12 JYOTIRLINGA IN INDIA AND THEIR IMPORTANCE

  <<JYOTIRLINGA IN INDIA AND THEIR IMPORTANCE>>

1.Somnath : 

Somnath is located at Prabhas Patan in Saurashtra in Gujarat.Somnath is traditionally considered the first pilgrimage site: the Dwadash Jyotirlinga pilgrimage begins with the Somnath Temple. The temple, that was destroyed and re-built sixteen times, is held in reverence throughout India and is rich in legend, tradition, and history.

2.Rameshwaram : 

This vast temple in the island of Rameswaram , in Southern Tamilnadu enshrines Ramalingeswarar Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu is home to the vast Ramalingeswarar Jyotirlinga temple and is revered as the southernmost of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of India. It enshrines the Rameśvara ("Lord of Rama") pillar. It is also one of the Padal Petra Stalam of Pandya Naadu mentioned in Thevaaram.

3.Srisailam (Mallikārjuna Swāmi) : 

Srisailam new Kurnool enshrines Mallikarjuna in an ancient temple rich in architectural and sculptural wealth.Mallikārjuna, also called Śrīśaila, is located on a mountain on the river Krishna.Śrīśailaṃ, in Kurnool District in Andhra Pradesh enshrines Mallikarjuna in an ancient temple that is architecturally and sculpturally rich.It is one place where Shakti peetha and Jyotirlingam are together. Adi Shankara composed his Sivananda Lahiri here.

4.Ghrishneshwar : 

Jyotirlinga shrine, in Aurangabad Maharashtra, is located near the rock-cut temples of Ellora.The temple stands as an illustration of the pre-historic temple traditions as well as of the pre-historic architectural style and structure. The inscriptions on the temples are a source of much attraction to ardent travellers. The temple, built of red rocks, is composed of a five tier shikara. Restored in the 18th century by Ahilyabai Holkar, the temple is 240 x 185 feet tall. It houses beautiful carvings and sculptures of many Indian Gods and Goddesses. Holy water is known to spring from inside the temple.

5.Mahakaleshwar : 

The ancient and historic city of Ujjain or Avanti in Madhya Pradesh is home to the Jyotirlinga shrine of Mahakaleshwar.Mahakal, Ujjain (or Avanti) in Madhya Pradesh is home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple. The Lingam at Mahakal is believed to be Swayambhu, the only one of the 12 Jyotirlingams to be so. It is also the only one facing south and also the temple to have a Shree Yantra perched upside down at the ceiling of the Garbhagriha (where the Shiv Lingam sits).It is one place where Shakti peeta and Jyotirlingam are together.

6.Kashi Vishwanath Temple : 

The most celebrated pilgrimage site in India. TheVishwanath temple in Banaras in Uttar Pradesh is the goal of the thousands of pilgrims that visit this ancient city.It is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, the holiest existing place of Hindus, where at least once in life a Hindu is expected to do pilgrimage, and if possible, also pour the remains of cremated ancestors into the River Ganga. The temple stands on the western bank of the holy river Ganges, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest of Shiva temples.

7.Nageshvara Jyotirlinga :

 Dwarka, in Gujrat, is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.Nageshvara Jyotirlinga is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines mentioned in the Shiva Purana (Śatarudra Saṁhitā,Ch.42/2-4, referred as "nagesham darukavane"). Nageshvara is believed as the first Jyotirlinga on the earth. There are three major shrines in India which are believed as identical to this Jyotirlinga. Those are the Jageshwar temple near Almora in Uttarakhand state, the Nageshwara temple near Dwaraka in Gujarat state and the Nagnath temple in Aundha in Maharashtra state.

8.Bhimashankar : 

Bhimasankar is located in the Sahyadri hills of Maharashtra, accessed from Pune.Bhimashankar is very much debated. There is a Bhimashankara temple near Pune (pictured) in Maharashtra, which was referred to as Daakini country, but Kashipur in Uttarakhand was also referred to as Daakini country in ancient days and a Bhimashkar Temple known as Shree Moteshwar Mahadev is present there. Another Bhimashankar is in the Sahyadri range of Maharashtra.

9.Trimbakeshwar : 

The origin of the river Godavari is intimately linked with this Jyotirlinga shrine near Nasik in Maharashtra.

10.Omkareshwar : 

Omkareshwar, an island in the course of the river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh, is home to the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga shrine and the Amareshwar temple.

11.Baidyanath : 

Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple is located in Deoghar District in Jharkhand . In the month of Shravana millions of devotee visit the temple.Bholebaba darshan during Shravan month attracts devotees from across India and overseas.

12.Kedarnath :

 Kedarnath nestled in the snow clad Himalayas. It is accessible only on foot, six months in a year.Kedarnath in Uttarakhand is revered as the northernmost and the closest Jyotirlinga to Lord Shiva's eternal abode of Mount Kailash. Kedarnath forms a part of the smaller Char Dham pilgrimage circuit of Hinduism. Kedarnath, nestled in the snow-clad Himalayas, is an ancient shrine, rich in legend and tradition. It is accessible only by foot, and only for .six months a year.

<< Significance of Jyotirlinga >> 

The Puranas blatantly sing the praises of the greatness of the Jyotirlingas. By reciting the name of this, one can eliminate all the sins. The Sadhaka becomes calm, chaste and pure. He becomes illuminated and enlightened with supreme and divine knowledge. The names mentioned for the benefits of all :--

Saurashtra Somnatham Cha Shrishaile Mallikarjunam ||

Ujjainyam Mahakalomkare Mammaleshwaram ||

Parlyam Vaijnatham Cha Dakinyam Bheem Shankaram ||

Setu Bandhe Tu Ramesham Nagesham Daruka Vane ||

Varanasya Tu Vishwesham Tribakam Gautamitate || 

Himalaye Tu Kedaram Ghurmesham Cha Shivalaye ||

Aetani Jyotirlingani Sayam Prataha Pathennaraha ||

Sapta Janma Kritam Papam Smaranen Vinashyati ||

One who recites these 12 names regularly in the morning and evening he washes all the sins committed in the previous 7 births and attains all the powers and Siddhis.

When are you planning your trip to have blessings of these JYOTIRLINGS this Shivratri...

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