Jyotirlingas in India:

12 Jyotirlingas in India:

A Jyotirlinga or Jyotirlingam, is a devotional representation of the Hindu god Shiva. The word is a Sanskrit compound of jyotis 'radiance' and linga. There are twelve traditional Jyotirlinga shrines in India. A Jyotirlinga is Lord Shiva's devotional representation. It is known as sacred and holy. In India, many Lord Shiva devotees visit these 12 traditional Jyotirlinga shrines to pray to the Lord and give obedience.

These shrines are nothing but Lord Shiva's manifestations and are worshipped in the form of Jyotirlingam or the deity's phallus sign. There were originally 64 Jyotirlingas, but only 12 were considered to be sacred and auspicious. As we take you on a journey to the incredible 12 Jyotirlingas in India, hop on this spiritual trip.

 1.       Somnath Jyotirlinga, Gujarat:

Somnath Temple, located in Veraval, is considered to be one of the world's most prominent and revered Shiva shrines as it is believed to be the first of the twelve jyotirlinga. The temple is synonymous with a variety of legends and myths, and one of them is the Moon (Som) God storey. It is said that, because of a curse, the moon once lost its shine and lustre. He bathed here in order to get rid of the curse and he got the lustre back. It has been renamed Somnath ever since, meaning the 'lord of the moon'.

1.      2.   Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, Andhra Pradesh:

On Shri Shaila Mountain, on the banks of the Krishna River in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh, the Mallikarjuna Temple is located. It is often referred to as the South's Kailash. Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and Bhramaramba are the presiding deities of this temple (Devi). According to the Shiva Purana, before Kartikeya, Lord Ganesha was married, leaving Kartikeya furious. He headed for the Kraunch Mountains. All the Gods were trying, but in vain, to comfort him. Ultimately, Shiva-Parvati himself went to the mountain, but Kartikeya turned him away. They were really hurt when they saw their son in such a state and Shiva took the form of a Jyotirlinga and lived on the mountain under the name of Mallikarujna. Mallika means Parvati, though Shiva's other name is Arjuna. People believe that by seeing the top of this mountain, you are emancipated from all sins and free from the vicious circle of life and death.

3.     Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, Madhya Pradesh:

Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is third in line. It is established that the Mahakaleshwar idol is dakshinamurti, which means that it faces the south.  Set on the banks of Lake Rudra Sagar, the lingam here is considered to be Swayambhu, deriving its forces from within Shakti. Within the temple complex, the temple contains more than a hundred little shrines and remains crowded on most days.

1.      4.  Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, Madhya Pradesh:

One of the 12 venerated Jyotirlinga shrines, Omkareshwar Jyotrilinga, is located on the island of Mandhata in the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh. The name 'Omkareshwar' is based on the island's form, which seems to be Om. Omkareshwar, which literally means "Lord of Omkaara or the Lord of the Om Sound," and another is Amareshwar, which stands for "Immortal Lord" or "Lord of the Immortals or Devas." There are two major Lord Shiva temples. This is the second shrine of Jyotirlinga in Madhya Pradesh, the first in Ujjain being Mahakaleshwar.

1.     5.     Baidyanath Jyotirlinga,Jharkhand:

One of Lord Shiva's most holy abodes is the Temple of Baidyanath or Baba Baidyanath Dham or just Baba Dham. In Deoghar, Jharkhand, this Jyotirlinga shrine is situated. From the fact that Lord Shiva healed the demon king, Ravana, as he was the greatest Shiva worshipper, the jyotirlinga got its name Vaidhya, literally meaning 'doctor.' Millions of pilgrims visit Shraavana mela, and the famous festival celebrated in the temple is also the Maha Shivratri.

6.  Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra:

Situated on the hills of the Sahyadri range, Bhimashankar in Maharashtra is about 100 km from Pune. The temple here is beautifully situated and is the paradise of a trekker. This is also the location from which one of the main Krishna River tributaries, called the Bhima River, originates. You can see Buddha-style carvings of Amba-Ambika in the surroundings here as well.

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7   7.  Rameshwar Jyotirlinga, TamilNadu:

In Rameshwaram, off the Sethu coast, the southernmost Jyotirlinga in India is located. This temple is considered as sacred as that of Varanasi's Jyotirlinga and is also known to be closely related to the epic Ramanaya. Lord Ram stopped at Rameshwaram on his way to Sri Lanka to worship Lord Shiva to seek his blessings, and then went to Sri Lanka to destroy Ravana and return with Sita safely.

In the form of embellished halls, walls, and 36 theerthams, the temple is famous for its intricate architecture. Those who embark on the Char Dhams of India visit it regularly.

1.   8.    Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Gujarat: 

At the Nageshwar Temple, the Jyotirlinga is important because devotees believe it protects men from poison and danger. The temple is situated in Gujarat on the Sourashtra coast.To give prayers, many visit the temple because they believe that doing so saves them from all evil in the world and also protects them from any kind of poison. The massive statue of Lord Shiva and lush gardens are other highlights of the temple.

9. Kashi Vishwanath, Varanasi

 

The temple of Kashi Viswanath is called Varanasi's Golden Temple and is located on the banks of the Ganga River. It is renowned for housing one of India's twelve Jyotirlingas. Legend has it that the first place where Jyotilinga first manifested was Varanasi. Lord Shiva is also believed to have actually lived here. This is why in this holy spot, where the Lord himself once dwelt, people wish to die and achieve salvation.

Varanasi is also renowned for its rich history, apart from having the best temples in India.

1.       10. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga,Nasik:

One of the oldest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva is located on the banks of the Godavari river, Trimbakeshwar or Tryambakeshwar in Nashik. Nashik is also one of the four cities where every 12 years the Holy Kumbha takes place. Within the temple, there is also a Kusavarta, a holy kunda (sacred pond) whose water source is the Godavari River, which is also famous for being the longest river in Peninsular India.

1.      11.  Kedarnath Jyotirlinga, Uttarakhand:

This temple of Jyotirling is regarded by Lord Mahadev bhakts as the most difficult one to visit. With severe weather conditions, at an altitude of 3,583 m from Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, Kedarnath Temple, going to the Jyotirlinga remains a challenging affair. It is available for six months a year only. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams and was founded by Adi Sankaracharya and revived by the Pandavas.

1212.       Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga,Aurangabad:

This temple was built on the real architectural side of Shikhara from the red rock. It is renowned for housing one of India's 12 Jyotirlingas.

You can also spot a Nandi bull at the temple and carvings of various Indian Gods and Goddesses. The highlight of this temple is the Dashavatar of Vishnu, which is built entirely out of red granite.