Which are the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva?
The 12 Jyotirlingas are a set of 12 sacred Shiva temples located throughout India. They are of great spiritual and religious importance and have a long history of veneration and worship from devotees of Lord Shiva. The 12 Jyotirlingas are widely recognized for their ability to bestow good fortune and blessings upon those who visit them in reverence. Each of the Jyotirlingas is unique in its way and has its significance. In this post, we will take a look at the overview, significance, locations, history, and worship of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
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Overview of 12 Jyotirlinga
The 12 Jyotirlingas are a set of sacred Hindu temples located all over India. These temples are considered to be of great spiritual and religious significance and are visited by millions of pilgrims from all over the world every year. The Jyotirlingas are dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva and are believed to be the abodes of the Gods. The 12 Jyotirlingas are located in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Each temple has its unique legend and is believed to have been blessed by Shiva himself. Devotees of Shiva flock to these temples and perform various rituals and offerings to seek blessings from the Lord.
The 12 Jyotirlings include the Somnath Temple in Gujarat, the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh, the Kamakhya Temple in Assam, the Rameshwaram Temple in Tamil Nadu, the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand, the Shri Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand, the Shri Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, the Omkareshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh, the Mallikarjun Temple in Karnataka, the Baijnath Temple in Himachal Pradesh, the Grishneshwar Temple in Maharashtra and the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. These temples represent the epitome of Hinduism and are celebrated for their architectural beauty and spiritual energy.
Significance of the 12 Jyotirlingas
The 12 Jyotirlingas are a significant part of Hindu religious culture. They are a group of twelve very sacred shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and are located throughout India. The 12 Jyotirlings represent the 12 aspects of Lord Shiva and are believed to bring prosperity and good luck to those who offer prayers at these holy sites. Many devotees visit these shrines throughout the year to offer their prayers and seek blessings from Lord Shiva. It is believed that visiting these shrines will bring one closer to the divine and will help in achieving spiritual fulfilment.
Locations of the 12 Jyotirlingas
The 12 Jyotirlings, also known as the 12 Shivlingas, are a set of sacred shrines dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. These shrines are located in various parts of India, and each of them is associated with a specific manifestation of Shiva. The 12 Jyotirlingas are located in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. These shrines are highly revered by devotees of Shiva and are visited by thousands of people each year.
The 12 Jyotirlingas are Somnath in Gujarat, Mallikarjuna at Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, Mahakaleswar at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, Bhimashankar in Maharashtra, Kashi Vishwanath in Uttar Pradesh, Trayambakeshwar in Maharashtra, Vaidyanath in Jharkhand, Nageshvara in Gujarat, Rameshwar in Tamil Nadu and Grishneshwar in Maharashtra.
History of 12 Jyotirlinga
The 12 Jyotirlings, also known as the 12 ‘Shiva’ Lingas, are a set of holy shrines located across India. The word ‘Jyotirling’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Jyoti’ meaning ‘radiance’. These shrines are venerated as embodiments of the Hindu god Shiva and are believed to have been established thousands of years ago. According to Hindu mythology, the 12 Jyotirlingas were created by Lord Shiva to promote faith and devotion amongst his followers.
These shrines are located in the states of Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. Each of the 12 Jyotirlings has its unique history, with pilgrims travelling from far and wide to pay homage to the various shrines. The 12 Jyotirlingas are considered to be a significant part of the Hindu religion and culture and are highly revered by the devotees.
Worship of the 12 Jyotirlingas
The 12 Jyotirlingas or Dwadash Jyotirlingas are considered to be the holiest of all Hindu shrines and are worshipped by millions of Hindus throughout India. It is believed that these shrines were established by Hindu gods to spread the message of divine power and enlightenment. The 12 Jyotirlingas are located in different parts of India, such as Ujjain, Somnath, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Varanasi, Rameshwaram, Nageshwar, Vishwanath, Tryambakeshwar, Grishneshwar, Mallikarjuna and Mahakaleshwar.
Each of these shrines is associated with a particular deity and has its significance. Hindus from all over India come to these shrines to offer their prayers and seek blessings from the gods. It is believed that if one performs their puja with devotion and reverence, they will be blessed with peace, prosperity and happiness.
The 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva have been revered by devotees since ancient times. They are considered to be the most sacred sites in Hinduism and are believed to have been established by Lord Shiva himself. Each of the 12 Jyotirlings is associated with a different form of Lord Shiva, and each has its significance and history. Visiting and worshipping the 12 Jyotirlings is said to bring peace, prosperity and spiritual fulfilment.
The locations of these Jyotirlingas are scattered across India, and devotees travel to each of these sites to offer their prayers and honour, Lord Shiva. Jyotirlings represent an integral part of Hinduism and continue to serve as a source of inspiration for millions of devotees around the world.
