the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Once, Sage Narada was saying a story in Indra Sabha. Lord Indra asked the sage to say which was the holiest place on the Earth. Sage Narada said that the holiest place is Prayag but Avanthika Nagari in Mahakal forest is ten times holier than that. There just with a glimpse of the God, we get happiness. So all the Devas went to Mahakal forest. They observed that Lord Shiva was present there in the form of Lingas. As there were many Lingas, they could not go further. They returned to the heaven. Nagchandra, a devotee of Lord Shiva visited that place and worshipped the Linga. The Devas questioned that how did he worship the Linga? He replied that near Ishaneshwar, a Shivalinga is present. By worshipping that, we will be free from all our sins. Hearing him, all the Devas again went to that place and worshipped that Linga. As Nagchandra informed them, they named it Nagchandreshwar. Whoever worships this Linga, will be freed from his bad deeds.