Jyotirlinga Series: Nageshwara Temple
Jyotirlinga Series: Nageshwara Temple at Gujarat is next in line of the 12 main Jyotirlingas in the country.
The legend of this temple is associated with an asura couple named Daruk & Daruka and a Shiva devotee, Supriya.
So, let's find out the legend associated with this temple, shall we?
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Once there lived an asura couple named Daruk and Daruka in a forest area, who terrorized the people around them.
The other forest-dwellers prayed to rishi Arush to help them.
Sage Arush then did penance and pleased the devas to fight the asuras. The devas fought the asuras but unfortunately the asura couple had a trick up their sleeve.
Daruka, the wife, had a powerful boon from goddess Parvati, using which she shifted the entire forest in the middle of the sea, and thus saving themselves attack from the devas.
Once, a boat was sailing on the sea full of people, the asura captured all the people on board, one among which was Supriya, a devotee of Shiva. He prayed to the god daily even while captive, having made a linga out of the available soil and even inspired all the other residents to do so!
Angered by this, Daruk tried to kill Supriya but at that moment, Shiva appeared and slayed the asura right there!
The linga created by Supriya is now the Nageshwara Jyotirlinga in Gujarat.