Learn About The 12 Sacred Jyotirlingas
Lord Shiva is said to have manifested as a pillar of light to settle a dispute between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu over supremacy. This pillar of light is symbolised in the twelve sacred Jyotirlinga temples across India.
Jyotirlingas or ‘Radiant signs of Lord Shiva’ hold immense spiritual significance for Hindus. According to legend, Lord Shiva manifested as a pillar of light to settle a dispute between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu over supremacy. This pillar of light is symbolised in the twelve sacred Jyotirlinga temples across India, each with its own unique origin story. In ancient times, devotees travelled between Rameshwaram and Kashi, reinforcing cultural bonds.
The 12 Jyotirlingas and their legends
- Somnath (Gujarat) – Lord Shiva freed the moon deity, Chandra, from a curse, restoring his luster. The grateful moon god established the Somnath Jyotirlinga in Shiva’s honor.
- Mallikarjuna (Andhra Pradesh) – Lord Shiva and Parvati resided at Srisailam to be near their son, Karthikeya, who had moved there in distress.
- Mahakaleshwar (Madhya Pradesh) – Lord Shiva manifested in Ujjain to protect King Chandrasen’s kingdom from invading forces.
- Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh) – King Mandhata’s penance led Lord Shiva to appear on Mandhata Island, shaped like the sacred Om symbol.
- Kedarnath (Uttarakhand) – After the Mahabharata war, the Pandavas sought Shiva’s forgiveness. He hid as a bull in a field (Kedar), and the Jyotirlinga was established at this spot.
- Bhimashankar (Maharashtra) – Lord Shiva defeated the demon Bhima, who had terrorized devotees, and manifested as a Jyotirlinga.
- Vishwanath (Uttar Pradesh) – In Kashi, Lord Shiva emerged as a pillar of light, proving his supremacy over all deities.
- Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra) – Sage Gautama’s penance brought the Godavari River to purify his ashram, leading to the establishment of this Jyotirlinga.
- Vaidyanath (Jharkhand) – Ravana attempted to take this Jyotirlinga to Lanka but dropped it, fixing it permanently at Deoghar.
- Nageshwar (Gujarat) – Lord Shiva saved his devotee Supriya from a demon and established the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.
- Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu) – Lord Rama installed this Jyotirlinga to seek Shiva’s blessings before battling Ravana.
- Grishneshwar (Maharashtra) – Lord Shiva revived a devoted woman’s son and manifested as a Jyotirlinga in gratitude.
