12 Holy JyotirLingas Temple of Lord Shankar You Should Know

The prime worship of Lord Shiva is through the worship of Shiva Linga. Any other worship is secondary.
As we have mentioned in our other article, the significance of worshipping Shiva Linga is that one is
worshipping the light form of the supreme Lord. Its not just the sexual symbol. Rather, the meaning
signifies the real nature of God, formless and shapeless.

The light of God jyoti swarupa exist in all the Shiva Linga forms. There are renowned 12 jyotirlinga
across the world, each held with great esteem since the ancient times. Even the old puranas glorify the
abodes and talk in details about how devotees are pulled towards these kshetras due to the divine
presence in these devodes.

The 12 jyotirlinga temples

In the Sanskrit Shloka, one can find the list of 12 jyotirlinga temples, the Lingas of Light:

Saurashtre Somanathamcha Srisaile Mallikarjunam|

Ujjayinya Mahakalam Omkaramamaleswaram ||
Paralyam Vaidyanathancha Dakinyam Bheema Shankaram |
Setu Bandhethu Ramesam, Nagesam Darukavane||
Varanasyantu Vishwesam Tryambakam Gautameethate|
Himalayetu Kedaaram, Ghrishnesamcha shivaalaye||
Etani jyotirlingani, Saayam Praatah Patennarah|
Sapta Janma Kritam pApam, Smaranena Vinashyati||

Where are they located?

Among the twelve Jyotirlingas, two are spread across the sea shore, three on the river banks, four in the
heights of mountains and three in villages located in meadows. Anyone who go to the temple receive
holy blessing of Lord, and come back as happy, peaceful and blessed.

Here we discuss each of them:

Somnath Jyotirling, Saurashtra, Gujarat

saurAShTradeshe vishade.atiramye jyotirmayaM chandrakalAvataMsam | bhaktipradAnAya

kRipAvatIrNaM taM somanAthaM sharaNaM prapadye ||

This jyotirlinga is located at the Viraval port, Prabhas Pattan in Suarashtra, Gujarat. One can find many
references of this temple in the Puranas, as well as, the Itihas, history. Moreover, Somnath, also
known as Prabhasa Kshetra, holds a much-esteemed place for Hindus. Back in the days, the inner temple
was supported to be aglow with lustre of gemstones, with Nanda Deep kept lighted with Kannauji attar.
One can say, the temple was a treasure.

This is also considered to be the primary of all the JyotirLingas as it is considered to be Swayambhu (self-
borth) and is always awake with hundres of thousands of devotees visiting the temple every year.

Mallikarjun Jyotirling, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

shrIshailashRiNge vibudhAtisaNge tulAdrituNge.api mudA vasantam |

tamarjunaM mallikapUrvamekaM namAmi saMsArasamudrasetum ||
Sri Mallikarjuna Jyotirlingam is located in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, an area full of forests of
Kadali, Bilva trees, mountain ranges and Patalaganga (Krishnaveni river). This river is in the form of
underground spring, and this is where millions of devotees take holy dip and go to worship the
Jyotirlinga. History recounts when Chatrapati Shivaji used to take a Darshan of the JyotirLinga during
the Maharatri, and he also built a tower at the right side of the temple, opening a free-meal center.
Other kings of Vijayangar Dynasty have built the temple, tower, portico, and a pond too. Before, it was
difficult to reach because of terrain, yet many devotees have reached there with their sheer will-power.
This includes the mythological personalities like Hiranyakashipa, narada, Pandavas, Sri Ram.

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirling, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

avantikAyAM vihitAvatAraM muktipradAnAya cha sajjanAnAm |

akAlamRityoH pariraxaNArthaM vande mahAkAlamahAsuresham ||

This temple lies in the city of Indrapuri Amaravati and Avantika, known as the Swarna Sringa because
of the number of golden towers of several temples in the city. Mahakaleswar is grand and is also known
for the foundation of Adyapeetha, the foundation of Sanskrit learning, ethics, knowledge or science and
art. It is said that those who visit Mahakal temple will never be touched by sorrows, even in the dreams,
and those who pray to the Mahakal would be granted all the wishes.

