History of Nageshvara Jyotirlinga

This temple is by far the most visited temple in the whole complex, dedicated to the incarnation of Shiva in the form of a child. The story goes as Shiva being an attractive alpha male to all the women folk of the village, where he used to meditate.

To not offend the men of the village, Shiva incarnated himself as a child. The temple itself is divided into two parts, with one dedicated to Shiva, and the other to his consort, Goddess Parvati. The entrance is flanked by the idols of the keepers of the sanctum sanctorum,NandiandSkandi，complete with all the armaments, adding to the majestic bearing of the temple as well.

There is no definite dating of the construction of Jageshwar group of temples but according to theASI，they belong to thepost-Guptaand pre-medieval eras and are estimated to be about450 yrs old. These temples range in the period from the 8th century(early Katyuri Dynasty) to the 18th century (Chand Dynasty). The temples were renovated during the reign of Katyuri King Shalivahandev. There is an inscription of Malla Kings on the main temple premises indicating their devotion to Jageshwar. TheKatyuri Kingsalso donated villages to the temple priests for its maintenance. The Chand Kings of Kumaun were also patrons of the Jageshwar temple.