With the supreme power of create, protect and transformed,
Lord Shiva believed to have power to heal anything. According to
the "Shiv Mahapurana" the destroyer of evil MAHADEV is
worship in the form of JYOTIRLINGA . Jyoti means the radiance and Linga means
the mark or sign.
Once Brahma and Vishnu had an argument related to their
supremacy of creation. To test them, Shiva perforated the three worlds as a
huge pillar of light that is Jyotirlinga. Brahma and Vishnu hew their ways to
downward and upward to find the end of the light in either direction. Brahma
lied that he found out the end, while Vishnu admitted his defeat. Mahadev
appeared as a second pillar of light and cursed Brahma that he would have no
place in rituals while Vishnu would be worshipped till the end of eternity. The
Jyotirlinga is the sovereign partless reality where Shiva appeared as a blazing
column of light.
Originally it is believed to have 64 Jyotirlinga among which
12 are considered to be very auspicious and holy. All the Jyotirlinga owns the
name of presiding deity and each considered the different disclosure of Lord
Shiva.
Somnath Jyotirlinga: Among all the 12
Jyotirlingas, the Somnath Temple in Gujarat is considered to be the first.
According to Shiv Purana, there is a tale that the moon has 27 wives they
allwere the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, out of which Rohini was the most
lovable. seeing the negligence towards other wives Daksha cursed moon that it
would lose all its radiance. The moon along with his wife Rohini came to Somnath
and worshipped the Sparsa Lingam after which he was blessed by Shiva to regain
his lost beauty and shine. On his request, Lord Shiva assumed the name
Somchandra and resided there eternally. He became famous by the name Somnath.
Ever since, the Somnath Jyotirlinga has been destroyed and rebuilt many times
in the history.
Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga: This Temple is another
Jyotirling situated in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh on the Shri Shaila
Mountain, on the banks of the Krishna River. It is also known as “Kailash of
the South” and is one of the greatest Shaivite shrines in India. The presiding
deities at this temple are Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and Bhramaramba (Devi).
According to the Shiva Purana, Lord Ganesha was married off before Kartikeya
which left Kartikeya angered. He went away to the Kraunch Mountain. All the
Gods tried to console him, but they failed. Ultimately Shiva-Parvati themselves
travelled to the mountain but were turned away by Kartikeya. Seeing their son
in such a state they were very hurt and Shiva assumed the form of a Jyotirlinga
and resided on the mountain by the name of
Mallikarujna. Mallika means Parvati, while Arjuna is
another name of Shiva. It is believed by the people that just seeing
the tip of this mountain one is emancipated of all sins and becomes free from
the vicious cycle of life and death.
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga: Mahakaleshwar Temple is
located on the banks of the Kshipra River, in the dense Mahakal forest in
Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. According to the tale of Shiv Puran, there was a
five-year-old boy Shrikar who was captivated by the devotion of King
Chandrasena of Ujjain towards Lord Shiva. Shrikar took a stone and started
worshipping as Shiva. Pleased by his devotion, Lord Shiva assumed the form of a
Jyotirlinga and resided in the Mahakal forest. The Mahakaleshwar Temple is
considered significant by the Hindus for another reason.
Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga: It
is highly venerated Jyotirlinga and is located on an island
called Shivapuri in the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh. The word
Omkareshwar means “Lord of Omkaara” or the Lord of the Om Sound! According to
the Hindu scriptures, once upon a time there ensued a great war between the
Devas and Danavas (Gods and Demons), in which the Danavas won. This was a major
setback for the Devas who then prayed to Lord Shiva. Pleased with their prayer,
Lord Shiva emerged in the form of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga and defeated the
Danavas. This place is thus considered to be highly sacred by the
Hindus.
Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga: This Temple is also known as
Vaijnath or Baidyanath. It is located at Deogarh in the Santal Parganas
region of Jharkhand. According to a famous legend, the demon
king Ravana meditated and asked Lord Shiva to come over to Sri Lanka.
Ravana tried to take Mount Kailash with him, but Lord Shiva crushed it. Ravana
asked for penance and in turn was given of the twelve Jyotirlingas on the
condition that if it was placed on the ground it would remain rooted to that
spot till eternity. While transporting it to Sri Lanka, Lord Varuna entered
Ravana’s body and he felt an urgent need to relieve himself. Lord Vishnu came
down in the form of a lad and offered to hold the lingam in the meantime.
However, Vishnu placed the lingam on the ground and it got rooted to the spot.
As a form of penance, Ravana cut off nine of his heads. Shiva revived him and
joined the heads to the body, like a vaidya and hence this Jyotirlinga came to
be known as Vaidyanath.
