17 August 2009

The 12 Jyotirlinga Shrines of Lord Shiva

India is a country with thousand race, the land of thousands beliefs and the abode of a million Gods. The most important pilgrim centres particularly for the Shaivities are 12 Jyotirlingas which are situated in different parts of India. Reference of these Jyotirlingas is also found in the Shiv Purana. They are called jyotirlingas because Lord Shiva is said to have revealed himself to his devotees in the form of Jyoti / light. Even today devotees are said to have got his darshan in the form of jyoti at these places. The 12 jyotirlinga shrines, popularly known as the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga shrines are considered to be very holy by the Hindus. The Jyotirlingas have held an important position in the Indian belief system. The Jyotirlinga temples have a rich tradition and each temple has a legend attached to it. They are situated in different parts of India. These temples provide a fine view of Indian architecture and definitely add to the rich glory and tradition of Indian history. These places are a must visit both in terms of pilgrimage and as tourist destinations.
The Dwadasa Jyotirlinga shrines or the 12 shrines enshrining Shiva in the form of a Jyotirlingam, have been held in reverence since time immemorial in the Indian system of beliefs. The southernmost of these is located at Rameswaram, while the northernmost is located in the snowy heights of the Himalayas at Kedarnath. These temples are closely linked with legends from the puranas and are rich in history and tradition.
................It is said that One who recites these 12 names regularly in the morning and evening washes all the sins committed in the previous 7 births and attains all the powers and Siddhis.
SAURASHTRE SOMANAATHAM CHA SHREESHAILE MALLIKARJUNAM II
UJJAYINYAM MAHAKALAM OMKARE AMARESHWARAM II
PARALYAAM VAIDYANAATHAM CHA DAAKINYAM BHIMASHANKARAM II
SETHU BANDHE TU RAAMESHAM NAAGESHAM DAARUKAVANE II
VAARAANASYAANTHU VISHVESHAM TRYAMBAKAM GAUTHAMEETHATE II HIMALAYE TU KEDAARAM GHRUSHNESHAM CHA SHIVALAYE II
ETAANI JYOTIRLINGAANI SAAYAM PRAATAH PATHENNARAHA II
SAPTHA JANMA KRITAM PAAPAM SMARANENA VINASYATHI II
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The 12 Jyotirlinga temples are the following:
  • Somnath Jyotirlinga Shrine
  • Mallikaarjun Mahadeva Temple
  • Mahakaleshwar Temple
  • Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
  • Rameshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
  • Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
  • Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
  • Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple
  • Kedarnath Jyotirlinga Temple
  • Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
  • Baijnath (Vaidhyanath) Jyotirlinga Temple
  • Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Temple
My next posting will commence with the first of the Jyotirlingas, the "Somnath Jyotirlinga Shrine "in (Kathiawad), Gujarat.

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