Aundha Nagnath Temple, Hingoli

Aundha Nagnath Temple is an ancient temple built by Yadavas of Devagiri, during 13th century. This temple holds utmost spiritual and historical significance.

This temple is an masterpiece of ancient craftsmanship, is located in the peaceful village of Aundha in Hingoli district, Maharashtra.

The spiritual ambience of the temple attracts lakhs of devotees worldwide, who worship Aundha Nagnath, a form of Bhagwan Shiva.

Pilgrims worship Aundha Nagnath to negate the fear of snake bites and nullify all kinds of snake poison. As Bhagwan Shiva is worshiped in the form of Nagnath, He blesses his devotees abundantly, especially those who fear snakes or seek protection from snake poison. Offering your prayers to Bhagwan Aundha Nagnath negates the ill effects of Kaala Sarpa doshas and other snake-related doshas (Sarpa doshas).

The uniqueness of this 5500-year-old temple is that the presence of the Shiva Linga is beneath the ground level or underground. Also, Nandhi, the divine bull, is not located in front of the Shiva Linga; it is located behind the Garbha Griha.

Offering the sacred ritual of abhishekam at the Aundha Nagnath Temple brings profound spiritual purification, peace, and blessings. Abhishekam to Sri Aundha Nagnath Ji can be performed by offering many sacred items like water, milk, honey, bilva leaves, bhasma, sandalwood paste, and more.

Aundha Nagnath Temple is associated with the Sant Namadeva, who is a great Marathi Vaishnava saint hailing from the region of Maharashtra. He sang many bhajans praising the Vithoba of Pandharpur.

Once Sant Namadeva visited the Aundha Nagnath Temple and was singing kirtans and offering prayers to Lord Shiva. Since he was from a lower caste, the temple priest objected to him standing in front of Lord Shiva and drove him away. Then, the temple priest asked him to stand behind the temple.

Though deeply dejected by this act, his devotion to Bhagawan Shiva was more intense. With tears rolling down his eyes, he sang Kirtans praising Lord Aundha Nagnath.

Lord Shiva was pleased by his pure bhakti and unwavering dedication. Originally, the temple was oriented towards the east; Lord Shiva miraculously turned to face west, toward Saint Namdev. This is the ultimate power of pure bhakti.

The pure bhakti and love of Namadeva towards Lord Shiva miraculously moved the entire temple in its direction. This event teaches us that the ever compassionate and kind Lord Shiva protects his sincere devotees from all kinds of danger, no matter how difficult the situation is.

Aundha Nagnath Temple stands as an everlasting monument of Marathi and Hemadpanthi styles of architecture. Despite centuries of invasion, it preserves its spiritual ambience and architectural grandeur—a reflection of unwavering faith, resilience, and artistic brilliance.

Black stone and red sandstone are the materials used for the construction of the temple.

Built over vast acres of land, this magnificent temple spans approximately 60,000 square feet.

Garbha griha of the temple is underground, where the Shiva Linga is worshiped.

To have darshan of Lord Aundha Nagnath, devotees descend a short staircase that leads to a sanctum a few steps below ground level. One should bow down; this act shows that one should be humble before the god, and should shed all ego.

The temple’s architecture features stunning, intricate carvings, showcases various deities, and floral motifs. The various sculptures sculpted on the pillars, walls of the temple narrate the different stories from various puranas.

Maratha Queen Ahilya Bai Holkar has contributed to the redevelopment of the temple, after undergoing many destructions from the Mughals. The present upper, gleaming white section of the temple was reconstructed by Ahilya Bai.

Maha Shivaratri: It is the main festival celebrated with great fervour, which falls in the month of February or March. The temple complex experiences a sacred energy, enveloping pilgrims in a profoundly uplifting and spiritual atmosphere. The power of the sacred Shiva Linga draws a large crowd of devotees.

Devotees offer milk, honey, and flowers to the holy Shiva Linga as a part of the reverence.

Rudrabhisekam is performed to the Shiva Linga to invoke the blessings of Aundha Nagnath.

Vijayadashami: On this pious occasion, celebrating victory over evil, special pujas and bhajans are conducted, which enhances the festive vibe of the atmosphere.

Devotees can visit the Aundha Nagnath Temple during the following hours:
Daily: 4:00 AM to 9:00 PM

October to March is the best time to visit Aundha Nagnath Temple. The temple witnesses huge crowds during the festivals like Mahashivaratri and Vijayadashami.

Vaijnath Temple: It is also known as Sri Vaidyanath temple. Devotees visit this temple to have the darshan of Sri Vaidyanath ji to help them cure all kinds of ailments. This revered temple is located in the serene village of Parli in Maharashtra state.

Siddheshwar Dam: It is a hydroelectric project located in the Kolkiwadi (Konkan region), Maharashtra. This dam is the source of drinking water for the people of Maharashtra. This water is also used for irrigation purposes.

Renuka Devi Temple: This is a popular Shakti Peetha located in the Mahur district, Maharashtra. This divine mandir is dedicated to the worship of the goddess Renuka Devi. It offers glorious scenic views, amazing hilltop views, and a tranquil atmosphere for the devotees who visit here.

Tulja Devi Temple: It is a 12th-century Shakti Peetha, which is highly revered for worshiping goddess Bhavani Devi. This magnificent temple was constructed by Maratha King Mahamandaleshwara Maradadeva.

Travel with Tirtha Yatra, widely renowned for conducting spiritual tours across India. Have a hassle-free, comfortable journey to the beautiful and cultural land of Maharashtra to have the darshan of Sri Aundha Nagnath. Join Tirtha Yatra’s world-famous Pancha Jyotirlinga tour.

If you wish to travel on your own, consider routes below.

By Air: The nearest airports to Aundha Nagnath Temple are Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Airport and Aurangabad Airport Chikkalthana Airport. From the airports, you can either take a bus or a taxi to reach the destination.

By Railway: Hingoli Deccan Railway Station in Hingoli and Parbhani Junction railway station in Parbhani are the nearest railway stations. From these railway stations, you can take a taxi or an autorickshaw to reach the Aundha Nagnath Temple. Also, you can board a bus to reach the temple.

By Road: The temple is well connected by the road network. It is connected to major cities like Aurangabad (200 Kms), Nanded (70 Kms), Parbhani (56 Kms), and Hingoli (24 Kms).