The 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva

1️⃣ Somnath Jyotirlinga – Gujarat

• First and most sacred Jyotirlinga.

• Symbol of resilience, destroyed & rebuilt many times.

• Location: Prabhas Patan near Veraval, Saurashtra.

2️⃣ Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga – Andhra Pradesh

• Situated on Srisailam hill (Kurnool district).

• Known as “Kailash of the South”.

• Represents Shiva and Parvati together.

3️⃣ Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga – Madhya Pradesh

• Location: Ujjain.

• Famous for Bhasma Aarti (ash ritual).

• The only south-facing Jyotirlinga.

4️⃣ Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga – Madhya Pradesh

• On an island shaped like ॐ (Om) in Narmada River.

• Twin shrines: Omkareshwar & Mamleshwar.

5️⃣ Kedarnath Jyotirlinga – Uttarakhand

• Situated in the Himalayas near Mandakini River.

• Accessible only 6 months due to snow.

• Part of Char Dham & Panch Kedar.

6️⃣ Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga – Maharashtra

• Source of the Bhima River.

• Surrounded by dense Sahyadri forest (wildlife sanctuary).

7️⃣ Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga – Uttar Pradesh

• Location: Varanasi (Kashi), city of light.

• Most revered Shiva temple.

• Believed to grant moksha (liberation).

8️⃣ Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga – Maharashtra

• Near Nashik, at the origin of Godavari River.

• Unique with 3 faces (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva).

9️⃣ Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga – Jharkhand (Deoghar)

• Also called Baidyanath / Vaijnath.

• Believed Shiva healed Ravana here.

1️⃣0 Nageshwar Jyotirlinga – Gujarat

• Location: Near Dwarka.

• Sometimes linked with Aundha Nagnath (Maharashtra).

• Symbol of Shiva as protector from poison & evil.

1️⃣1️⃣ Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga – Tamil Nadu

• Location: Rameswaram island.

• Associated with Lord Rama’s worship of Shiva.

• Temple has the longest corridors in the world.

1️⃣2️⃣ Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga – Maharashtra

• Near Ellora Caves.

• The smallest Jyotirlinga temple, yet highly sacred.