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

Sourashtre Somanadham, cha Sri Shaile Mallikarjunam ||
Ujjayinyam Maha Kalam, Omkaram, amaleshwaram ||
Paralyam Vaidyanatham, cha Dakinyam Bhimasankaram ||
Sethubandhe thu Ramesam, Nagesam thu Darukavane ||
Varanasyam thu Viswesam, Trayambakam Gouthami thate ||
Himalaye thu Kedaram, Ghushmesam cha Shivalaye ||
Ethani Jyothirlingani sayam pratha paden nara ||
Saptha janma krutham papam smaranena vinasyathi ||

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.

Rameshwar

The Temple of Lord Rameshwar is situated at the extreme southern end of India. Since the Temple is on the SEA SHORE the entire location is very beautiful. In Ramayana it is mentioned that before proceeding to LANKA, Shri RAM worshipped SHIVA at this place. Word Rameshwar can be interpreted in two meanings “ RAMESHWAR i.e. (in Sanskrit) RAMAU ISHWAR YASYA SAHA RAMESHWAR “ means “ RAM JISKA ISHWAR HAI VOH RAMESHWAR HAI. RAMESHWAR i.e. (in Sanskrit) RAMASYA ISHWAR SAHA RAMESHWAR “ means “ JO RAMKA ISHVAR HAI VOH RAMESHWAR HAI.

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.

Ghushmeshwar

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.