Jageshwar

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Jageshwar| type = village | latd = 29.65| longd = 79.58
locator_position = right | state_name = Uttarakhand
district = Almora
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altitude = 1870
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Jageshwar (Hindi-जागॆश्वर)is the Himalayan Hindu sacred religious pilgrim place dedicated to Lord Shiva located at the distance of 36 km northeast from Almora town of Kumaun region of the Uttarakhand state of India and is a cluster of large and small stone temples. Jageshwar was once the centre of Lakulish Shaivism. It is located in the Jataganga valley near a Deodar forest ("Cedrus deodara") starting from Artola village on Almora–Pithoragarh highway. Two streams Nandini and Surabhi flow down the hills in the valley and meet near the sacred spot. The altitude of this place is 1870 mts. Jageshwar is an ancient temple city,having a group of temple with 124 temples some are in the ruin.Majority of temples are in a good preserved state and looked after by archaeological survey of India.Fairs takes place at Jageshwar during the Hindu" Shravan" month of July and August and during Shivratri festival.

Nagesh Jyotirlinga

Many believes Jageshwar is the place of Nagesh among the forest of Deodar(देवदारू वन), 8th among the "Dwadasa Jyotirlingas" i.e. 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"

(The twelve Jyotirlingas are-

*Somnath at Prabhas Patan, Saurashtra, Gujarat.
*Sri Mallikarjun in Srisailam, near Kurnool,Andhra Pradesh, on the banks of river Krishna.Adi Sankaracharya composed his Sivanandalahiri here.
*Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain(Avanti) ,Madhya Pradesh.
*Omkareshwar in Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh, this jyotirlinga is situated on an island in the course of the river Narmada.
*Vaidyanath temple at Deogarh,Santal Parganas area of Bihar.
*Bhimashankar in Dakini and located in the Sahyadri hills,near Pune, Maharashtra.
*Ramalingeswarar in Setubandanam , Tamilnadu.This is situated on vast temple island of Rameswaram.It is the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of India.
*Nageshwar in Darukavanam, near Dwarka in Gujarat.But many strongly consider "Nagesh" as stated above.
*Vishwanath in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
*Tryambakeswar Jyotirlinga shrine is intimately linked with the origin of the river Godavari near Nasik, Maharashtra.

*Kedareswar in Kedarnath in Himalayas,Uttarakhand.
*Ghrishneshwar in Devasrovar,near Ellora,Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

One who daily recites the names of these Twelve Jyotirlingas in the morning and evening, his sins of seven births becomes absolved by simply remembering them.)

History

The ancient treatise "Prasadmandanam" describe this place as an abode of Lord Shiva-

हिमाद्रेरूत्तरे पार्श्वे देवदारूवनं परम्

पावनं शंकरस्थानं तत्र् सर्वे शिवार्चिताः।

There is no definite proof about the construction of Jageshwar group of temples but these are stated to belong post-Gupta and pre-medieval era and are estimated to be about 2500 yrs old.These temples range in the period from 8th century (early Katyuri Dynasty to 18th century (Chand Dynasty).These temples were renovated during the reign of Katyuri King Shalivahandev. There is an inscription of Malla Kings on the main temple premises indicating their devotion to Jageshwar.Katyuri Kings also donated some villages to the temple for it’s maintenance.Chand Kings of Kumaun were the great devotee and patron of Jageshwar temple.Adi shankaracharya visited this place and renovated and re-established many temples before finally departed for Kedarnath.Jageshwar had been the cremation ground of Chand Kings.Many of their queens used to become "Sati" with them. The temples architecture belong to simple Nagara style which has tall curvilinear spire sikhara surmounted by an amalaka (capstone) and a kalasha crown the square sanctum sanctorum, entrance to which is through a carved doorway. Most of the temples enshrine a stone lingam. Impressive stone images are seen around the altar.The pilgrimage to Jageshwar was considered as sacred as Badrinath and Kedarnath.Pilgrims used to visitin multitude "en route" to Jageshwar during their pilgrimage to Kailash and Mansarovar.Due to the restrictions on pilgrimage to Kailash and Mansarovar in the past,pilgrims were diverted towards Kedarnath.But again this centre has re-attained its past glory.

