In Hindu belief, there are twelve very special temples called Jyotirlingas, where Lord Shiva is worshipped in his most powerful form. The word "Jyotirlinga" means "pillar of light", showing Lord Shiva's endless energy and greatness.
The story behind these Jyotirlingas begins with a disagreement between Lord Vishnu (the protector) and Lord Brahma (the creator). They were arguing about who was the greatest among them. To settle the argument, Lord Shiva appeared as a shining pillar of light that stretched from the earth to the sky. He challenged them both to find either the top or the bottom of this pillar.
Lord Vishnu searched downward but couldn’t find the end, so he admitted his defeat. Lord Brahma went upward, but when he couldn’t find the top, he lied and claimed that he had. Lord Shiva became very angry and cursed Brahma, stating that no one on earth would worship him, even though he had created the universe.
This shining pillar has become a symbol of Lord Shiva's infinite power and is known as a Jyotirlinga.
1. Somnath: Gir Somnath, Gujarat.
Somnath Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, is a famous shrine of Lord Shiva, located in Somnath, Gujarat. It is believed to be the first Jyotirlinga on Earth and holds a very special place in the Hindu religion. The temple’s history dates back to around 320 AD to 500 AD.
According to ancient stories, the temple is connected to Somdev, also known as the Moon God. Somdev had many wives, all daughters of Daksha Prajapati, but he loved only one of them — Rohini. This upset Daksha, who became angry and cursed Somdev, making him lose his glow and brightness.
Feeling sorry and ashamed, Somdev went into deep meditation and worshipped Lord Shiva at this spot for 4,000 years. Pleased with his devotion, Lord Shiva softened the curse, allowing the moon to shine bright for half the month. This is why the moon grows and fades every month.
Out of gratitude, and with guidance from Lord Brahma, Somdev built a temple for Lord Shiva at the same place, and that temple became the holy Somnath Temple we know today.
2. Nageshwar: Daarukavanam, Gujarat.
The Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the jyotirlings, which is dedicated to lord Shiva and situated in coastal town of Dwarka in Gujarat, carries a tale of divine intervention and unwavering faith. As the story goes, a devoted follower of Lord Shiva named Supriya was once captured by a cruel demon named Daaruka, who ruled over a forest full of dark powers.
Supriya, even while imprisoned, continued his deep devotion by constantly chanting “Om Namah Shivaya.” His devotion created a spiritual force that protected him and others who were held captive. Furious, Daaruka tried to destroy Supriya, but before any harm could come to him, Lord Shiva emerged in a blazing pillar of light and annihilated the demon.
Impressed by Supriya’s dedication, Lord Shiva made his presence eternal at that site in the form of a Jyotirlinga, symbolizing his role as a protector against evil forces. Since then, the shrine has been revered as Nageshwar, meaning “Lord of the Serpents,” representing Shiva’s power to shield his devotees from all dangers.
3. Bhimashankar: Pune, Maharashtra.
The Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is one of the jyotirlings, which is devoted to lord Shiva and positioned in the Sahyadri hills of Maharashtra, near Pune.
The legend of Bhimashankar begins with a demon named Tripurasura, who gained great powers by appealing to Lord Shiva. Impressed by his devotion, Shiva gave him an important boon. But rather than using it for good, Tripurasura got cruel and started disturbing the gods, pundits, and innocent people.
The upset gods appealed to Lord Shiva for help. To defend the world, Shiva took the fierce form of Bhairava and went into battle with Tripurasura in the deep forestlands of Bhimashankar. After a fierce fight, Lord Shiva defeated and destroyed the demon.
After the fight, Shiva was filled with heat and energy, and drops of sweat from his body created the Bhima River, which flows from the hills of Bhimashankar. In honor of this important event, a Jyotirlinga appeared, and the place was named Bhimashankar, where Shiva is worshipped in his fierce and protective form.
4. Trimbakeshwar: Nashik, Maharashtra.
The Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the jyotirlingas, is dedicated to lord Shiva and situated in Nasik, Maharashtra.
A long time ago, a wise and kind sage named Gautam Rishi lived in this region. One day, because of a divine test, he accidentally committed a sin. Feeling guilty and wanting to clean his soul, he prayed with deep devotion to Lord Shiva, asking him to bring the holy Ganga River to this land.
