The 12 Jyotirlinga Temples of Lord Shiva in India
In India, Hindus most admire Lord Shiva and it is a land of idols around the world. Lord Shiva trusted to sanctify all his devotees with a pardon. The Lord Shiva deity is worshipped in the form of Shivlinga. The 12 Holy Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva is also called as ‘Dwadash Jyotirlingas’ and they are deliberated as the holiest of all temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees believe that whoever does the perfect darshanam of these 12 Jyotirlingas they are set free from the era of life and death. The appearance of Jyotirlinga is same as a Shivlinga but it is signified with a holy light or ‘Jyoti’ and it can be only seen by a devotee when he reaches a top level of religious realization.
The following are the 12 Jyotirlinga Temples of Lord Shiva
1. Somnath Temple, Gujarat
The ‘Somnath Temple’ is home of the 1st twelve holy Jyotirlingas Temples among 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India. It is situated in Somnath district of Gujarat state which is on the bank of the Arabian Sea, in India, it is treated as the divine of all twelve Jyotirlinga temples. Every year thousands of devotees will visit the Somnath Temple, especially at the festival of Mahashivratri. The Timings of Somnath Temple are 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
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2. Mallikarjuna Temple, Telangana
The ‘Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple’ which constructed by the Hoysala king, Vira Narasimha around 1234 AD. Every year crowded with many travelers. The temple located on Shrisailam hill of Telangana State. The temple architecture built in a Dravidian style and its wall sculptures and carvings describing the scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata, the temple has a source of pride of awe-inspiring carving skills of Hoysala artisans. The Timings of Mallikarjuna Temple are 4:30 AM to 10:00 AM.
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3. Mahakaleshwar Temple, Madhya Pradesh
The Mahakaleshwar Temple is located in the Ujjain historical city, Madhya Pradesh State which is on the shores of River Kshipra. Apart from among the twelve divine Jyotirlingas temples, The Mahakaleshwar Temple also one of the top ‘Tantra Temples’. ‘Bhasm-Aarti’ the main highlight of Mahakaleshwar Temple is the 1st ceremony which is performed in the early morning. Shivlinga bathed with ash from a fresh burial large fire. Across the world, Thousands of travelers visit Mahakaleshwar Temple especially at the month of Sawan and on Nagpanchami. The Timings of Mahakaleshwar Temple are 3:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
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4. Omkareshwar and Mammaleshwar Temples, Madhya Pradesh
An ‘Omkareshwar’ and ‘Mammaleshwar’ shrines are the 4th among among 12 divine Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva which are located at the shores of Narmada River on an island of Mandhata in Madhya Pradesh. Mandhata Island in the shape of ‘Om’ and it is trusted by devotees. In Hindu Mythology it is a religious symbol. For the darshanam of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga and Mammaleshwar Jyotirlinga, countless thousands of pilgrims visit here especially on the festivals of Mahashivratri and Kartik Poornima. Timings of Omkareshwar Temple are 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
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5. Baidyanath Dham, Jharkhand
The holy town of Baidyanath Dham Jyotirlingais one among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva is located in Jharkhand State. It has several mythologies attached to it when compared to the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The Baidyanath Dham temple situated in Deoghar in the Santhal Parganas division and decorated with the presence of 21 shrines. The divine Jyotirlinga embellished with cherished gems locating here. This place stated as in order to gain the favor of Lord Shiva Ravana sacrificed his 10 heads.
Later, Lord Shiva joined the 10 heads who acted like a Vaidya (Doctor) so the place was called Baidynath Dham. Offering prayers in this Baidyanath Dham Jyotirlinga temple devotees believe that Lord Shiva provides a healthy and prosperous life. For the darshan of Baidyanath Dham Jyotirlinga at the time of monsoon months (July and August), countless pilgrims visit here.