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga: This Temple is located in the
Pune. It lies on the banks of Bhima River and is considered to be a source of
this river. The legend about the existence of this Jyotirlinga is related
to Kumbhakarna’s son Bhima. When Bhima learned that he was the
son of Kumbhakarana who was annihilated by Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as
Lord Ram, he vowed to avenge Lord Vishnu. He performed penance to please Lord
Brahma who granted him immense power. On achieving this power, he started
creating havoc in the world. He defeated the staunch devotee of Lord Shiva-
Kamrupeshwar and put him in the dungeons. This angered the Lords who requested
Shiva to descend Earth and put an end to this tyranny. A war ensued between the
two and Shiva ultimately put the demon to ashes. All the Gods then requested
Shiva to make that place his abode. Shiva then manifested himself in the form
of Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga. It is believed that the sweat which poured from
Shiva’s body after the battle is what formed the Bhima River.
Rameshwar Jyotirlinga: The southernmost of the 12
Jyotirlingas, is located on the island of Rameshwaram, off the Sethu coast
of Tamil Nadu. This Jyotirlinga is closely associated with Ramayana and Ram’s
victorious return from Sri Lanka. It is believed that Ram on his way to Sri
Lanka stopped at Rameshwaram and was drinking water on the seashore when there
was a celestial proclamation: “You are drinking water without worshipping me.”
Listening to this Ram made a linga of sand and worshipped it and asked for its
blessings to defeat Ravana. He got the blessings from Lord Shiva who then
turned into a Jyotirlinga and resided at the place for eternity.
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga: This Temple is also known as
Nagnath Temple which is located on the route between Gomati Dwarka and the
Bait Dwarka Island on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat. This Jyotirlinga
holds special significance as it symbolises protection from all types of
poison. It is believed that those who worship at this temple become free of all
poisons. According to the Shiva Purana, a Shiva devotee by the name Supriya was
captured by the demon Daaruka. The demon imprisoned her with several others in
his capital Daarukavana. Supriya advised all prisoners to chant “Aum Namaha
Shivaya” which enraged Daaruka who ran to kill Supriya. Lord Shiva manifested
in front of the demon and put an end to him. Thus the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
came into being.
Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga: The Kashi Vishwanath
Temple is located in the most revered site in the world of Kashi. It is
situated in the holy city Banaras (Varanasi). More than the Ghats and Ganga of
Varanasi, the Shivalinga remains the devotional focus of the pilgrims. It is
believed that Banaras is the site at which the first Jyotirlinga manifested its
supremacy over other Gods, broke through the earth’s crust and flared towards
heaven. This temple is said to be the dearest to Lord Shiva, and the people
believe that those who die here achieve liberation. Many believe that Shiva
himself resided here and is the giver of the liberation and happiness. This
temple has been rebuilt several times but always continued to hold its ultimate
significance.
Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga: The Trimbakeshwar Temple
is in Maharashtra. This temple is considered to be a source of the river
Godavari which is known as “Gautami Ganga”- the most sacred river in South
India. According to the Shiva Purana, it is on the earnest request of River
Godavari, Gautam Rishi and all the other Gods that Shiva decided to reside here
and assumed the name Trimbakeshwar. Gautam Rishi earned a boon from Varuna in
the form of a pit from which he received an inexhaustible supply of grains and
food. Seeing this other Gods were rendered jealous by him and they send a cow
to enter the granary. The cow was mistakenly killed by Gautam Rishi who then
asked Lord Shiva to do something to purify the premises. Shiva asked Ganga to
flow through the land to make it pure. Everyone thus sang praise for the Lord
who then resided beside Ganga in the form of Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga. Hindus
believe that this Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra is the one which fulfils everyone’s
desires.
Kedarnath Jyotirlinga: The Kedarnath
Temple is located on the Rudra Himalaya Range at the height of 12000 feet
on a mountain named Kedar. It is approximately 150 miles from Haridwar.
This is one of the holiest Jyotirling which is enshrining by the temple that
Jyotirlinga opens only six months in a year. The tradition is that while
embarking on a pilgrimage to Kedarnath people first visit Yamunotri
and Gangotri and brings the holy water to offer at Kedarnath. According to the legends,
pleased by the severe penance of the Nara and Narayana – two incarnations of
Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva took up permanent abode in Kedarnath in the form of
this Jyotirlinga. People believe that praying at this site one gets all his
desire fulfilled.
Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga: It is located, near
Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Located near this temple is the famous
tourist site – Ajanta & Ellora caves. This temple was built by Ahilyabai
Holkar who also rebuilt the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. According to
the Shiva Purana, a couple named Sudharm and Sudeha resided on the Devagiri
Mountain. They were childless, and thus Sudeha got her sister Ghushma married
to Sudharm. They bore a son who rendered Ghushma proud and Sudeha jealous of
her sister. In her jealousy, Sudeha threw the son in the lake where Ghushma
used to discharge 101 lingams. Ghushma prayed to Lord Shiva who ultimately
returned her the son and told her of her sister’s deeds. Sudharm asked Shiva to
emancipate Sudeha which left Shiva pleased with his generosity. On Sudharm’s
request, Shiva manifested himself in the form of the Jyotirlinga and assumed
the name Ghushmeshwar.
Source: Holidify
