Aundha Nagnath Temple

Aundha Nagnath Temple is a Hindu religious abode dedicated to Lord Shiva or Mahadeva that allures the pilgrimage tourists and the history lovers for its religious myths and the archaeological importance. Every year, during Maha Shivaratri, a fair is held that allures a large number of Indians and the foreign tourists.

Location of Aundha Nagnath Temple : Aundha Nagnath Temple is an ancient Shiva temple located at Aundha Nagnath in Hingoli district of Maharashtra.

History of Aundha Nagnath Temple deals with the lives of West Indian saints like Namdev, Visoba Khechara and Jnanesvar. They were the popular saints of Chalukya Dynasty which ruled the Western Ghats Mountain Range in India and the Madhya Pradesh in modern India from 6th to 12th Century AD. These saints are revered by the Varkari sect of Hinduism.

Namdev, the saint of Varkari sect of Hinduism met his guru, Visoba Khechara, at Aundha Nagnath Temple. He was advised to visit this temple by Jnanesvar. According to the text of Varkari sect of Hinduism, Jnanndev Gatha, Jnannesvar and Muktai instruct Namdev to journey to temple of Aundha Nagnath in search of a proper preacher. In the temple, Namdev finds Visoba resting with his feet on the lingam, the symbol of Shiva. Namdev reproached him for having insulted Shiva. Visoba asked Namdev to place his feet elsewhere and wherever Namdev placed Visoba`s feet, a lingam sprang up. Thus, through his yogic powers, Visoba filled the whole temple with Shiva-lingam and taught Namdev the omnipresence of God.

Once when he was chanting the bhajans in front of the temple with his gurus like Jñanesvar, Visoba Khechara and few more Varkari, the temple pujari told them their singing in front of the temple is disturbing their routine puja and prayers and asked them to go away from temple.

The temple priest told Bhagat Namdev not to chant the bhajans in the temple premises. It made him an insult. The priest of the temple told that he is of lower caste and why he has come to the temple. Then Bhagat Namdev went back side of Aundha Nagnath Temple and started singing bhajans there. But God, in order to be in the sight of the pining devotee and listen bhajans, revolved the temple. It is testimonial to that miracle why Nandi is located on back side of Aundha Nagnath Temple.

In the late medieval era, Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism is said to have visited Audha Nagnath temple when he travelled in the Lonar Lake region and also visited Narsi Bamani, the birthplace of Namdev. It may be mentioned here that Namdev is also revered in Sikhism, as Bhagat Namdeo.

Aundha Nagnath Temple covers an area of 669.60 sq mt and height of 18.29 m. The total area in which temple campus is spread is about 60,000 sq. ft. Apart from the religious significance Aundha Nagnath Temple itself is worth seeing for its unbelievably beautiful carvings. The present temple of Aundha Nagnath is Hemadpanti architecture. The large number of pilgrims visits this temple on Maha Shivaratri and Vijaya Dashami. Aundha Nagnath Temple is also closely associated with lives of Namdev, Visoba Khechara and Jnanesvar, the saints revered by the Varkari sect of Hinduism.

Aundha Nagnath Temple also hosts a religious fair during maha Shiva Ratri and Vijaya Dasami. Every year another fair is held here in Hindu calendar month of Magha, which lasts till beginning of the month of Phalguna. Thousands of people visit this temple during this time. This temple in Aundha Nagnath Temple adds as the pilgrimage tourist destination in the Western Ghats Mountain Range in India.