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significance of
greatness of the Jyotirlingas. It goes on to say that by
reciting the name of 12 Jyotirlinga a devotee can
eliminate all the sins. Besides, the devotee becomes
calm, chaste and pure as he becomes illuminated and
enlightened with supreme and divine
knowledge. |
Dwadasa
Jyotirlinga Stotra
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 || |
 | |
| The Twelve
Jyotirlingas |
| There are 12 famous
Jyotirlingas where Lord Shiva appeared in the form of light
(Jyothi) lingam. These have been worshipped from time
immemorial. They are mentioned in the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga
Stotra and are enshrined in following
temples. |
 |
Kedarnath
Temple
of Lord Kedarnath is situated on the banks of River Mandakini
which is on the west side of Kedar mountain in Himalayas. This
place is reached by road via Rishikesh, from where it is more
than 200 kms. The last phase is completed by a steep walk of
about 3-4 hours.
|
 |
Viswanath
Temple of Lord Viswanath is
situated in Varanasi. While it is a highly revered place some
Muslim rulers had destroyed & desecrated it, and built a
mosque next ot it. The place has been renovated by later
kings. |
 |
Somnath
Temple of Lord Somnath is
situated near the town of Veraval in Western part of Gujarat.
Veraval is reached from Rajkot. The present Temple is a great
imposing structure and is situated just on the sea
shore. |
 |
Mahakaleswar
Temple of Bhagwan Mahakal is
situated in the town of Ujjain. Ujjain is near Indore, and is
reached by train via Ratlam or Bhopal.
|
 |
Omkareshwar
The Temple of Lord Omkareshwar
is situated on the banks of River Narmada, in between Indore
& Khandwa. It is also a rare archaeological site. The
temple is situated on an island, which is encircled by the
Narmada River. |
 |
The Temple of Lord Omkareshwar
is situated on the banks of River Narmada, in between Indore
& Khandwa. It is also a rare archaeological site. The
temple is situated on an island, which is encircled by the
Narmada River. |
 |
Mallikarjuna
The
temple of Lord Mallikarjuna is situated in the state of Andhra
Pradesh. The temple is situated in the town of Srisailam on
the banks of River Patalganga Krishna. Srisailam mountain is
looked upon reverentially as the Kailash of
South.
|
 |
Trayambakeshwar
Lord Trayambakeshwar resides in
a beautiful locale about 20 kms from the city of Nashik. It is
a wel connected place and can also be reached from Bombay in
about 4-5 hours. |
 |
Bhimashankar
Temple of Lord
Bhimashankar is situated in a Forest Reserve about 3 hours
drive from Pune. The place is hilly with beautiful greenery
all around.
|
 |
Nageshwar
Temple of Lord Nageshwar is
situated in Gujarat, and is about 12 kms on way from
Gomti-Dwarka to Bhet-Dwarka. |
 |
Baijnath (Vaidyanatha)
The Temple of Lord Baijnath is
situated in Bihar. On the rail route from Patna to Kolkata is
a place called Kiul. About 100 kms south-east of this place is
Devghar – where this ancient Temple is situated.
|
 |
Grishneshwar
The Temple of Lord Grishneshwar is situated
just adjacent to the famous Ellora Caves.
|
Legend of
Jyotirlinga
According to a legend of
Lingodbhavamurthy narrated in Linga Purana, once Lord Vishnu
and Lord Brahma were fighting to prove who was the Supreme
Being. At this point, Lord Shiva appeared as a flaming Linga
and challenged the duo to measure the gigantic Linga (phallic
symbol of Lord Shiva). Brahma and Vishnu decided to find one
end each and declared that whoever returned first would be
acknowledged as supreme. Vishnu assumed the form of a boar and
went down. Brahma, in the form of a swan, flew upwards. They
searched for days but in vain and returned to the starting
point exhausted and bewildered. At that moment, the central
part of the pillar split open and Shiva revealed himself in
his full glory. Brahma and Vishnu realized their mistake and
acknowledged Shiva as the Supreme Being.Since it was on the
14th day in the dark half of the month of Phalguna that Shiva
first manifested himself in the form of a Linga, the day is
especially auspicious and is celebrated as Mahashivaratri.
Worshipping Shiva on this day is believed to bestow one with
happiness and prosperity. Hindus believe that a sincere
devotee who recites these 12 names regularly in the morning
and evening washes all the sins committed in the previous
seven births and attains all the powers and
Siddhis. | |
