What is jyotirlinga?

Jyotirlinga: Abodes of Shiva's Light

Jyotirlingas are shrines in India where Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam ("lingam of light"). These are considered the most sacred abodes of Shiva. There are twelve traditional Jyotirlinga sites scattered across India.

According to Shiva Purana, once Brahma (the god of creation) and Vishnu (the god of preservation) had an argument about supremacy of creation. To test them, Shiva pierced the three worlds as a colossal pillar of light, the Jyotirlinga. Vishnu and Brahma split their ways to downward and upward respectively to find the end of the light in either directions. Brahma lied that he found the end, while Vishnu conceded his defeat. Shiva appeared as the second pillar of light and cursed Brahma that he would not be worshipped. The Jyotirlingas are believed to be the places where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light.

Key Aspects

• Number: There are twelve recognized Jyotirlingas.
• Significance: They are considered extremely holy places, representing the infinite nature of Shiva.
• Location: They are scattered across various states of India, each with its own unique legend and history.
• Appearance: While each lingam is unique, they all represent the formless, all-pervading nature of Shiva.
• Pilgrimage: Visiting the Jyotirlingas is considered a highly meritorious act for devotees.

The Twelve Jyotirlingas

Here's a list of the twelve Jyotirlingas:

1. Somnath (Gujarat)
2. Mallikarjuna (Andhra Pradesh)
3. Mahakaleshwar (Madhya Pradesh)
4. Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh)
5. Kedarnath (Uttarakhand)
6. Bhimashankar (Maharashtra)
7. Kashi%20Vishwanath (Uttar Pradesh)
8. Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra)
9. Vaidyanath (Jharkhand) - Debate exists about the precise location.
10. Nageshvara (Gujarat) - Debate exists about the precise location.
11. Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu)
12. Grishneshwar (Maharashtra)