Aundha Nagnath Temple
Aundha Nagnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of India. Among the 12 Jyotirlingas, 5 lies in Maharashtra. Aundha Nagnath is considered to be the first Jyotirlinga where Shiva is worshipped. It is believed that the Aundha Nagnath was built by Yudhisthira, the eldest Pandav, while they were sent in exile for 14 years. The Aundha Nagnath has a Hemadpanthi style of architecture spreading for over 60,000 sq ft area. The most unique part of this temple is that the idol of Nandi is not present in front of the shrine of Mahadeva. A separate Nandikeshwara temple is built beside the main temple. The main temple is surrounded by small temples of 12 Jyotirlingas on all four sides. In total there are 108 Shiva temples and 68 shrines of Shiva are to be found here. Besides, there are idols and temples of VedavyasaLinga, Bhandareshwar, Nilakanteshwar, Ganapati, Dattatreya, Muralimanohar, Dasavatar. Another fascinating part of the Aundha Nagnath temple is that snakes flanking the Shiva linga with their hoods are often seen here. The temple has exquisite architectural beauty. It has large corridors and an 8 pillared court hall. The Shiva Linga is located in Garbhagriha.
Aundha Nagnath Temple is an ancient Shiva temple, 8th Jyotirlinga, located at Aundha Nagnath in Hingoli district of Maharashtra, India. Aundha Nagnath Nageshwaram gathered to be the eighth of the twelve jyotirlingas in India, a critical place of journey. The present sanctuary is said to have been worked by the Sauna Yadava tradition and dates to the thirteenth century. The main sanctuary is said to be from the time of the Mahabharata and is accepted to have been developed by Yudhishthira, the oldest of the Pandavas when they were removed for a long time from Hastinapur.
It has been expressed that this sanctuary building was seven-storyed before it was sacked by Aurangzeb. The sanctuary covers a zone of 669.60 sq mt 7200 sq ft and stature of 18.29 m 60 ft The aggregate zone in which sanctuary grounds is spread is around 60,000 sq. ft. Aside from the religious importance, the sanctuary itself merits seeing for its unfathomably lovely carvings. The base of the present sanctuary is in Hemadpanti engineering even though its upper segment was repaired amid later period and is in the style which was common amid the Peshwa’s administration. You can come and explore this place.