Omkareshwar Jyotirling, Shivapuri / Mamaleswara, Madhya Pradesh

kAverikAnarmadayoH pavitre samAgame sajjanatAraNAya |

sadaiva mAndhAtRipure vasantamoNkAramIshaM shivamekamIDe ||

This temple is self-born and thus is known as Swayambhu linga. Across the mountain range of Madhya
Pradesh, river Narmada flows rippling from the mountains where smooth, round pebbles, known as
BanaLingas, are found. On the bank of the river, this temple lies in a huge island. The island and the river
themselves are shaped like Om naturally. Devotees feel blessed when they go to the temple as they
are doing the parikrama of Om themselves when they visit the temple. This is where Lord Sankara took
the form of Omkareshwar and Amaleshwara as Jyotirlinga.

Vaidyanath Jyotirling, Parali, Maharashtra

Vaidyabhyam Poojitam Satyam, Lingametat puratamam

Vaidyanathamiti prakhyatam Sarvakamapradayakam.

Parali village lies between Kanyakumari and Ujjain, near the rivers of Brahma, Venu and Saraswati. The
place is famous for the Sri Vaidyanath temple itself. According to Shiva Mahapuran, the location is
identified as Chidabhoomi, which could be the ancient name of Deoghar, and there are references to
Baidyanatham chitabhoomau.

The place also celebrates Krishna festival, despite being a Shiva temple. It is built with stones on high
mound, and is surrounded by strong walls on all four sides. Special prayers are held for Sun God in the
temple, as the sunrays falling through the windows shine directly on the Lingamurthy inside.

Nageswar Jyotirling, Darukavanam (Aunda)

yAmye sadaNge nagare.atiramye vibhUShitANgaM vividhaishcha bhogaiH |

sadbhaktimuktipradamIshamekaM shrInAganAthaM sharaNaM prapadye ||
Legend has it that Pandavas came during their Banbas and built a hermitage for themselves at this place.
Legends aside, the architectural beauty of Naganath Temple is exquisite. The structure of the Nepal is
beaitul too. Built with stones, the temple is oval shaped and is protected with walls around four sides.
The Nandi temple is separate from the main temple, however. All in all, 108 Shiva temples and 68
shrines are located around the temple.

Every 12 years, devotees offer Kashi Ganga as Padarpan at the time of Kapila Shashti.

Kedareswar Jyotirling, Kedarnath, Himalayas

mahAdripArshve cha taTe ramantaM sampUjyamAnaM satataM munIndraiH |

surAsurairyaxa mahoragADhyaiH kedAramIshaM shivamekamIDe ||

This temple is located at the snow-covered area of Himalayas. One can only visit this temple during six
months of a year, the rest of the month, the snow and extreme cold do not permit devotees to enter. As
such, the Kedarnath temple remains closed for pilgrims.

Due to extreme snowfall of Kartik, the Sri Kedarshwar idol is brought out of the temple after lighting a
ghee lamp, Nanda Deepa and the temple is closed for the winter. This idol is shifted to the Urvi Math,
in the valley. The temple only opens later in Baisakh.

People visit here to see the Nanda Deepa, and when they see this, they consider themselves to be
blessed.

Tryambakeswar Jyotirling, Nashik

sahyAdrishIrShe vimale vasantaM godAvaritIrapavitradeshe |

yaddharshanAtpAtakamAshu nAshaM prayAti taM tryambakamIshamIDe ||

Tryambakeshwara Temple lies in the banks of Gautami, near Nashik in Maharashtra. Unlike other
temples, the Lord in the temples Grabhagriha is not worshipped with Abhisekha with water (Jalahari).
Instead, there is a bottom part of pounding stone, like a hole, where three Lingas shaped like thumbs
exist (hence, the name Tryambakeshwara). An orifice above one of the Linga has a constant shower of
water, and this is the Linga of Mahesha.

Every 12 years, Kumbhmela is held here at the time of Simhasta. The architecture is beautiful too with
beautiful statues carved around the premise.

