12 Jyotirlingam

 


The twelve Jyotirlingas are revered shrines in Hinduism dedicated to Lord Shiva. These temples are considered to be the most sacred and powerful abodes of Lord Shiva. Here is a list of the twelve Jyotirlingas:

  1. Somnath Jyotirlinga: Located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Gujarat, Somnath is the first Jyotirlinga. It is believed to be the place where Lord Krishna ended his earthly journey and left for his heavenly abode.


  2. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, Andhra Pradesh: Situated in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is associated with the story of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is believed that a Shiva Lingam on top of the mountain split into two, representing Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.




  3. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga: Located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the most famous and revered Jyotirlingas. It is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva appeared as a light (Jyoti) to vanquish an evil demon.


  4. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga: Situated on an island called Mandhata in the Narmada River, Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is associated with the shape of the island, which resembles the Om symbol. The temple is located in Omkareshwar town in Madhya Pradesh.


  5. Kedarnath Jyotirlinga: Located in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand, Kedarnath is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Hindus. It is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva absolved Pandavas from the sin of killing their own relatives in the Kurukshetra war.


  6. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga,: Situated in the Sahyadri hills of Maharashtra, Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is associated with a legend from the epic Mahabharata. It is believed that Lord Shiva took the form of Bhimashankar to defeat the demon Tripurasura.


  7. Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga: Located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Kashi Vishwanath is one of the most sacred and revered temples of Lord Shiva. It is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva resides eternally.


  8. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga: Situated in Trimbak near Nashik in Maharashtra, Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is associated with the source of the Godavari River. It is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva resides in the form of Trimbakeshwar.


  9. Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga,: Located in Deoghar, Jharkhand, Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga is associated with the story of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. It is believed that Ravana offered his ten heads to Lord Shiva as a sacrifice and gained immense power.


  10. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga: Situated in Dwarka, Gujarat, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is associated with a legend from the Shiva Purana. It is believed that a demon named Daruka imprisoned a Shiva Lingam, and Lord Shiva manifested as Nageshwar to defeat the demon.


  11. Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga: Located on the island of Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga is associated with the story of Lord Rama and the bridge he built to reach Lanka. It is believed that Lord Rama worshiped Lord Shiva here to seek forgiveness after defeating Ravana.


  12. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga: Situated near Ellora Caves in Verul, Maharashtra, Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is the last Jyotirlinga on the list. It is believed that a devout woman named Kusuma offered worship to a Shiva Lingam hidden in a mango grove, and Lord Shiva appeared before her.




These twelve Jyotirlingas hold immense significance for devotees of Lord Shiva and are visited by millions of pilgrims every year.

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