JYOTIRLING
Originally there were believed to be 64 jyotirlingas while 12 of
them are considered to be very auspicious and holy. Each of the twelve Jyotirlinga sites take the name of the presiding deity, each considered a
different manifestation (lila) of Shiva. At all these sites, the primary image
is lingam representing the beginningless and endless Stambha (pillar), representing
the infinite nature of Shiva. temple is the traditional and culture of place of Hindu
OMKARESHWAR TEMPLE
Omkareshwar Temple is one of the highly revered Jyotirlinga and is located on an island called Shivapuri in the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh. The word Omkareshwar means “Lord of Omkara” or “the Lord of the Om Sound”. According to the Hindu scriptures, once upon a time, there ensued a great war between the Devas and Danavas (Gods and Demons), in which the Danavas won. This was a major setback for the Devas who then prayed to Lord Shiva. Pleased with their prayer, Lord Shiva emerged in the form of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga and defeated the Danavas (Demons). This place is thus considered to be highly sacred by the Hindus..... know more.......
KEDARNATH TEMPLE
One of the holiest pilgrimage sites in India, the Kedarnath
Temple is located on the Rudra Himalaya Range at the height of 12000 feet on a
mountain named Kedar. It is approximately 150 miles from Hardwar. The temple
enshrining the Jyotirlinga opens only six months in a year. The tradition is
that while embarking on a pilgrimage to Kedarnath people first visit Yamunotri
and Gangotri and brings the holy water to offer at Kedarnath. According to the legends,
pleased by the severe penance of the Nara and Narayana – two incarnations of
Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva took up permanent abode in Kedarnath in the form of
this Jyotirlinga. People believe that praying at this site one gets all his
desire fulfilled. This is a holy, spiritual and ancient cultural place.
BHIMASHANKAR TEMPLE
The Bhimashankar Temple is located in the Sahyadri region of
Pune, Maharashtra. It lies on the banks of Bhima River and is considered to be
a source of this river. The legend about the existence of this Jyotirlinga is
related to Kumbhakarna’s son Bhima. When Bhima learned that he was the son of
Kumbhakarana who was annihilated by Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Lord Ram,
he vowed to avenge Lord Vishnu. He performed penance to please Lord Brahma who
granted him giant power. On achieving this power, he started creating havoc in
the world. He defeated the staunch devotee of Lord Shiva- Kamrupeshwar and put
him in the dungeons. This angered the Lords who requested Shiva to descend Earth
and put an end to this tyranny. A war ensued between the two and Shiva
ultimately put the demon to ashes. All the Gods then requested Shiva to make
that place his abode. Shiva then manifested himself in the form of Bhimashankar
Jyotirlinga. It is believed that the sweat which poured from Shiva’s body after
the battle is what formed the Bhima River.
According to Śiva Mahāpurāṇa, once Brahma (the god of creation)
and Vishnu (the form of God during Preservation) had an argument over supremacy
of creation. To settle the debate, Supreme God Shiva pierced the three worlds
appearing as a huge Infinite Pillar of Light, the Jyotirlinga which later
cooled into the Holy Mountain Annamalai (on which the Temple of
Arunachaleshvara is located). Lord Vishnu and Brahma split their ways to
downwards and upwards respectively to find the end of the light in either
direction. Lord Brahma lied that he found out the end, while Vishnu conceded
his defeat. This lie of Brahma angered Shiva making him curse Brahma that even
though he is the creator of the universe he would not be worshipped. The
jyotirlinga is the Supreme Shiva, partless reality, out of which Shiva appeared
in another Form, Lingodbhava. The jyotirlinga shrines are Temples where Shiva
appeared as a fiery column of light.
RAMESHWAR TEMPLE
Rameshwar Temple, the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingas, is
located on the island of Rameshwaram, off the Sethu coast of Tamil Nadu. This
temple is popularly known for its architecture, more prominently the long
ornate corridors, towers, and 36 theerthams. This has been a time-honoured
pilgrimage centre considered by many at par with Banaras. This Jyotirlinga is closely
associated with Ramayana and Ram’s victorious return from Sri Lanka. It is
believed that Ram on his way to Sri Lanka stopped at Rameshwaram and was
drinking water on the seashore when there was a celestial proclamation: “You
are drinking water without worshipping me.” Listening to this Ram made a linga
of sand and worshipped it and asked for its blessings to defeat Ravana. He got
the blessings from Lord Shiva who then turned into a Jyotirlinga and resided at
the place for eternity.