Rameshwar Jyotirling, Rameshwaram

sutAmraparNIjalarAshiyoge nibadhya setuM vishikhairasa.nkhyaiH |

shrIrAmachandreNa samarpitaM taM rAmeshvarAkhyaM niyataM namAmi ||

This temple is situated on a big island of sand, in the Ramnad district of Tamilnadu. Today, it has been
expanded into a large temple, and is famous for its typical architecture. One finds it auspicious and pious
to take Ganga water to this temple after the pilgrimage of four holy shrines. The ritual goes like this: the
person takes holy bath in the Ganga river, takes the Ganga water to the temple and offered to the Lord
Shiva of Rameshwaram, a sanga from there is then carried to Ganga and immersed there. This makes
the ritual complete.
A grand Badatra mela/fete is organized on the 15th day of Ashada and during Mahashivaratri.

Bhimashankar Jyotirling, Dakini, Maharashtra

yaM DAkinishAkinikAsamAje niShevyamANaM pishitAshanaishcha |

sadaiva bhImAdipadaprasiddaM taM shaNkaraM bhaktahitaM namAmi ||

The temple of Bhimashankar is built in Hemadpanthi style, embellished with Dashavatar statues,
qualities that make the temple very beautiful to look at. One enjoyable thing to do in this temple is the
ring the big bell and hear the echo roaming the entire temple. Every day, people worship Bhimashankar
with Rudrabhishek, Panchamrit snan. The temple is flooded during Mondays, and during the
Mahashivaratri.

Along with the temple, the natural scenic beauty of the temple is wonderful to look at. Moreover, when
one enters the River Chandrabhaga (Bhima) on the expansive meadows, one can see a large number of
devotees dancing together in a trance.

Visweswar Jyotirling, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

sAnandamAnandavane vasanta mAnandakandaM hatapApavR^indam |

vArANasInAthamanAthanAthaM shrIvishvanAthaM sharaNaM prapadye ||

In the ancient times, Varanasi used to be a beautiful city built in the adjoint of Varana and Asi. This is
where kasha, a tribe, used to live, and thus, Varanasi was also known as Kashi. The Ganga here flows in
the shape of bow, and thus there is a special importance for this area, and its temple Kashi Visweshwar.
According to Puranas, this city used to be ruled by Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha, and this is where even
divines want to tie.

The present temple we see today was built by Ahalya Devi Holkar in 1777 AD, and has the towers
covered in gold (as planted by King Ranjit Singh).

Many rituals are performed in this place. This temple is also famous among the tourists.

Ghrishneswar Jyotirling, Devasrovar, Maharashtra

ilApure ramyavishAlake.asmin samullasantaM cha jagadvareNyam |

vande mahodAratarasvabhAvaM ghR^iShNeshvarAkhyaM sharaNam prapadye ||

As Madhwamunishwar once said, Blessed by VerulNagar, there is no other place like it on this earth,
where Lord Grishneswara resides, the best place on this earth.

This last place of the Jyotirlnga, without which the pilgrimage will not be complete, lies in the village of
Verul. The history has it that Bhosala, very devout Shiva devotee, once found a treasure hidden in the
snake pit by the grace of Lord Grishneshwar. As a return, he spent the money to renovate the temple
and even built a lake in Shikharshinganapur. Later, Goutamibal and Ahilyadevi renovated the temple.
Today, it stands at 240ft X 185 ft, strong and beautiful.

As mentioned in each of the Jyotirlinga, if a person prays those Dwadasa JyotirlInga Strotam during the
pilgrimage at each temple, then he will attain salvation and enlightenment, and after death, will be
released from the cycle of human existence. Worshipping the Lingas will also free people from
difficulties and struggle.

Darkness eats people and kills them with ignorance. Jyotirlingas, with its jyoti light frees people from
darkness and the natured light of God fulfils all our wishes.

Perhaps, this is where you need to start taking Darshan of these 12 JyotirLingas, and achieve happiness,
peace and satisfaction.