12 Jyotirlingas

12 Jyotirlingas or the Dwadasha Jyotirlingas are the prominent places for the worship of Lord Shiva. Every Sanatani dreams of visiting all the 12 Jyotirlingas at least once in one’s lifetime. Devotees believe that by having darshan of 12 Jyotirlingas, one can be freed from the cycle of birth and death. Adi Guru Shankaracharya gave a lot of importance in visiting the 12 Jyotirlingas.

Jyotirlingas are the potent shiva-lingas of Lord Shiva. In these twelve holy places, Lord Shiva is present in the form of jyoti or a radiant light. It is said that there are 64 Jyotirlingas originally but 12 among them are the most important. Each Jyotirlinga has a unique lila of Lord Shiva connected to it.

12 Jyotirlingas in the Scriptures

In the Shiva Purana, the 12 Jyotirlingas are mentioned by Nandi, the chief associate of Lord Shiva in shlokas 3.42.2 to 3.42.5 of the Shatarudra Samhita as follows:

saurāṣṭre somanāthaśca śrīśaile mallikārjunaḥ |
ujjayinyāṃ mahākāla oṃkāre cāmareśvaraḥ || 2

kedāro himavatpṛṣṭe ḍākinyāmbhīmaśaṃkaraḥ |
vārāṇasyāṃ ca viśveśastryambako gautamītaṭe || 3

vaidyanāthaścitābhūmau nāgeśo dārukāvane |
setubandhe ca rāmeśo ghuśmeśaśca śivālaye || 4

avatāradvādaśakametacchambhoḥ parātmanaḥ |
sarvānandakaraṃ puṃsāndarśanātsparśanānmune || 5

Somanatha in Saurashtra, Mallikarjuna in Srishailam, Mahakaal in Ujjain, Omkareshwar in Mandhata, Kedareshwar in Himalayas, Bhimashankar in Dakini, Vishveshwar in Kashi, Tryambakeshwar on the banks of Gautami, Vaidyanath in the cremation ground (Deoghar), Nageshwar in Daruka forest, Rameshwara in Ramsetu and Ghushmeshwar in Shivalaya.

Nandi further says that the 12 Jyotirlingas are delightful to see and touch for all classes of human beings.

The 12 Jyotirlingas

The 12 Jyotirlingas are spread across the length and breadth of country. At a stretch, it takes minimum 18 days to visit all the places by flight.

Sri Somnath Jyotirlinga

Lord Somnath is the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas named after Chandradeva (Soma) who worshipped Lord Shiva to become free from a curse he was subjected to. Having the darshan of Lord Somnath grants worldly desires and freedom from the effects of sinful life. The Somnath Jyotirlinga is present in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat State in India. It is said that a holy bath in the Chandrakund there grants intelligence and freedom from ailments. It destroys sins too. Read more

Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Jyotirlinga

Lord Mallikarjuna resides on the Srisailam Mountain in the Andhra Pradesh State of India. He appeared here mainly to see his son Karthikeya and then stayed back. He is known as the bestower of devotee’s desires. Having the darshan of Lord Mallikarjuna and then worshipping him thereafter grants freedom from the effects of sinful life undoubtedly. Read more

Sri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

Lord Mahakaleshwar resides in Ujjain City of the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. He appeared here for the protection of his devotee King Chandreshwar and his subjects. The Lord killed the demon Dushana, a resident of Ratnamala by reducing him to ashes. Dushana used to harass the brahmanas and all other people, defile Vedic rites, etc. Constant meditation on the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga grants one’s desires and the topmost goal of liberation.

Sri Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga

Lord Omkareshwar resides on an island in the middle of the sacred Narmada River in the Khandwa region of Madhya Pradesh. This Jyotirlinga was consecrated by Lord Brahma and fulfilled the desires of Mandhata Maharaja. He represents the sacred sound syllable ‘OM’ and is the only Shivalinga to do so. He stayed there in a two-fold form, being requested by the devatas and awards freedom from the effects of sinful life, worldly pleasures, etc being favourably disposed towards his devotees. He fulfils all the desires of his devotees.