PANCH JYOTIRLING
Panch Jyotirling Tour has a lot to offer to anybody who visits
this place. Apart from conveniently located drop-off points, Panch Jyotirling
Tour has a lot to offer that would entice anyone who visits this place. With a
number of sites to visit and restaurants to raid, Panch Jyotirling Tour has it
all. There are a ton of buses that run through Panch Jyotirling Tour and this
ensures that Panch Jyotirling Tour is well-connected to the rest of the
country. Don’t think twice, book your bus ticket online today
KASHI VISHWANATH TEMPLE
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is located in the most revered site
in the world- Kashi! It is situated amidst the crowded lanes of the holy city
of Banaras (Varanasi). More than the Ghats and Ganga of Varanasi, the
Shivalinga remains the devotional focus of the pilgrims. It is believed that
Banaras is the site at which the first Jyotirlinga manifested its supremacy
over other gods, broke through the earth’s crust and flared towards heaven.
This temple is said to be the dearest to Lord Shiva, and the people believe
that those who die here achieve liberation. Many believe that Shiva himself
resided here and is the giver of liberation and happiness. This temple has been
rebuilt several times but always continued to hold its ultimate significance.
GHRISHNESHWAR JYOTIRLINGA
The Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga is located in a village called
Verul, which lies 20 km from Daulatabad, near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
Located near this temple is the famous tourist site – Ajanta & Ellora
caves. This temple was built by Ahilyabai Holkar who also rebuilt the Kashi
Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. The Ghrishneshwar temple is also known by other
names like Kusumeswarar, Ghushmeswara, Grushmeswara and Grishneswara. According
to the Shiva Purana, a couple named Sudharm and Sudeha resided on the Devagiri
Mountain. They were childless, and thus Sudeha got her sister Ghushma married
to Sudharm. They bore a son who rendered Ghushma proud and Sudeha jealous of
her sister. In her jealousy, Sudeha threw the son in the lake where Ghushma
used to discharge 101 lingams. Ghushma prayed to Lord Shiva who ultimately
returned her the son and told her of her sister’s deeds. Sudharm asked Shiva to
emancipate Sudeha which left Shiva pleased with his generosity. On Sudharm’s
request, Shiva manifested himself in the form of the Jyotirlinga and assumed
the name Ghushmeshwar.“Naa aadi naa ant uska, wo sabka naa inka naa unka, wahi
shunya hai wahi aekaay, jiske bheetar basaa Shivaay”. Visit these Jyotirlingas
in your lifetime and keep chanting “Har Har Mahadev”!
As per Hindu belief, Lord Shiva is regarded as Supreme God and creator of the
universe. Legend has it that ages ago, Lord Brahma and Vishnu went to war in a
bid to establish supremacy over the other. Shiva emerged in front of them in a
form of a huge pillar of light. In order to find the ends of this radiant
pillar, Brahma went upwards and Vishnu went downwards. Vishnu accepted defeat
on not being able to find the end whereas Brahma chose to lie. Shiva emerged
from the pillar and cursed Brahma that he won’t be worshipped till the end of
eternity and blessed Vishnu for his piousness. This pillar of radiance is
called ‘Jyotirling’. The Indian saint Adi Shankaracharya who revived Hinduism
in 800 CE, has mentioned 12 most important Jyotirlings in his Dwadasha
Jyotirling Strotram situated in different locations of India. Here is the
complete guide on the 12 Jyotirling Temples of Shiva.
TRIMBAKESHWAR TEMPLE
The Trimbakeshwar Temple is located about 30kms from Nasik in
Maharashtra near the mountain named Brahmagiri from the river Godavari flows.
This temple is considered to be a source of the river Godavari which is known
as “Gautami Ganga”- the most sacred river in South India. According to the
Shiva Purana, it is on the earnest request of River Godavari, Gautam Rishi and
all the other Gods that Shiva decided to reside here and assumed the name
Trimbakeshwar. Gautam Rishi earned a boon from Varuna in the form of a pit from
which he received an inexhaustible supply of grains and food. The other Gods
were rendered jealous by him and they send a cow to enter the granary. The cow
was mistakenly killed by Gautam Rishi who then asked Lord Shiva to do something
to purify the premises. Shiva asked Ganga to flow through the land to make it
pure. Everyone thus sang praise for the Lord who then resided beside Ganga in
the form of Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga. Hindus believe that this Jyotirlinga in
Maharashtra is the one which fulfils everyone’s desires.
