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Maha Shivaratri 2018: Twelve Jyotirlinga shrines and their locations
Many devotees of Lord Shiva visit the Jyotirlingas on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivaratri. These shrines are considered to be the most radiant signs of Shiva.
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.