Jageshwar Dham Temple

Jageshwar Dham is one of the major Hindu shrines of Lord Shiva and is believed to be the eighth Jyotirling among the twelve and has great religious value.

It is believed that the temple city of Jageshwar comprises a cluster of small stone temples, dating 9th to 13th century AD, with many preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which include Dandeshwar Temple, Chandika Temple, Jageshwar Temple, Kuber Temple, Mritunjaya Temple, Nanda Devi or Nau Durga, Nava-Grah Temple, Pyramidal shrine, and Surya Temple. Amongst them the oldest shrine is the ‘Mrityunjaya Temple’ and the biggest shrine is the ‘Dandeshwar Temple’.

History

According to tradition, Lord Shiva along with monks came to meditate here. It is said that in ancient times in the Jageshwar temple, vows were accepted as they were sought as well as bad ones which were randomly accepted by Lord Shiva and later it was abused by the people.

It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya visited Jageshwar and renovated and re-established many temples before leaving for Kedarnath and arranging Mahamrityunjaya to prevent abuse. Wishes come true for only those who sacrifice with rituals but not to those who aspire badly for others by Shankracharya Ji.

During the Gupta Empire in the Himalayan mountains of north India, there was a king named Katyuri of Kumaun. Jageshwar temple was also built in the same period. The Archaeological Survey of India divided the duration of the construction of these temples into three periods - Katyrikal, early Katyuri Dynasty, and Chand Dynasty.

Architecture

The temples in the Nagara Style have an iconic spire or shikhara. The architecture speaks volumes of the kind of influence this town had, and how that influence has been imbued into the making of these temples.

You will find a wooden roof built on top of the bigger temples- this is something that very unique to the region. These temples have been mentioned in several travelogues of people who visited them during the 7th to 8th Centuries.

Jageshwar Monsoon Festival

The ‘Jageshwar Monsoon Festival ‘, held between 15 July to 15 August takes place at Jageshwar during the Hindu calendar month of Shravan, and the annual ‘MahaShivratriMela’ (Shivratri festival), which takes place during spring has an important place in the calendar of the entire Kumaon region.

Shiva Temples of Jageshwar Dham

The temples in Jageshwar Dham are all in devotion to Lord Shiva. He is said to be the savior of the town. The temples in the complex all have different names and Shiva is worshipped in different forms in this temple.

In one of the temples, Shiva is worshipped in the celestial form, whereas in another one, Shakti is worshipped.

Most of the temples are adorned by the Shiva Lingam, and they derive their names from the panels on top of the temple entrance. Like- A temple that has the carving of Shiva dancing is called the Tandeshwar temple.

Main Temples of Jageshwar Dham

Jageshwar Temple – 8th Jyotirlinga or Nagesh Jyotirlinga

The Jyotirlinga in this temple considers the form of a Snake. It is depicted as Nagesh- who is said to be the King of Snakes. Here the Shivalingam is depicted with a serpent.

This powerful temple is located at the far end of the temple complex and is one of the attraction points. It is said to be the main temple.

Before entering you will find two wonderful sculptures adorning the entrance. Inside you will be greeted by the Shivalingam and will have an acute sense of devotion and spirituality. The inner sanctum radiates a kind of power and positive vibe which is hard to miss.

The atmosphere is amazing, as you make your way inside the temple and try to soak in as much as possible. The Shivalingam has a lamp in front of it, which is meant to keep buying like the eternal flame.

There is a regular Aarti that you can perform around the time of sunset.

Mahamrityunjay Mahadev Temple

Another one of the main temples, this temple is said to be the oldest and largest temple in the Jageshwar complex. This will be the first temple you will see the moment you enter the complex, as it is located right at the center of it.

It almost seems as if the other temples are just positioned in devotion to the gigantic architectural marvel.

Inside the temple, you will find the priest telling you, how this was the first temple where Shiva was worshipped in the form of a Linga. You will also find the Mahamrityunjay chant carved onto the walls of the temple intricately.

This temple is not just holy and sacred, but also a grand lesson in history. Archaeologists have been able to find 25 inspirations that go back to 7-10 CE. There is so much depicted on the walls that it will take you a whole day if you want to understand it and hear the many associated stories. The inscriptions are all in Sanskrit.

There are many other temples in the complex, which you must visit- Pushti Devi Temple, Dakshinukhi Hanuman Temple, Nav Griha Temple, Kedareshwar Temple, Lakulisha Temple, Kandeshwar Temple, and the Batuk Bhairav Temple.

Location of Jageshwar Dham

It is located 36 km northeast of Almora, Uttarakhand. The temple complex consists of 124 temples and hundreds of images, which are stated to exist in the forest of Deodar or Daruka.

How to reach Jageshwar Dham?

By Air

People can reach Pantnagar airport as it is the nearest airport to the city. It is just 150-kilometer away from Jageshwar. Luxury buses, taxis, and Volvo cars are easily accessible to Jageshwar from Pantnagar airport.

By Rail

The closest railway station to reach Jageshwar is Kathgodam. The railway station is at a distance of 125 kilometers from Jageshwar town. Kathgodam railway is well-joined with many important destinations around the country.

By Road

Jageshwar has a good connection with many Uttarakhand cities by motorable roads. Jageshwar is well-linked with destinations like Haldwani, Pithoragarh, Almora, etc. Government-undertaking buses operate regularly from these places to Jageshwar. Costs may vary depending on the distance.

Jageshwar is just 37 kilometers away from Almora from where one can easily reach to the region. Apart from that taxis are also available from the Kumaon region. The aloofness between Delhi and Jageshwar is around 400 kilometers.

Buses also run from ISBT Gate Delhi to Haldwani and Almora as well. Bus routes are also linked with northern cities.