The 12 Jyotirlingas are Lord Shiva’s sacred abodes of infinite energy. Located all over India, these are the most important places in Hinduism for devotees and spiritual seekers. Each Jyotirlinga is a different form of Shiva with its own legend and divine presence.
Table of Contents
All About 12 Jyotirlinga
1. Somnath Temple
Somnath Temple is considered as the first sacred pilgrimage site traditionally, located in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval in Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat. According to Rig Veda somnath temple means “The Protector of Moon God” and dedicated to lord shiva. The Somnath Temple was destroyed and rebuilt 16 times. The Jyotrilingas start from Somnath temple and Somnath is one of 12 Jyotrilingas. People who believe in lord shiva’s existence, this is an important pilgrimage place for them and one of the most visited and famous tourist place in india.
2. Mallikārjuna Temple
The Mallikārjuna also known as Śrīśaila, located on a mountain in Kurnool District in andhra pradesh. The Mallikārjuna Temple is a Hindu temple and its dedicated to lord shiva and goddess parvati. Mallikārjuna is an ancient temple which is architecturally and sculpturally rich. According to legends, lord shiva defeated the demon Andhakasura at the current temple stand spot for his mistake which was an attempt to abduct goddess parvati. The Mallikārjuna is one of 12 Jyotrilingas and second temple of them also one of the eighteenth shakti peethas which is making it an important pilgrimage site for hindus and devotees.
3. Mahakaleshwar Temple
The Mahakaleshwar Temple is one of 12 Jyotrilingas and third jyotirlinga temple of them dedicated to lord shiva. Mahakaleshwar is located in the ancient and historical city of Ujjain which is 5000 years old in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Ujjain is a place where Shakti Peetha and jyotirlinga are together. The Mahakaleshwar temple is situated on the holy river side which is the shipra river. Idioly Mahakaleshwar is known to be Dakshinamurti, facing the south. One thing which is very interesting is the Bhasma Arti Ritual which is performed by temples’ pandits before sunrise everyday, according to pandits and local people it said that lord shiva himself appeared during the Bhasma Arti in the temple.
4. Omkareshwar Temple
Omkareshwar Temple is one of 12 Jyotrilingas and fourth of them and dedicated to lord shiva, located on mandhata hill on the banks of narmada in Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh.The name Omkareshwar taken by the shape of island which appear to be OM (ॐ) which is considered as the sacred sound in hinduism and representing lord shiva where Omkareshwar temple stand and also known as devanagari. There is one more temple which is twin of Omkareshwar is Mamleshwar, the both are temples of lord shiva.
5. Baidyanath Temple
The Baidyanath Temple is one of 12 Jyotrilingas and fifth of them and dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Deoghar, Jharkhand. Baidyanath temple is one of 51 Shakti peethas . The Baidyanath Temple is also known as Baba Baidyanath Dham. The current structure of baidyanath temple is believed to have been built in the 16th century by raja man singh. According to legend Baidyanath Temple was that place where ravan was tricked by lord vishnu and lord ganesh and ravana dropped Shiva linga then he is unable to pick it up again. When you go there you will see that the shiv linga which is dropped by ravan is buried inside the ground because the raven buried it inside by himself. If you are a devotee of lord shiva then you should visit the Baidyanath temple.
6. Bhimashankar Temple
The Bhimashankar Temple is one of 12 Jyotrilingas and sixth of them dedicated to lord shiva situated in Bhimashankar Village, Taluka Khed, Pune in Maharashtra. The Original Bhimashankar Temple was built in 12th Century CE. According to legends, On the peak of the sahyadri lord shiva takes the form of Bhima Shankara by the behest of gods for the battle with tripura asur thats why this temple to be known as Bhimashankar, also the sweat spilled from lord shiva’s body after the battle is formed to Bhimarsathi River.
7. Ramanathaswamy Temple
Ramanathaswamy temple is an hindu temple and one of 12 Jyotrilingas and seventh jyotirlinga of them dedicated to lord shiva, also the part of char dham and one of 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams. This sacred pilgrimage is located in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu. It is believed that The Lord Rama worshipped lord shiva at this location for feeling guilty to kill Ravana, a brahmin. There is a special ceremony held every morning where the devotees of lord shiva and lord rama can see crystal lingam which is said to be the “Mani” of Sheshnag, the snake on which lord Vishnu rests. If you’re planning to go to Tamil Nadu you must visit Ramanathaswamy Temple.
8. Nageshwar Temple
The Nageshwar Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas Shirines and the eighth of them Mentioned in Shiva Purana and Devdas Jyotirlinga Stotram. Nageshwar Temple is located in Dwarka, Gujrat. According to legend Lord shiva defeated Daruka Asur for her devotee named supriya at this place and a self- manifested shiva linga appeared there and is now present in Nageshwar Temple.
9. Kashi Vishwanath Temple
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and ninth of them dedicated to lord shiva located in vishwanatha gali, varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The Kashi Vishwanath is also known as the Vishweshwara Temple. According to legend kashi vishwanatha temple was the royal residence of lord shiva and goddess parvati. There is jyotirlinga of shiva inspired by the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Kashi Vishawanath is one of the best sacred temples in India which is listed as a must visit.
10. Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple
Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple is located in Nashik, Maharashtra. Trimbakeshwar Shiva temple is one of 12 Jyotirlinga and tenth of them which is dedicated to lord shiva. According to legends there was a sage named Guatam Rishi who performed difficult penance in the brahmagiri to appease lord shiva, also it is said to be according to hindu mythology lord rama and his wife goddess sita stayed at trimbakeshwar during their exile.
11. Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath means Kedar(Field) Nath(God) is God of field. Kedarnath Temple is one the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to lord shiva and the one of the chhota chardham and located in Rudraprayag, Uttrakhand. This temple is situated at an altitude of 3,583 m (11,755 ft) above sea level. According to legends kedarnath was built by pandavas after the kurukshetra war for forgivness from lord shiva to kill Duryodhan and their relatives in war. This temple is the most visited temple. This place is one of the best sacred temple in India for which people and devotees want to plan Kedarnath Trip.
12. Grishneshwar Temple
Grishneshwar Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to lord shiva and mentioned in Shiv puran. Grishneshwar Temple Located in Aurangabad, in Verul, in Maharashtra. This temple was destroyed and built many times in conflict between mughals and The Marathas. Grishneshwar Temple origin is linked to legend about a woman named Kusuma who worshipped a shiva Lingam under a tamarind tree. You should visit this temple one time in your life.