Daruka Van (presently,Dwarka in Gujarat) is home to the Nageshwar Jyotirling of Lord Shiva.Close to the Arabian Sea, it is a symbol of Lord Shiva’s divine energy against all evil forces.The legendary story behind this Jyotirling involves the demon Daruk and his wife Daruka.The ogress Daruka along with her husband had terrorised the entire forest.
Right from the sages to the common people the rakshas couple and their attendants did not spare anybody.The rakshasi Daruka had especially turned arrogant after she had received the boon from Goddess Parvati to thrive and supervise the forest.The tormented people had to suffer the atrocities of the rakshasas and were terrified to the core.The sages and the people approached the hermitage of the noble sage Aurva, who was the grandson of Rishi Bhrigu, residing nearby. He assured all that any rakshasa, who shall harm and kill innocent sages and people, shall have to suffer as well.Saying thus, the great sage started meditating for the benefit and the happiness of the people.The rakshasas soon felt the effect of the sage’s penance and started diminishing one by one. Seeing the demons in distress, Daruka was reminded of her boon from Goddess Parvati and called on her. She was advised by the Goddess to relocate on an island close to the forest on the western coast with her attendants to thrive peacefully. The people and sages were left peaceful in the forest and thanked the sage Aurva. The relocation of the demons did little to curb their evil nature though.
They started targeting the ships now which would lay anchor or come close to the coast.The sea farers and traders became their sweet targets.Once, a group of traders were taken captive by the demon Daruk. The leader of the traders, who went by the name Supriya was also one amongst the prisoners. He along with his fellow traders were held captive in an isolated dungeon.Supriya was a benevolent man and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.Inside the cell, he made an earthen Shivaling and worshipped it diligently with true devotion. Once, when Supriya was worshipping the Shivaling, one of the attendants of Daruk happened to observe it.He went and promptly narrated the same to his master.Daruk,intrigued by this information decided to interrogate Supriya himself.He entered the dingy dungeon and asked Supriya about his worship.Supriya refused to answer him.This made Daruk quite angry.He threatened to kill Supriya in case he chose not to answer his question. Supriya,though scared, did not reveal that he was worshipping Lord Shiva. Daruk lost his temper and went with his raised sword to kill Supriya. Supriya was terrified, he prayed and called on Lord Shiva incessantly.The moment Daruk was about to strike Supriya, Lord Shiva presented himself in the form of Nageshwara and waged a terrible battle with Daruk. Following which, Daruk was defeated and killed by Lord Shiva and Supriya’s life was saved.
Bowing and paying obeisance to Lord Shiva, not only Supriya but all the sages and Gods beseeched Lord Shiva to manifest himself there in the form of a Shivaling to protect the people of Daruka van.Lord Shiva agreed to their request and oracled to protect and bless the forest and its people from all the evil forces and bestow upon them the boons derived from the worship of the Nageshwar Lingam.As per Shiva Puran, he who listens to the origin of Lord Nageshwara respectfully, attains all desires, becomes intelligent and his sins are destroyed.
Har Har Mahadev.
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