In the 189th chapter of the Matsya Purana, Angareshwar is extolled as a ‘Teertha (pilgrimage site) that grants liberation from all sins’. According to mythological legend, the sage Angarak performed rigorous penance here to please Lord Shankar and established Shivalingas to alleviate the ‘Mangal Dosha’ (an astrological affliction related to Mars) in his horoscope. It is after him that this sacred site became known as Angareshwar and the presiding deity as Angareshwar Mahadev. The site also houses the shrine of Mangalnath Mahadev. Due to the spiritual eminence of this region, it is said that numerous devotees from every corner of the country and even from abroad visit this place to seek deliverance from the Mangal Dosha present in their astrological charts.
While illustrating the significance of this realm, the ‘Matsya Purana’ (Chapter 189, Verse 9) states : ‘One should visit the Angareshwar Teertha while maintaining a disciplined diet and restraint over the senses. There, a person is liberated from all sins and attains Rudraloka (the celestial abode of Shiva).’ In Pandit Mahadevshastri Joshi’s ‘Bharatiya Sanskriti Kosh’, it is mentioned that Angarak is the name of the planet Mars. It is believed that Veerabhadra, a follower of Shiva in a previous birth, later became Angarak. This Angarak established the site of Angareshwar on the banks of the Narmada.
Various mythological legends are associated with this place. According to one such tale, sage Angarak is considered the son of the Earth and is thus called ‘Bhauma’. 
He is said to have manifested from a drop of Lord Shankar’s perspiration and was a supreme devotee of Lord Ganesh. As there was a Mangal Dosha in his horoscope, he faced constant obstacles in performing religious rituals such as Puja (worship), Japa (chanting), Tapa (penance) and Sadhana (spiritual practice). To remove this affliction, he performed penance near the Ghat (riverbank steps) situated at this spot on the Narmada. Pleased by his devotion, Lord Mahadev appeared before him and freed his horoscope from the blemish. Subsequently, Sage Angarak established a Shivaling here, which has since been worshipped as ‘Angareshwar Mahadev’. He established another Shivaling at this site known as Mangaleshwar Mahadev.
The Angareshwar Mahadev temple is situated in a serene environment at an elevated location on the banks of the Narmada river. The temple construction is modern in style. Built upon a high Jagati (plinth), the temple is reached by ascending six steps. Numerous replicas of Shivaling adorn the roofs of both the Mukhamandapa (entrance porch) and the Sabhamandapa (assembly hall). The Mukhamandapa is crowned with a dome-shaped spire. The Sabhamandapa is spacious and features a shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman directly in front. Inside this sanctum, a stone idol of Hanuman smeared with Shendur (vermilion) is enshrined. A large stone mace is placed beside it. To the right of this sanctum, a marble idol of the Jain Tirthankar Simandhar Swami sits in a small niche, accompanied by a portrait of Dada Bhagwan, the proponent of the Akram Vignan philosophy. A niche at the rear of the sanctum houses an idol of Balkrishna. To the right side of the Sabhamandapa,
on a marble pedestal, are enshrined the idols of Shri Ram, Lakshman, Sita and Hanuman, alongside Ambaji Mata seated upon a lion and a Bhairava idol carved from black stone.
Behind the Hanuman sanctum within the Sabhamandapa lies the shrine where Angareshwar Mahadev resides. In front of this shrine, one large and one small idol of Nandi are placed upon a marble pedestal, with a sculpture of a tortoise nearby. The small Antarala (vestibule) of the sanctum contains idols of Ganpati and Hanuman. Within the sanctum, the Pind (sacred icon) consisting of a marble Shalunka (pedestal) and a stone Linga is consecrated upon the floor. 
A serpent made of Panchadhatu (five metals) holds its hood aloft over the Linga and a tall trident stands close by. A small idol of Parvati is seated in a niche on the rear wall of the sanctum. The temple’s primary sanctum is topped with an Urushringa style spire. In the courtyard facing this temple stands a shrine dedicated to Santoshi Mata.
A short distance away lies the temple of Mangaleshwar Mahadev. In this modest temple, an idol of Nandi is placed on the floor, preceded by a wooden railing with iron bars. Beyond this, the Shivpind is established on the ground. The Shalunka of this icon is fitted with a brass covering and holds a stone Linga at its centre. While most Shiv temples feature a single serpent canopy over the Shivaling, the icon in this temple is unique as it is sheltered by a pair of serpents (Nag and Nagin). 
A niche on the wall behind the Shivaling serves as the seat for Mother Parvati and another niche houses a stone image of Lord Ganesh. Facing this temple is a small shrine for Verai Mata and a short distance further is a shrine dedicated to Narmada Mata.
Ritual worship and Aarti are performed regularly in these temples every morning and evening. Various festivals including Mahashivratri are celebrated here with great fervour. Devotees visit in large numbers on every Tuesday of the month of Shravan. Many pilgrims also make vows to Lord Shankar here for the blessing of progeny. Generally, it is considered forbidden to offer Kumkum (vermilion) or red-coloured items to a Shivaling. However, at this specific site, Mahadev is worshipped with five specific items : red Kumkum, jaggery, red cloth, red flowers and red fruit. In India, apart from the Mangalnath temple in Ujjain, this is the only temple where red-coloured offerings are made to Lord Shankar. While devotees typically visit Shiva temples on Mondays, here, performing Abhishek (ritual bathing) on Tuesdays holds greater significance. Furthermore, the coconuts offered at this shrine are not taken back by the devotees.
