Last Update: February 18, 2023, 09:05 IST
Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand.
Mahashivratri 2023: A visit to the most sacred 12 Jyotirlingas is considered sacred for Shiva worship. Jyotirlingas are spread across the country.
Mahashivaratri 2022: Mahashivaratri is celebrated in the Hindu month of Magha. This year, Mahashivaratri is today, February 18, a Saturday. One of the holy trinity in Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is worshiped across the country on this day. To celebrate this day, devotees offer prayers, observe a fast and offer obeisances to the God of Destruction. A visit to the 12 Jyotirlingas, the most sacred places for Shiva worship, is considered sacred. Jyotirlingas are spread across the country.
Read also: maha shivratri 2023 live updates
- Somnath
Located on the west coast of Gujarat, in Prabhas Patan, Saurashtra, the Somnath temple is thronged by devotees. Lord Shiva is believed to have appeared here in the form of a fiery pillar of light. - Nageshwar
This Jyotirlinga is also situated in Gujarat. This temple of Mahadev is situated in an underground sanctum sanctorum. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is the symbol of protection from all kinds of poisons. - bhimashankar
On the banks of the Bhima River in Pune is the Bhimashankar Temple, where the Jyotirlinga is said to have been built by Bhima, the son of Kumbhakarna. However, there is a debate over the location of the Jyotirlinga, as the Shiva Purana considers the Bhimashankar temple near Guwahati as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, while the Linga Purana calls the Bhima Shankar temple at Bhimpur in Orissa one of the 12 pilgrimage sites. - Trimbakeshwar
The holy city of Nashik is home to Trimbakeshwar, one of the Jyotirlingas. The temple is famous for the three-headed linga, which represents the Trimurti – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva). - Ghrishneshwar Temple
Another Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra is located in the city of Aurangabad. Ghrishneshwar Linga is associated with a legend when Lord Shiva helped a mother to bring back her dead son. - Vaidyanath
While the exact location of Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga is also debated. It is believed that the main shrine is located in Deoghar, Jharkhand. It is believed that Ravana worshiped Lord Shiva for years and convinced him to go to Sri Lanka. On the way, Lord Vishnu asked the Shiva Linga to rest at Deoghar for some time, marking Ravana as one of the Jyotirlingas. - Mahakaleshwar
There is Mahakaleshwar temple in Mahakal forest in Ujjain. According to a popular legend, the temple was built by a five-year-old boy, Sreekar. Jyotirlinga is one of the seven mukti-sthalas (places of attaining liberation of the human soul) in India. - Omkareshwar
Omkareshwar Tirtha is located in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. According to Hindu scriptures, when the deities were defeated by the demons in the great battle, they worshiped Lord Shiva, who emerged as Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga. - Kashi Vishwanath
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is one of the famous Jyotirlingas in India. The temple also reflects its importance as it is situated on the banks of the holy river Ganga. - Kedarnath
The temple in Uttarakhand remains open only for 6 months in a year. Legend has it that Lord Shiva settled here in the form of a Jyotirlinga at the request of the twin avatars of Vishnu Nara and Narayana. - Rameshwaram
The Jyotirlinga located in Rameshwaram island of Tamil Nadu is also associated with Lord Rama. It is believed that Lord Rama made a linga of sand and worshiped Lord Shiva, who has been residing here ever since. - mallikarjuna
Known as the “Kailash of the South”, the temple in Srisailam city of Andhra Pradesh serves as the home of Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and Bhramaramba (Devi).
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