Lord Shiva was pleased with Gautam Rishi’s prayers. He requested Goddess Ganga to come down from the Brahmagiri hills. This gave birth to the Godavari River, which is now one of the most sacred rivers in India.
Later, Lord Shiva appeared in this place as a Jyotirlinga, which came to be known as Trimbakeshwar, where he is worshipped as the giver of purity and blessings.
5. Grishneshwar: Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
The Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the jyotirlings, which is dedicated to lord Shiva and situated in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra. It including its mythological story, history, and spiritual importance.
Long ago, there lived a deeply devoted woman named Kusuma. Every day, she worshipped Lord Shiva with full faith by immersing a Shivling in a pond. Her prayers were pure and heartfelt. However, her co-wife became jealous of her devotion and, in anger, killed Kusuma’s only son.
Despite this terrible loss, Kusuma did not stop praying. She continued her worship with strong faith and love for Lord Shiva. Touched by her devotion, Lord Shiva appeared before her, brought her son back to life, and blessed her.
To honor Kusuma’s faith, Lord Shiva chose to stay there in the form of a Jyotirlinga, which came to be known as Grishneshwar, meaning “Lord of Compassion.”
This temple is not only a place of worship but also a symbol of how true devotion and patience can bring divine blessings, even in the toughest times.
6. Vaidyanath: Deoghar, Jharkhand.
The Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga, one of the jyotirlings, which is dedicated to lord Shiva and situated in Deoghar, Jharkhand.
According to legend, Ravana, the mighty king of Lanka and a devoted follower of Lord Shiva, wanted to bring Shiva to his kingdom. To please him, Ravana performed severe penance and even offered his ten heads to Lord Shiva, one by one, as a sign of his deep devotion.
Impressed by Ravana’s sacrifice, Lord Shiva appeared before him and healed his wounds, acting as a Vaidya (doctor). That’s why this form of Shiva is called Vaidyanath, meaning “Lord of Healing.”
Shiva gave Ravana a Shivling and allowed him to take it to Lanka, but with one condition: he must not place it on the ground. During his journey, Ravana stopped in Deoghar for his evening prayers and asked a local boy (who was actually Lord Vishnu in disguise) to hold the Shivling.
The boy placed the Shivling on the ground, and it got firmly rooted there. Ravana could not lift it again. So, the Shivling remained in Deoghar forever.
Since then, this place has been worshipped as Baba Baidyanath Dham, where devotees come to seek healing, blessings, and peace.
7. Mahakaleshwar: Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
The Mahakaleshwar jyotirling, one of the jyotirlings, which is dedicated to lord Shiva and is situated in the Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh. It including its mythological story, history, and spiritual importance.
According to ancient legend, there once lived a five-year-old boy named Shikhar, the son of a priest in Ujjain. Even at such a young age, Shikhar was a devoted follower of Lord Shiva and prayed to him every day.
At that time, a cruel demon named Dushana, who hated religion and sacred rituals, attacked the city. He tried to stop the people from worshipping Shiva and attempted to destroy the Shiva Lingam in Ujjain.
When Dushana tried to kill the young boy and destroy the temple, Lord Shiva suddenly rose from the ground in a fearsome form. He defeated and destroyed the demon to protect his devotee and the city.
Because Shiva appeared in his Mahakal form, which controls time, death, and destiny, the place became known as Mahakaleshwar, and the Lingam was established there forever.
This temple is a powerful symbol of divine protection, reminding us that true devotion can call upon Shiva himself to destroy evil and protect righteousness.
8. Omkareshwar: Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.
The Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the jyotirlings, which is dedicated to lord Shiva and situated in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.
This island is uniquely shaped like the sacred symbol “?” (Om), which represents the essence of the universe in Hindu belief.
According to legend, a long time ago, a fierce battle broke out between the Devas (gods) and the Danavas (demons). The gods were losing the war and prayed with full devotion to Lord Shiva for help. Pleased by their prayers, Shiva appeared as Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga and defeated the demons, restoring peace and balance.
Another story says that the island itself, shaped like “Om,” is what gave the temple its name — Omkareshwar, meaning “Lord of Om.” Because of this, the place is considered very sacred and powerful.
