Tag: Lord Shiva

12 Jyotirlinga in India – Temples of Lord Shiva

Jyotirlinga is a term used in Hinduism to refer to twelve holy shrines that are dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. The term “jyotirlinga” translates to “lingam of light,” which refers to the radiant energy that is believed to emanate from these shrines. There is a distance of 2383 km between Kedarnath and Rameswaram. But all these temples fall in almost the same parallel line. After all, thousands of years ago, the technology with which these temples had been built in a parallel line is a mystery to this day. In this article, you can read about the 12 Jyotirlingas below:

  1. Somnath Jyotirlinga: Located in the state of Gujarat, Somnath Jyotirlinga is considered to be the first among the twelve jyotirlingas. The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout history.

  2. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga: Located in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is situated on Shri Shaila Mountain. The temple is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in South India.

  3. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga: Located in the city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the most famous jyotirlingas in India. The temple is known for its unique architecture and rich history.

  4. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga: Located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is situated on an island in the Narmada River. The temple is famous for its unique location and beautiful natural surroundings.

  5. Kedarnath Jyotirlinga: Located in the state of Uttarakhand, Kedarnath Jyotirlinga is situated in the Himalayas. The temple is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in the country and is visited by millions of pilgrims each year.

  6. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga: Located in the state of Maharashtra, Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is situated in the Sahyadri Mountains. The temple is known for its beautiful architecture and stunning natural surroundings.

  7. Vishwanath Jyotirlinga: Located in the city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Vishwanath Jyotirlinga is one of the most famous temples in India. The temple is known for its beautiful architecture and rich history.

  8. Triambakeshwar Jyotirlinga: Located in the state of Maharashtra, Triambakeshwar Jyotirlinga is situated in the Western Ghats. The temple is known for its beautiful architecture and stunning natural surroundings.

  9. Baidyanath Jyotirlinga: Located in the state of Jharkhand, Baidyanath Jyotirlinga is situated in the town of Deoghar. The temple is known for its unique architecture and rich history.

  10. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga: Located in the state of Gujarat, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is situated on the coast of the Arabian Sea. The temple is known for its beautiful location and rich history.

  11. Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga: Located in the state of Tamil Nadu, Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga is situated on an island in the Gulf of Mannar. The temple is known for its beautiful architecture and stunning natural surroundings.

  12. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga: Located in the state of Maharashtra, Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is situated near the famous Ellora Caves. The temple is known for its beautiful architecture and rich history.

Each temple is unique in its own way and has its own rich history associated with it. For example, the Somnath Jyotirlinga is believed to have been built by the moon god, Chandra, to seek forgiveness for the curse he received from his father-in-law, Daksha. The Kedarnath Jyotirlinga is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a bull to bless the Pandavas after the Kurukshetra war. Pilgrims from all over India and the world visit these shrines to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and attain spiritual enlightenment.

The significance of the twelve jyotirlingas is not only limited to their religious importance but also to their historical and cultural value. These temples are considered to be a representation of the rich cultural heritage of India, and are an important part of its history. Visiting these shrines is also believed to be a spiritual journey that can bring about a sense of peace and enlightenment.

Death of Devi Sati – Tragic tale of love & devotion

Devi Sati was the daughter of Daksha, one of the Prajapatis, and the son of Lord Brahma. She was born with divine qualities and was considered to be an incarnation of the goddess Shakti. Sati was a devoted wife to Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction, and they lived together in Mount Kailash.

One day, Daksha organized a grand Yagna (sacrificial fire ceremony) and invited all the gods, goddesses, and sages except Lord Shiva. Sati, who was not aware of this, decided to attend the ceremony. When she arrived, she was treated with disrespect and insults by Daksha, who disapproved of her marriage to Lord Shiva. Sati tried to reason with her father, but he refused to listen to her and continued to insult her husband. Unable to bear the humiliation, Sati invoked her yogic powers and immolated herself in the fire of the Yagna. Her sacrifice was a shock to the gods and goddesses who were present at the ceremony, and it was considered to be an act of immense courage and devotion.

Credits – Gururaj Bhandari

Lord Shiva, who was unaware of what had happened, sensed the distress of his wife and rushed to the Yagna site. He was horrified to see the charred remains of Sati and was filled with rage and grief. In his anger, he created the ferocious Veerabhadra, who attacked Daksha and his followers and destroyed the Yagna. The news of Sati’s death spread quickly, and Lord Brahma and other gods and goddesses came to offer their condolences. Lord Shiva, who was inconsolable, carried the body of Sati and roamed around the universe in a fit of rage. He was unable to let go of his beloved wife and refused to perform his duties as the god of destruction.

To put an end to Lord Shiva’s agony, Lord Vishnu decided to intervene. He used his Sudarshan Chakra (discus) to cut Sati’s body into fifty-one pieces, which fell to earth in different places. These places are now considered to be Shakti Peethas (sacred shrines dedicated to the goddess Shakti) and are revered by devotees of the goddess.