Vinayak Kshetra

This place is 200 mts from Artola village from where temples of Jageshwar starts.It is called "Mokshyadham" temple.From this place Vinayak Kshetra or sacred area begins.This place lies between "Jhanker Saim" temple,Vrudhh jageshwar and Koteshwar temples.

Jageshwar Mahadev

This is one of the principal temple situated in the temple premisces it is called "Tarun Jageshwar".Temple has two dwarapalas (door guardians) in the form of "Nandi" and "Skandi" adorned with all the armaments.This is west facing temple of Lord Shiva.Shiva is worshipped in the form of Nagesh/Yageshwar/Jageshwar.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" that is an immortal flame keeps on flickering here since time immemorial.There are two "Asthadhatu" statues of Chanda king Deepchand and Tripalchand in the standing posture behind the Shivlinga.

ri Mahamritunjaya Mahadev

This is the biggest temple situated in the main temple premises.This temple of Shiva is eastern facing and big Linga is worshipped as the saviour from death-महामृत्युंजय .This unique linga has an eye shaped opening.This is the oldest temple in the premisce.Reciting of "Mahamritunjaya Mantra" (महामृत्युंजय मंत्र) is considered very fruitful, auspicious and powerful way of self realisation,dispelling of evil effects,freedom from all kinds of fears,illness and negativity.It is provider of fulfillment and bliss in one's life. Chanting of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is said to create divine vibrations that heals.Mahamritunjaya Mantra has been taken from the "Sukla Yajurveda Samhita" III/60 -

Cquote2|ॐ हौ जूँ सः

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः

ॐ त्रयंबकं यजामहे सुगन्धिम् पुष्टिवधर्नम्

उर्वारूकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्यॊर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्

ॐ स्वः भुवः भूः ॐ

सः जूँ हौ ॐ

(We pray Lord Shiva, the All-Seeing One,three eyed,who bears grace of all-pervading divine fragrance and enricher of all kinds of powers and viguour by His enormous prosperous bestowals. May He release me from the grip of premature untimely death,but not from immortality like pumpkin or watermelon separates after ripening from its vine.)

Dandeshwar Shiv Temple Complex

It is very old among Jageshwar group of temples and is in a dilapidated condition. This group of temples is situated a few km from Jageshwar.

Jhanker Saim Mahadev

This temple is situated south of Jageshwar.Legend has it that during the "Tapasya" by Lord Shiva, Demons obstruct His penance. Then God Jhanker Saim come into being as "Trinetra" and send His "Ganas" to kill the demons.

Sri Briddha or Bud Jageshwar

This temple is situated three km north to Jageshwar.This temple is situated at the top of the hill and comes after a uphill trek.It is contemporary to Jageshwar group of temples.

Pushti Devi or Pushti Bhagawati Maa

It is the temple of Goddess Devi. The temple enshrines the full "murti" of Goddesses. This temple is situated in the Jageshwar main premises.

Archaeological Museum

This museum houses idols and statuettes removed from Jageshwar shrine dating far back as 10th century.

Inscriptions

There are 25 inscriptions of different periods are present at Jageshwar, inscribed on the walls and pillars. These belong to 7th century AD to 10th cetury AD. The dialect of inscriptions is Sanskrit and Brahmi. These are studied by D.C. Sarkar in "Epigraphica indica".

Other Places of Interest

"Jata Ganga","Airavat Gufa","Brahma Kund","Sri Kuber Temple","Batuk Bhairav Temple".

Nearby Places

* The temple of Golu Devata at Chitai.
* Almora

References

"1.History of Kumaun by B D Pandey"

"2.Jageshwar : Abode of Lord Shiva by C.M. Agrawal"

See also

* Shiva
* Shaivism
* History of Evolution of Saivism
* Shiva Puja

External links

* [http://asi.nic.in/asi_museums_jageshwar.asp Museum]
* [http://www.patalbhuvaneshwar.com Patal Bhuvaneshwar Caves]
* http://wikimapia.org/4602064/Jageshwar