Maha Shivaratri 2018: Twelve Jyotirlinga shrines and their locations

Mumbai: Lord Shiva, who is also worshipped in the Linga form, is one of the most revered Gods in India. He is considered as the Supreme most of the Hindu trinity which also includes Brahma (the creator) and Vishnu (the preserver). The Linga is worshipped by millions and on the occasion of Mahashivaratri, devotees of the Lord observe fasts and offer Puja overnight. And many visit the Jyotirlingas which are considered to be auspicious and the most radiant signs of Shiva.

There are twelve Jyotirlingas in India.

Let’s take a look at them:

Somnath

 

Somnath in Gujarat is the same temple that was destroyed a number of times by foreign invaders. But in spite of being attacked time and again, the Jyotirlinga shrine stands tall facing the Arabian Ocean.

Mallikaarjuna

 

This Jyotirlinga is located in the Kunool Disrict of Andhra Pradesh. A beautifully crafted temple structure enshrines this Jyotirlinga.

Mahakaleshwar

The city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh is home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga.

Omkareshwar

 

This Jyotirlinga is in a temple built on the island of the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh.

Kedarnath

 

This Jyotirlinga is closest to Lord Shiva’s abode – Kailasa. The state of Uttarakhand is home to this shrine.

Bhimashankar

The actual location of this Jyotirlinga is debatable. But the Bhimashankar temple near Pune in Maharashtra is popularly believed to be the original one.

Kashi Vishwanath

 

The holiest city of the Hindus – Kashi – is home to this Jyotirlinga which is considered to be the most scared of all the other shrines.

Trimbakeshwar

 

This Jyotirlinga is in Nasik, a city in Maharashtra.

Vaidyanath

This shrine is located in Jhakrkhand.

Aundha Nagnath

The exact location of the Aundha Nagnath shrine is also debatable. According to a few beliefs, the Nagnath is located in Maharashtra and according to a few others, it is in Uttarakhand.

Rameshwar

This Jyotirlinga shrine is located in Tamil Nadu’s Rameshwaram.

Grishneshwar

 

This shrine is located near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.