Sri Kedareshwar Jyotirlinga

He resides on the Kedar Mountain in the Himalayas on the request of the Nara-Narayana incarnations of Lord Vishnu. It is the closest Jyotirlinga to Mt. Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. Being the reigning deity of this region, he fulfils the desire of his devotees by his mere sight and worship. It is one of the dhams of the Chota-Char Dham pilgrimage of Uttarakhand. Read more

Sri Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga

Lord Bhimashankar resides in Dakini i.e. the Khed Taluk of Pune district in the Maharashtra State of India. He killed a lusty demon by the name Bhima who harassed the devotees of Lord Shiva. After killing Bhima, he saved his devotee, King Sudakshina, the king of Kamarupa. Read more

Sri Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga

Lord Vishveshwar resides in Kashi, one of Lord Shiva’s three primary abodes. He incarnated here in the form of Brahmanda i.e. cosmic egg and awards freedom from worldly miseries and finally liberation if worshipped with devotion. He is worshipped by all the devatas including Kubera and Bhairava. He stays in his own city i.e. Kashi in the form of a Siddha and awards liberation to everyone in the Jyotirlinga form. Those who chant the holy names of Lord Vishveshwar with devotion are unaffected by the reactions to their actions and finally achieve the state of Kaivalya. Read more

Sri Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga

Lord Tryambakeshwar resides near Trimbak in Nashik City of Maharashtra State in India. This Jyotirlinga is in the shape of a depressed bowl with three thumb-sized lingas placed like triangular angles within representing Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Hence, the name Tryambakeshwar or Trimbakeshwar. On the prayers of Sage Gautama, he took the form of a Jyotirlinga. He stood still out of love for Sage Gautama and fulfilled his desires. With the blessings of Lord Shiva and being pleased with the behaviour of Sage Gautama, the sacred Ganga decided to stay back there in the name Gautami. Hence, Lord Tryambakeshwar’s residence became the origin of Gautami River which became Godavari River later. The mere sight of the Lord or touch will fulfil a devotee’s desires and award liberation from the bhava i.e. understanding of I and mine. Read more

Sri Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga

Lord Vaidyanath resides in Deoghar City of Jharkhand State in India glorified as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The city has an ancient and important connection to the performance of funeral rites. This remains to this day and is done with great devotion to Lord Vaidyanath. Being the performer of great lilas, Lord Vaidyanath appeared here for the sake of Ravana. On the false pretext of searching for Lord Shiva, Ravana consecrated the Jyotirlinga of Vaidyanath in a cremation ground. Under the name of Vaidyanath, this Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva became famous throughout the three worlds. Worshipping him and having his darshan with devotion grants liberation and freedom from worldly miseries.

Sri Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

Lord Nageshwar resides in the Daruka forest near Dwarka in the Gujarat State of India. He killed the demon called Daruka and saved his devotee King Supriya. He decided to stay here in the form of the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga for the welfare of the world along with his consort Parvathi Devi. The mere sight of the Lord destroys heaps of sins accumulated over many births. Thus, the benefits of worshipping him can’t be imagined. Read more

Sri Rameshwara Jyotirlinga

Lord Rameshwara, whose fame spreads far and wide resides on the Rameshwaram Island (Pamban Island) in the Tamil Nadu State of India as one among the 12 Jyotirlingas. Lord Rama had consecrated this Jyotirlinga seeking relief from the sin of brahma-hatya due to His killing of Ravana. He grants liberation and freedom from worldly miseries apart from fulfilling the desires of devotees.

The human being who bathes or performs the abhishekam of Lord Rameshwara is said to be liberated even during his lifetime. Such a person obtains the supreme knowledge and liberation after enjoying the material world.

Sri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga

Lord Ghushneshwar is the 12^th Jyotirlinga among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Bharata Bhumi located in the Aurangabad City of Maharashtra State in India. He is also known as Grishneshwar. He gave bliss to his devotee Ghushna/Grishna. He took cognizance of the intense devotion of Ghushna and appeared from a lake near Devashaila. He revived her dead son who was murdered by her co-wife Sudehya. When Ghushna requested Lord Shiva to stay back, he readily agreed to be the Ghusneshwar Jyotirlinga. A person who has darshan and worships Lord Ghushneshwar enjoys happiness in current life and is awarded liberation later. Read more

12 Jyotirlingas: The Unique Appearance of Lord Shiva

12 Jyotirlingas or Dwadasha Jyotirlingas are very popular throughout Bharata Bhumi. Not just Bharata Bhumi, devotees across the world who follow the Sanatana Dharma and those interested in knowing come visit the Dwadasha Jyotirlingas. There are lakhs of Jyotirlingas as per the Vedic scriptures but only a few 100s as per our limited knowledge.

Among them all, the 12 Jyotirlingas stand out for the appearance of Lord Shiva in the form of light and the unique lilas connected to each of the Jyotirlingas. They award bhakti, mukti and everything a devotee may desire. You may visit them and get Lord Shiva’s blessings from each of them uniquely.