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6. Bhimashankar Temple, Maharashtra
The place Bhorgiri amidst the Sahyadri Hills near Pune in Maharashtra holds great spiritual importance because of the presence of the ‘Bhimashankar Temple’. It is another home of the divine Jyotirlinga temple of Lord Shiva. Here thousands of pilgrims visit at the time of Shivratri and Maha Shivratri and also on Mondays a large crowd can also be seen. The Timings of Bhimashankar Temple are 5:00 AM to 09:00 PM.
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7. Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram
Rameshwaram Temple located in Tamil Nadu state holds great spiritual importance for Hindus. Temple described as one among the ‘Char Dham’ devotee sites. The ‘Ramanathaswamy Temple’ is a holy home town to one of the 12 divine Jyotirlingas Temples. Timings of Rameshwaram Temple are 4:30 AM to 08:30 PM.
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8. Nageshwar Temple, Gujarat
The Nageshwar Mahadev Temple situated near Dwarka, one among the ‘Char Dham’ devotee sites for Hindus located in Gujarat state. The Nageshwar Mahadev Temple construction date still remains unknown, but, the current Nageshwar Mahadev Temple remodeled in 1996 by Late Gulshan Kumar. Every year thousands of devotees visit the Nageshwar Mahadev Temple to take the blessing of Lord Shiva worshipped here as ‘Nagdev’. A great attraction is Lord Shiva’s tall statue constructed with 25 meters height in a seated position. A nice memory picture, it provides perfect scenery. Timings of Nageshwar Mahadev Temple are 5:00 AM to 09:00 PM.
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9. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Uttar Pradesh
Kashi Vishwanath Temple located at the divine Kashi city, this holy place also known as Varanasi or Benaras. Varanasi is located on the shores of the Ganga River in Uttar Pradesh. For Hindus, it occupies great spiritual importance and the one who bathes in the holy water of Ganga River or dies in Varanasi will achieve pardon the strong belief of the devotees. The most divine here is the ‘Kashi Vishwanath Temple’, the 12th Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva with almost 2000 shrines in the Kashi city.
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple formerly constructed in the 11th century and robbed by Afghan and Arab invaders number of times. In the year 1780, the current Kashi Vishwanath Temple remodeled by Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar. The temple towers on the top are gold plated with a golden chhatra. At the time of ‘Makar Sankranti’, ‘Kartik Poornima’, ‘Maha Shivratri’, ‘Dev Deepawali’ and ‘Annakoot’ thousands of devotees gather here from across the world. The Timings of Kashi Vishwanath Temple are 3:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
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10. Triambakeshwar Temple, Maharashtra
The holy town of Triambakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple located at Trimbak, a small town near Nashik in Maharashtra. It is a historical temple built in the 18th century by the orders of Peshwa Balaji Bajirao. Triambakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple built with a black stone in Nagara style architecture; the inner sanctum houses the Triambakeshwar Shivlinga. For devotees who gather Triambakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple Lord Shiva fulfills all their desires. The Timings of Triambakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple are 5:30 AM to 09:00 PM.
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11. Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand
Kedarnath Temple is located in the Range of Himalayas in Uttarakhand. The highest among the 12 holy Jyotirlingas Temples is the ‘Kedarnath Temple’. The heritage of the Kedarnath Temple trusted to have been at the time of Mahabharata. For Hindus, it is also one of the ‘Chhota Char Dham’ devotee sites. The Kedarnath Temple closed in winter and the deity of Lord Shiva brought down at ‘Ukhimath’ & the god is worshipped here during the winter months. As per the Hindu calendar, the god rehabilitated in the Temple at the time of the Vaisakha month & set open for devotees. The Darshan Timings of Kedarnath Jyotirlinga Temple are 4:00 AM to 09:00 PM.
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12. Ghrishneshwar Temple, Maharashtra
The holy home town of Grishneshwar Temple situated at Verul village, near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, built in the 18th century. The Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple walls consist of amazing architectural skills. Also with an architecture, paintings, and sculptures constructed by the artisans of the bygone era. The Timings of Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple are 5:00 AM to 09:00 PM.
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