The 12 Jyotirlingas are among the most revered shrines of Lord Shiva. The word jyotirlinga means a linga of light. According to belief, Shiva appeared at these places as an endless column of light. A well known Sanskrit hymn, the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram, names all twelve.
This article is based on religious beliefs and traditions. Democratic Bharat Live does not claim to verify them.
The list of 12 Jyotirlingas
- Somnath, Prabhas Patan near Veraval, Gujarat. Traditionally regarded as the first Jyotirlinga. The present temple was rebuilt after Independence and opened in 1951.
- Mallikarjuna, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh. Located on the Nallamala hills by the Krishna river.
- Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. Famous for the Bhasma Aarti held before dawn.
- Omkareshwar, Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh. Situated on an island in the Narmada river shaped like the sacred symbol Om.
- Kedarnath, Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. Located at about 3,580 metres, it opens only for around six months a year.
- Bhimashankar, Pune district, Maharashtra. Set in the Sahyadri hills, close to a wildlife sanctuary.
- Kashi Vishwanath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. On the banks of the Ganga; the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor opened in 2021.
- Trimbakeshwar, Nashik district, Maharashtra. Near the source of the Godavari river.
- Baidyanath (Vaidyanath), Deoghar, Jharkhand. A major destination during the Shravan month. Some traditions place this Jyotirlinga at Parli in Maharashtra.
- Nageshwar, near Dwarka, Gujarat. Other traditions associate Nageshwar with shrines in Uttarakhand and Maharashtra.
- Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu. Known for its long temple corridors and linked with the Ramayana.
- Grishneshwar, near Ellora, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Maharashtra. Close to the Ellora caves.
Planning a visit
- Kedarnath requires registration with the Uttarakhand government before the yatra, and the temple stays closed in winter.
- Mahakaleshwar’s Bhasma Aarti requires advance booking through the official temple website.
- Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath and Mahakaleshwar have official websites for darshan and puja bookings. Use only these sites and avoid agents.
- Omkareshwar and Mahakaleshwar are about 140 km apart and are often visited on one trip.
Getting there
Most Jyotirlingas are well connected by rail and road. Nearest airports include Indore for Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar, Varanasi for Kashi Vishwanath, Madurai for Rameshwaram, Dehradun for Kedarnath and Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) for Grishneshwar.
Also Read: Kartik Month Significance: Deepdaan, Holy Dips and the Festivals That Fall in This Sacred Month | Karwa Chauth 2026 Moonrise Time
Bottom line
The 12 Jyotirlingas are spread across India, from the Himalayas to the southern coast. Each has its own history and rituals, so check official temple sites for current timings and rules before travelling.
Source / स्रोत: Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, Shree Somnath Trust, Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain
टिप्पणियां (1)