ॐ नमः शिवाय

The 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva

The 12 Jyotirlingas are the holiest shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to the Shiva Purana, these sacred sites represent places where Shiva appeared as an infinite pillar of divine light (Jyoti). Visiting these temples is believed to grant spiritual purification, blessings, and ultimately liberation (Moksha).

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Somnath Temple

Gujarat

Gir Somnath, Gujarat

Meaning:: “The Lord of the Moon.”
Significance:: Considered the first Jyotirlinga. Moon God (Chandra) worshipped Shiva here to regain his lost radiance after being cursed.
Speciality:: Located on the Arabian Sea coast and rebuilt several times after historical invasions.
Best Time:: October–March.

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Mallikarjuna Temple

Andhra Pradesh

Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

Meaning:: Shiva (Mallikarjuna) together with Goddess Parvati (Bhramaramba).
Significance:: One of the rare temples that is both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
Nearby:: Krishna River and the Nallamala Hills.

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Mahakaleshwar Temple

Madhya Pradesh

Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

Meaning:: Lord of Time and Death.
Significance:: The only south-facing (Dakshinamukhi) Jyotirlinga.
Famous For:: The daily Bhasma Aarti, performed before sunrise using sacred ash.

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Omkareshwar Temple

Madhya Pradesh

Mandhata Island, Madhya Pradesh

Meaning:: The sacred syllable “Om.”
Significance:: The island itself is shaped like the symbol ॐ.
River:: Narmada.

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Baidyanath Temple

Jharkhand

Deoghar, Jharkhand

Meaning:: Shiva as the Divine Physician.
Legend:: Ravana worshipped Shiva here and offered severe penance.
Festival:: The Shravan Mela attracts millions of pilgrims every year.

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Bhimashankar Temple

Maharashtra

Sahyadri Hills, Maharashtra

Legend:: Shiva destroyed the demon Bhima here.
Nature:: Surrounded by dense forests and a wildlife sanctuary.
River Origin:: The Bhima River originates nearby.

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Rameshwar(Ramanathaswamy) Temple

Tamil Nadu

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu

Meaning:: The Lord worshipped by Shri Rama.
Legend:: Lord Rama established this Jyotirlinga before crossing to Lanka.
Speciality:: Famous for its magnificent corridors and 22 sacred wells.

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Nageshwar Temple

Gujarat

Near Dwarka, Gujarat

Meaning:: Lord of Serpents.
Legend:: Shiva protected his devotee Supriya from the demon Daruka here.
Speciality:: A towering statue of Lord Shiva stands beside the temple.

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Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Uttar Pradesh

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Meaning:: Lord of the Universe.
Significance:: One of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in all of Hinduism.
Belief:: Dying in Kashi is believed to grant liberation (Moksha).

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Trimbakeshwar Temple

Maharashtra

Nashik, Maharashtra

Speciality:: The Jyotirlinga symbolises the Hindu Trinity — Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.
River:: Source of the Godavari River.
Rituals:: Famous for Narayan Nagbali and Kaal Sarp Dosh Puja.

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Kedarnath Temple

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand Himalayas

Altitude:: About 3,583 metres (11,755 feet).
Legend:: Built by the Pandavas and later revived by Adi Shankaracharya.
Season:: Open only from around May to November due to heavy snowfall.

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Grishneshwar Temple

Maharashtra

Near Ellora Caves, Maharashtra

Meaning:: Lord of Compassion.
Significance:: The twelfth and final Jyotirlinga.
Nearby:: The UNESCO World Heritage Ellora Caves.

Spiritual Importance

According to Hindu tradition, worshipping all twelve Jyotirlingas symbolises devotion to Lord Shiva in His complete cosmic form. Devotees believe that:

Sincere worship removes sins and negative karma.
It brings peace, prosperity, health and spiritual strength.
Pilgrimage to all twelve Jyotirlingas is considered highly meritorious and is believed to aid in attaining Moksha (liberation).

List of the 12 Jyotirlingas

No.	Jyotirlinga	State
1	Somnath	Gujarat
2	Mallikarjuna	Andhra Pradesh
3	Mahakaleshwar	Madhya Pradesh
4	Omkareshwar	Madhya Pradesh
5	Baidyanath	Jharkhand
6	Bhimashankar	Maharashtra
7	Rameshwar (Ramanathaswamy)	Tamil Nadu
8	Nageshwar	Gujarat
9	Kashi Vishwanath	Uttar Pradesh
10	Trimbakeshwar	Maharashtra
11	Kedarnath	Uttarakhand
12	Grishneshwar	Maharashtra

These twelve sacred shrines together form one of the most revered pilgrimage circuits in Hinduism — each preserving a unique legend, architectural heritage and spiritual tradition associated with Lord Shiva.

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