The history of Jageshwar Dham is steeped in mystery and legend. It is said to be over 2500 years old, but its exact origins are unknown. The temple is mentioned in various significant Hindu scriptures such as the Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, and Skanda Purana. According to a legend, Lord Shiva and seven sages performed penance in the Jageshwar Dham area. The continuous chanting of mantras is said to have awakened the Shivalinga installed in the temple, which is why the area is known as Jageshwar Dham, meaning "the abode of the awakened Shiva. Another legend links the history of Jageshwar Mahadev Temple to the Pandavas. It is believed that the Pandavas built the temple out of wood during their exile. The temple was later rebuilt with stones by the Katyuri kings, who ruled the Kumaon region during the Gupta Empire. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has divided the construction period of the temples in Jageshwar Dham into three phases: the Katyuri period, the North Katyuri period, and the Chandra period. According to another myth, after the Daksha's Yagna and the subsequent self-immolation of Goddess Sati, Lord Shiva roamed the universe in grief. To calm his anguish, Lord Vishnu severed Sati's body into 52 parts using his Sudarshana Chakra, and wherever these body parts fell, they became known as Shakti Peethas. However, even after this, Lord Shiva continued his penance and meditation in the forests of Jageshwar Dham. In these very forests, sage Vashishtha and the other seven sages had established their hermitages and were engaged in penance along with their wives. One day, the wives of the sages suddenly saw Lord Shiva, who had a distinct blue complexion. They lost their consciousness and fainted upon seeing him. Observing this, Sage Vashishtha became furious and, he cursed Lord Shiva, saying that his linga would be separated from the body and fall on Earth. Afterward, Lord Shiva opened his eyes and told the sages that they had cursed him without understanding the situation. He acknowledged that, even though they had mistakenly cursed him, He would respect their words but he also proclaimed that the sages would remain suspended in the sky as stars for an eternity. Due to this curse, Lord Shiva's linga separated from his body and descended to the Earth, causing it to burn with intense heat. Witnessing the Earth burning, the sages sought the counsel of Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma advised them to worship Lord Shiva in his Rudra form, explaining that only then would a solution emerge. The sages and celestial beings, including deities, Yakshas, and Kinnaras, assembled to perform an elaborate worship of Lord Shiva. It was during this period that the linga was consecrated and became famous as Yogeshwar, eventually evolving into the name Jageshwar. This narrative adds to the mystique and significance of Jageshwar Dham, emphasizing its role in the development of Shiva worship and the unique legends associated with it.

It is believed that pilgrims going on the Kailash Mansarovar route definitely stop at Jageshwar Dham to worship Lord Shiva and seek his blessings. It is believed that Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati still reside here in the form of a tree. It is believed that devotees can get the darshan of the couple form of Lord Shiva and Parvati in the temple complex. There is a huge cedar tree with one branch from the bottom and two branches from the top, which is said to be very ancient. It is said that every wish made in Jageshwar Mahadev Temple was fulfilled, but people started misusing this power. Jagatguru Adi Shankaracharya once came here and banned the vows taken for evil deeds through Veda mantras.

The architecture of Jageshwar Dham is quite charming, with a group of 125 small and big temples constructed with large stone stones. The temple door frames are decorated with statues of gods and goddesses, and copper sheet and cedar wood have also been used in the construction. The carvings on the temples reflect ancient Indian temple architecture. The most special thing is that the structure of the main temple looks exactly like Kedarnath Temple. Devotees often wonder about the deity worshipped in the Jageshwar Dham, which comprises a group of 125 temples. Let us share with you that the main temples within the Jageshwar Dham complex include the Jagannath Temple, Mrityunjay Temple, Hanuman Temple, Surya Temple, Neelkanth Temple, Navagraha Temple dedicated to the Navagrahas, Pushti Mata Temple, Lakulisa Temple, Kedarnath Temple, Navdurga Temple, and Batuk Bhairav Temple. Additionally, there are several other temples situated in the vicinity of this sacred complex.

In Jageshwar Mahadev Temple, the devotees offer pulses, rice, vegetables, water, belpatra, flowers, milk to Lord Shiva as prasad.