MALLIKARJUNA TEMPLE
The Mallikarjuna Temple is situated on the Shri Shaila Mountain,
on the banks of the Krishna River in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh. It is
also known as “Kailash of the South” and is one of the greatest Shaivite shrines
in India. The presiding deities at this temple are Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and
Bhramaramba (Devi). According to the Shiva Purana, Lord Ganesha was married off
before Kartikeya which left Kartikeya angered. He went away to the Kraunch
Mountain. All the Gods tried to console him but in vain. Ultimately
Shiva-Parvati themselves travelled to the mountain but were turned away by
Kartikeya. Seeing their son in such a state they were very hurt and Shiva
assumed the form of a Jyotirlinga and resided on the mountain by the name of
Mallikarujna. Mallika means Parvati, while Arjuna is another name of Shiva. It
is believed by the people that just seeing the tip of this mountain one is
emancipated of all sins and becomes free from the vicious cycle of life and
death.
According to Hindu scriptures, the demon king Ravana worshipped Shiva at the
current site of the temple to get the boons that he later used to wreak havoc
in the world. Ravana offered his ten heads one after another to Shiva as a
sacrifice. Pleased with this, Shiva descended to cure Ravana who was injured.
As he acted as a doctor, he is referred to as Vaidhya ("doctor").
From this aspect of Shiva, the temple derives its name.
MAHAKALESHWAR TEMPLE
Mahakaleshwar Temple is located on the banks of the Kshipra
River, in the dense Mahakal forest in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. This Jyotirlinga
in Madhya Pradesh is an important pilgrimage site in Central India. There are a
number of legends related to how this Jyotirlinga came into existence.
According to the Puranas, there was a five-year-old boy Shrikar who was
enthralled by the devotion of King Chandrasena of Ujjain towards Lord Shiva.
Shrikar took a stone and started worshipping as Shiva. Many people tried to
dissuade him in different ways, but his devotion kept growing. Pleased by his
devotion, Lord Shiva assumed the form of a Jyotirlinga and resided in the
Mahakal forest. The Mahakaleshwar Temple is considered significant by the
Hindus for another reason. It is among one of the seven “Mukti-Sthal” – the
place that can liberate a human.
VAIDYANATH TEMPLE
Vaidyanath Temple is also known as Vaijnath or Baidyanath. It is
located at Deogarh in the Santal Parganas region of Jharkhand. This is one of
the highly revered Jyotirlinga shrines, and the devotees believe that the
sincere worship of this shrine relieves a person from all his worries and
miseries. People believe that one attains moksha or salvation by worshipping
this Jyotirlinga. According to a famous legend, the demon king Ravana meditated
and asked Lord Shiva to come over to Sri Lanka and make it invincible. Ravana
tried to take Mount Kailash with him, but Lord Shiva crushed it. Ravana asked
for penance and in turn, was given of the twelve Jyotirlingas on the condition that
if it was placed on the ground it would remain rooted to that spot till
eternity. While transporting it to Sri Lanka, Lord Varuna entered Ravana’s body
and he felt an urgent need to relieve himself. Lord Vishnu came down in the
form of a lad and offered to hold the lingam in the meantime. However, Vishnu
placed the lingam on the ground and it got rooted to the spot. As a form of
penance, Ravana cut off nine of his heads. Shiva revived him and joined the
heads to the body, like a vaidya and hence this Jyotirlinga came to be known as
Vaidyanath.
SOMNATH TEMPLE
Considered to be the 12 Jyotirlingas, the Somnath Temple in
Gujarat is situated near Veraval in (Prabhas Kshetra) Kathiawad district. This
jyotirling in Gujrat is a highly revered pilgrimage site in the country. There
is a legend related to how this Jyotirling in Gujarat came into being.
According to the Shiva Purana, the moon was married to 27 daughters of Daksha
Prajapati, out of which he loved Rohini the most. Seeing his negligence towards
the other wives, Prajapati cursed moon that it would lose all its radiance. A
disturbed moon along with Rohini came to Somnath and worshipped the Sparsa
Lingam after which he was blessed by Shiva to regain his lost beauty and shine.
On his request, Lord Shiva assumed the name Somchandra and resided there
eternally. He became famous by the name Somnath. Ever since the Somnath
Jyotirlinga has been destroyed and rebuilt many times in history.
