Jageshwar Dham Temple

Jageshwar Dham is a Hindu pilgrimage town in Almora District, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Jageshwar Dham is the place of Nagesh, 8th among the Dwadasa Jyotirlingas (the twelve resplendent lingas of Lord Shiva established by Lord Vishnu).

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् ।
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोकांरममलेश्वरम् ।
परल्यां वैद्यनाथं च डाकिन्यां भीमशंकरम् ।
सेतुबंधे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारूकावने ।
वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्रयंम्बकं गौतमीतटे ।
हिमालये तु केदारं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये ।
ऐतानि ज्योतिर्लिंगानि सायं प्रातः पठेन्नरः ।
सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति ।

            - Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotra by Adi Shankaracharya

       It is  37 kms away from Almora city in Kumaon region, Uttrakhand. Though Jageshwar Dham is all season devotee’ destination but the best period to visit here is summer season as It is surrounded by the dense forest of Deodar. From April to September the temperature remains around max 30^OC and min 10^OC. From October to March cold weather and sometimes snowfall may also occur.

About

Jageshwar Dham is integrated with spiritual and unruffled climate. Devotees mind gets rejuvenated by its climatic and spiritual structure. Earlier this place was used to halt by the pilgrims of Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage. Jageshwar Temple is surrounded by deodar forest and Jata Ganga which increases the beauty and sustain calm atmosphere here. The place also acts as a meditation centre due to the calm, fresh and beautiful environment surrounding the temple.

The cluster of temples of ancient designs are almost 124 numbers and hundreds of statues in Jageshwar Dham which were built between 9th to 13th century AD by dynasties of that time. The main temples of Jageshwar Dham include Dandeshwar Temple, Chandika Temple, Jageshwar Temple, Mritunjaya Temple, Kuber Temple, Nau Durga Temple, Nava-grah Temple and Surya Temple. The Maha Mrityunjaya Temple is the oldest while Dandeshwar Temple is the largest shrine of Jageshwar Dham.

Chronicle

There are almost 124 temples in Jageshwar Dham in a cluster formation. Each and every temple constructed with ancient designed stone and having its own importance. Carved Images into the stone at temples are very different and attractive for every devotee. A tall curvilinear spire surmounted by a capstone and a Kalash is also constructed in the Jageshwar Dham premises. The main temple in the temple premises at Jageshwar Dham is dedicated to Bal Jageshwar (Child Shiva) and another temple dedicated to Vridh Jageshwar (Old Shiva), situated on the higher slopes.

According to folk tale, Lord Shiva came to meditate here, and when the women of the village came to know that a sadhu is engrossed in meditation, they immediately left their household chores to have his darshan. When the men of the village heard the incident, they were infuriated and came to see who has fascinated their women. Seeing the ruckus, Lord Shiva adopted into child form, that’s why he is worshipped in his child form here.

Significance

The temple has two dwarapalas in the form of the armed Nandi and Skandi. This is a west facing temple of Lord Shiva.

Here, Shiva is worshipped in the form of Nagesh. Jageshwar Dham is believed to be the site of one of the twelve Jyotirlingas i.e. Nageshvara Jyotirlinga. In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, the Shivlinga is divided into two parts. The larger one depicts Shiva and smaller one his consort Parvati.

An Akhand Jyoti burns in the temple. There are two Asthadhatu statues of Chand Kings Deepchand and Tripalchand in the standing posture behind the Shivlinga.

A Deodar tree is at the corner of the walled complex adjacent to the Kedarnath temple and a board on it indicates the diameter as 8 meters. Seems like it is standing there from eternity and sole witness of the history of this place.

Worshiped in the form of : Lord Shiv And Goddess Parvati

There is a small museum run by Archaeological Survey of India for idols and statuettes removed from Jageshwar Dham. A full month festival is organised in the Shravan month as per Hindu calendar and large number of devotees can be seen here on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.

How To Reach

By Air  PantNagar is the only nearest airport connected with New Delhi airport. From PantNagar to Jageshwar Dham via Almora the distance of 150 km is to be cover by road through Haldwani Almora road.

By Rail  To reach Jageshwar Dham train facility is available till Kathgodam. After de-boarding the train at Kathgodam which is known as Gateway of Hills, Taxis are easily available to cover the 125-km journey by road.

By Road  Jageshwar Dham is well connected with road for Almora. It is 37 kms  away from Almora city on Almora-Pithoragarh highway. Taxi from Almora to Jageshwar Temple are easily available.

Stay For Devotee

There are limited options to stay and food. Devotees can come back to Almora for more options.

                          Places To See In Jageshwar

Mirtola Ashram

Jageshwar Mahadev

Sri Briddha or Bud Jageshwar

Lakulisha

Maha Mrityunjaya Temple

Dandeshwar Temple

Jhanker Sam Mahadev

Kot Ling Mahadev

Vinayak Kshetra

                       

Address and Communication:

Vanvaas Sadhna Kuteer,

Kotlinga, Jageshwar Dham,

Uttrakhand, India 262623

liveinjageshwar@gmail.com