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The 12 Jyotirlingas are associated with a variety of legends. Here are some of the most popular legends
Somnath
The legend of Somnath says that the moon
god, Chandra, once lost his luster. He went to Shiva to ask for help, and Shiva
told him to bathe in the waters of the Somnath temple. Chandra did as he was
told, and his luster was restored.
Nageshwar
The legend of Nageshwar says that the
serpent god, Nagesh, once lived in the Narmada River. He was a powerful
serpent, and he terrorized the people of the region. One day, Shiva appeared to
Nagesh and told him to stop terrorizing the people. Nagesh agreed, and he
became a devotee of Shiva.
Bhimashanker
The legend of Bhimashankar says that the
Pandavas, the heroes of the Mahabharata, once visited the Bhimashankar temple.
They were tired and hungry, and they asked Shiva for food. Shiva gave them a
lingam, and the Pandavas ate it. The lingam was so delicious that the Pandavas
asked for more, but Shiva told them that they had already eaten the entire
lingam.
Trimbakeshwar
The legend of Trimbakeshwar says that
the gods once churned the ocean of milk to obtain the nectar of immortality.
However, a demon named Rahu stole the nectar and drank it. Shiva saw this, and
he beheaded Rahu. However, Rahu's head was still immortal, and it continued to
haunt the gods. One day, Shiva appeared to Rahu and told him to meditate at the
Trimbakeshwar temple. Rahu did as he was told, and he was eventually granted
moksha (liberation).
Grishneshwar
The legend of Grishneshwar says that the
demon Andhakasura once terrorized the people of the region. He was so powerful
that no one could defeat him. One day, Andhakasura came to the Grishneshwar
temple and challenged Shiva to a fight. Shiva accepted the challenge, and he
killed Andhakasura.
Vaidyanath
The legend of Vaidyanath says that the
Pandavas once suffered from a variety of diseases. They went to the Vaidyanath
temple to pray to Shiva for healing. Shiva heard their prayers, and he cured
them of their diseases.
Mahakaleshwar
The legend of Mahakaleshwar says that
Shiva once performed the tandava dance, the dance of destruction. The dance was
so powerful that it threatened to destroy the world. The gods begged Shiva to
stop, but he refused. Finally, Vishnu appeared and cut off Shiva's head.
However, Shiva's head was still immortal, and it was placed on a lingam at the
Mahakaleshwar temple.
Omkareshwar
The legend of Omkareshwar says that
Shiva once meditated on the banks of the Narmada River. As he meditated, he
uttered the sacred syllable "Om". The syllable "Om" is said
to be the essence of all creation, and it is said that the sound of
"Om" can lead to a state of spiritual enlightenment.
Rameshwaram
The legend of Rameshwaram says that
Rama, the hero of the Ramayana, once built a lingam at the Rameshwaram temple.
Rama built the lingam to worship Shiva after he defeated the demon Ravana.
Kedarnath
The legend of Kedarnath says that Shiva
once meditated in the Garhwal Himalayas. As he meditated, he attained samadhi
(liberation). The place where Shiva meditated is now known as the Kedarnath
temple.
Mallikarjuna
The legend of Mallikarjuna says that
Shiva and his consort Parvati once performed their penance in the town of
Srisailam. As they performed their penance, they were attacked by a demon named
Pallava. Shiva killed Pallava, and he and Parvati were granted moksha.
Ghrneshwar
The legend of Ghrneshwar says that Shiva
once drank the poison that was churned up from the ocean of milk. The poison
was so poisonous that it turned Shiva's throat blue. However, Shiva was able to
retain his immortality, and he became known as Neelkantheshwar, the
blue-throated god.
These are just a few of the many legends
associated with the 12 Jyotirlingas. These legends offer a glimpse into the
rich and complex history of Hinduism, and they continue to inspire pilgrims
from all over the world.
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