Nageshwar Nath Mandir – The Shiva Temple built by Lord Rama

November 13, 2021

Here is a simple guide to the ancient and important Nageshwarnath Temple in the holy city of Ayodhya.

  • Its ancient legend: The temple is believed to have been established by Lord Ram’s own son, Kush, which makes it one of the most ancient and historically significant temples in the entire city.
  • A tale of gratitude: The story goes that Kush was once saved by a Naga princess, a devotee of Lord Shiva, and in his immense gratitude, he built this beautiful temple dedicated to Shiva in her honor.
  • Its survival through time: It is one of the very few temples from that ancient era that is believed to have survived through the long periods of history, standing as a direct link to the time of the Ramayana.
  • Its main festival: While in a city dedicated to Ram, this temple is the most important center for the festival of Mahashivratri, which is celebrated here with incredible devotion and grandeur.

Introduction

Temple Timings: Nageshwar Nath Mandir is open daily from 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The Aarti at Ram Ki Paidi nearby is a must-watch in the evening.

According to legend, Lord Shri Ram partitioned the kingdom of Ayodhya into eight sections before he departed for Anant Dham and this temple was built in his honour. In the holy month of Sawan, pilgrims can atone for their past sins and gain the virtue of man by worshipping Lord Shiva at this historic temple. The Nageshwar Nath Mahadev temple, located in Ayodhya’s Ram ki Paidi Kshetra, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The British also acknowledged Lord Shiva’s Nageshwarnath incarnation. According to Kanidham, this is the only area on Earth where a living being can find absolute serenity.

Legend of King Vikramaditya

On the banks of the noble Salita Saryu river, the old Nageshwar Nath mandir shows that Ayodhya is the same area where the temple of Lord Nageshwarnath is located. King Vikramaditya established this fabled city, and he also rebuilt its ancient temple. As a religious figure, Baba Nageshwarnath is still revered by devotees from all across the country, who see him as a symbol of Ayodhya.

Nageshwar Nath Mandir
Nageshwar Nath Mandir

The significance of this old Shiva temple in Ayodhya has grown due to its construction, and in the month of Sawan, pilgrims can atone for their past sins and gain the virtue of man by worshipping Lord Shiva here at this historic temple. The holy month of Sawan is an excellent time to visit Ayodhya, the birthplace of Ram, to worship Lord Nageshwarnath built on the banks of the Saryu seashore in Ayodhya.

According to ancient literature, the Nageshwarnath temple, located on the banks of the Saryu river, in the religious city of Ayodhya, is the site of several legends.

According to legend, Lord Shri Ram partitioned the kingdom of Ayodhya into eight sections before he departed for Anant Dham, and this temple was built in his honour. To the sons of Bharata, Pushkrit and Manibhadra Lakshmana’s Angad and Subahu, Shatru’s Neeta and Bhadrasen and Then, his son, and others, he divided the kingdom equally.

Kura was crowned King of Kaushambi by his father. Kush had a dream one night in which the city of Ayodhya told him that his position had changed following Lord Shri Ram’s departure to Anant Dham. Ayodhya Dham was given to Hanuman Ji, but being a devout follower, he sees no need to sit on the throne of his master.

Because of this, you should dominate Ayodhya. Kura moved to Ayodhya as a result of this dream and established it as his capital.

One day, while sailing to Bihar, Shiva’s bracelet fell into the holy Sarayu, where it was discovered by the daughter of Kumud Nag, who lived in the Sarayu, according to Shiva Purana.

Kush and Nag Kumud engaged in an epic battle over this bracelet, which ended when the snake pondered on Lord Shiva. This conflict was abruptly brought to a halt by the appearance of God himself. He also asked Shiva to help him have his daughter married to Kush, along with the jewellery he gave Kumudani As a result of his acceptance, Maharaj Kush formally requested that Lord Shiva remains at this location for eternity.

Nageshwar Nath Visitor Guide

Common questions for pilgrims

Where is Nageshwar Nath Temple located?

It is located at Ram Ki Paidi in the Theri Bazar area of Ayodhya, very close to the Saryu River banks.

What is the significance of the Jal Abhishek here?

During the holy month of Shravan (July-Aug), thousands of Kanwariyas bring water from distant rivers to perform Jal Abhishek on the Shivalinga here.

Who renovated the current structure?

While the original temple is ancient, the current structure was renovated in 1750 AD by Naval Rai, a minister of Safdar Jung.

Is it crowded?

It gets very crowded on Mondays, Pradosh, and Mahashivratri. For a peaceful darshan, try visiting on weekdays during the afternoon slot.