Interestingly, the island is home to two forms of Shiva — one is Omkareshwar, and the other is Mamleshwar (also called Amaleshwar). Devotees usually visit and worship both shrines, believing they together represent the complete spiritual presence of the Jyotirlinga.
This site is not only a religious destination but also a place filled with peaceful energy, attracting pilgrims from all over the country.
9. Kashi Vishwanath: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
The Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, located in the ancient city of Varanasi (Kashi) in Uttar Pradesh, is one of the most sacred shrines of Lord Shiva. Varanasi is considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world and is deeply respected in Hindu tradition.
As per the legends, Lord Shiva once said, “Kashi is my most beloved place; I will never abandon it.” That’s why he is forever present in this holy city, and here, he is worshipped as Vishwanath, which means “Lord of the Universe.”
In a divine incident, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu were arguing about who was the most powerful. To end their dispute, Lord Shiva appeared as a massive, endless column of light—a form known as the Jyotirlinga. The location where this light touched the earth became sacred, and Kashi Vishwanath is one of those twelve powerful places.
Many people believe that dying in Kashi brings moksha, or freedom from the cycle of life and death. It is said that at the moment of death, Lord Shiva gently recites the Taraka Mantra into the ear of the soul, helping it find peace and liberation.
For this reason, Varanasi is not just a city—it is a spiritual doorway where life meets eternity, and where Shiva’s presence brings peace to countless souls.
10. Kedarnath: Kedarnath, Uttarakhand.
Kedarnath Jyotirlinga, one of the twelve sacred shrines of Lord Shiva, is located in the majestic Himalayas of Uttarakhand, a region often called Devbhoomi, meaning “Land of the Gods.” This holy site is also a part of the famous Char Dham Yatra, a spiritual journey through four sacred places in northern India.
The story behind Kedarnath is deeply connected to the Pandavas, the five heroic brothers from the epic Mahabharata. After the great war of Kurukshetra, the Pandavas felt guilty for the destruction and wanted to seek forgiveness from Lord Shiva for the lives lost.
However, Lord Shiva did not want to meet them and chose to disguise himself as a bull to avoid their request. He tried to hide, but the Pandavas followed him all the way to the Himalayan region. When they got close, Shiva, in the form of the bull, dived into the ground, and only his hump remained above the surface.
That very spot became sacred, and the hump is now worshipped as the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga. The temple that stands there today is one of the highest and most important pilgrimage sites for Lord Shiva's followers, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and deep spiritual energy.
11. Rameshwaram: Rameswaram Island, Tamil Nadu.
The Rameswaram Jyotirlinga, also known as the Ramanathaswamy Temple, is one of the twelve sacred shrines of Lord Shiva, located in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, on the southern tip of India.
This temple has a deep connection with the epic Ramayana, the story of Lord Rama’s journey to Lanka to rescue his wife, Sita. After defeating Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, Lord Rama wanted to wash away the sin of killing Ravana, who, despite his actions, was a Brahmin and a devotee of Lord Shiva.
To seek forgiveness, Lord Rama was advised to worship Lord Shiva. He asked Sita to make a Shivling out of sand, which is now known as the Ramalingam. At the same time, Hanuman was sent to Mount Kailash to bring a divine Shivling. He returned with the Vishwalingam.
Both lingams are worshipped in the temple, but as per Rama's instruction, the Vishwalingam brought by Hanuman is offered prayers first, honoring Hanuman’s devotion.
Rameswaram thus stands as a powerful symbol of devotion, redemption, and the unity of Lord Rama and Lord Shiva, making it one of the most spiritually important Jyotirlingas in India.
12. Mallikarjuna: Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh.
The Mallikarjuna Jyotirling, one of the Jyotirling, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and situated in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh.
The Mallikarjuna Story revolves around a marital dispute between lord Shiva and Parvati’s sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya, and how their parents' subsequent actions led to the divine presence at Srisailam. When Kartikeya, upset at Ganesha's marriage, left for Mount Krounch, Shiva and Parvati followed him, eventually manifesting as the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga to be near their son.
So, these were the iconic 12 Jyotirlings of India. For more details and Packages, visit Jyotirling Tour packages. and also visit our website https://www.expressindiajourney.com/
