@ShailendraOjha 's Architecture-of-Temples Challenge Entry :
As you all know, there are 12 Jyotirlings in India dedicated to Lord Shiva. Of these, 5 are in Maharashtra.
People think there are 3 but believe me, as someone who has travelled to both Nagnath, Gujarat, and lives near Aundha Nagnath, Hingoli, Maharashtra, the later is a real one.
Nageshwar Aundha Nagnath is the 8th Jyotirlinga. The present temple is said to have been built by the Seuna (Yadava) dynasty and dates to the 13th century.
The temple is said to be from the time of the Mahabharata and is believed to have been constructed by Yudhishthira, eldest of the Pandavas, when they were expelled for 14 years from Hastinapur.
It has been stated that the temple building was seven-storeyed before it was destroyed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb later reconstructed by Ahilyabai Holkar.
The total area in which temple campus is spread is about 60,000 sq. ft.
Architecture:
The Jyotirlinga is located below the ground level accessed by two deep steps. The Aundha Nagnath premises also house 12 small temples for the 12 Jyotirlingas. Also with in the premises are 108 temples and 68 shrines, all belonging to Lord Shiva.
The temple has beautiful carvings of Hindu deities, carved idols, and religious stories that consists of Hemadpanthi architecture. The style is characterized by its use of dry masonry construction, relying on locally sourced black basalt and lime, rather than mortar. This construction technique, involving the precise interlocking of stones through tenon and mortise joints, provided both durability and seismic resistance.
Some Interesting Facts about Temple 
- Normally, we see Nandi in front of Shiva, but in this temple, its at the back of the temple as the temple rotated 360 degrees for Sant Namdev.
- There is a small Ganesha idol popping out from a wall. Its believed that this world will end when it completely comes out. (a size of Til every year)
- Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism is said to have visited Aundha Nagnath temple when he travelled this area and also visited Narsi Bamani, the birthplace of Namdev. Sant Namdev has its verses in the Guru Grantha Sahib
The story of Sant Namdev
There is one famous story told about Namdev and Aundha Nagnath temple. Once when he was chanting Bhajans in front of the temple with his senior gurus Visoba Khechara and few more Varkari, the temple pujari told them their singing in front of the temple is disturbing their routine and prayers and asked them to go away from temple. The temple pujari told Bhagat Namdev, insulted him and said he is of lower caste and why he has come to the temple. Then Bhagat Namdev went back side of the 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 360 degrees; that’s the reason why Nandi is located on back side of temple.
4 AM to 12 PM and 4:30 PM to 9 PM
Aarti 5:00 to 5:30 AM (Mangal Aarti), 12:00 to 12:30 PM (Maha Bhog Maha Aarti), 4:00 to 4:30 PM (Madhya Snana), and 8:30 to 9:00 PM (Shayan Aarti)
10 - 15 steps but then 2 steps deep
Puja Stalls outside of the temple
Pay and Park
Food: Outside the temple
How to reach: 25 KMs from Hingoli, 64 KMs from Nanded
Nearby: Narsi Namdev, Narsi, Huzur Sahib, Nanded, Parli Vaijanath, Parli,
