Pradosha Nartanam at Darukavan

 Pradosha Nartanam at Darukavan

Darukavan, near Dwarka, was once a dense forest where powerful sages constantly performed yagnas. Over time, they became proud of their spiritual powers and believed rituals alone could fulfill all desires, without the need to worship God. Their wives too possessed great merit, and together their pride turned into arrogance.

To remove this ego, Shiva sought the help of Mahavishnu. Shiva appeared as a charming naked mendicant, while Mahavishnu took the enchanting form of Mohini.

Mohini distracted the sages with her beauty and melodious songs, drawing them away from their yagnas. At the same time, Shiva captivated the sages’ wives, who followed Him spellbound. When both groups met, they were shocked and furious.

Realizing they had been outwitted, the sages performed a powerful yagna to destroy the intruders. From the sacrificial fire emerged fierce beings and weapons — a lion, snakes, demons, deer, trident, drum, and the dwarf demon Apasmara. Shiva effortlessly subdued them all.

He wore the lion’s skin as clothing, used the trident as His weapon, held the deer firmly, and adorned Himself with snakes as ornaments. He defeated Apasmara, the demon of ignorance and forgetfulness, by pressing him beneath His foot. Then Shiva performed His divine Pradosha dance — the first cosmic dance performance.

The humbled sages prayed for forgiveness. Later, Shiva appeared there as a Jyotirlinga with serpent hoods, now worshipped as Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.

Source: 12 Jyothirling