire, water, enemies or thieves. Also

such bad events will be preventer further. The devotee's heart becomes soft

in nature.