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The 12 Jyotirlingas are the holiest
shrines of Shiva in Hinduism. They are said to be the places where Shiva
manifested himself as a lingam, or a pillar of light. The 12 Jyotirlingas are
located all over India, and they are visited by millions of pilgrims every
year.
The lingam: The lingam is the central
feature of all Jyotirlinga temples. It is a pillar of stone that represents the
divine energy of Shiva. The lingam is usually made of black stone, but it can
also be made of other materials, such as marble or granite.
The temple complex: The temple complex
usually includes a number of other structures, such as a gateway, a courtyard,
a hall of pillars, and a shrine dedicated to Parvati, Shiva's consort. The
temple complex is often surrounded by a wall or moat.
Somnath
Place: Veraval, Gujarat
Location: On the coast of the Arabian
Sea
History: The Somnath temple is one of
the oldest and most revered Hindu temples in India. It is said to have been
built by the moon god, Chandra, and was destroyed and rebuilt several times
over the centuries. The current temple was built in the 12th century by the
Solanki dynasty.
Religious importance: The Somnath temple
is considered to be the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas, and is one of the most
important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. It is believed that a visit to the
Somnath temple can cleanse one of all sins.
Nageshwar
Place: Dwarka, Gujarat
Location: On the coast of the Arabian
Sea
History: The Nageshwar temple is
dedicated to the serpent god, Nagesh. It is said to have been built by the
Pandavas, the heroes of the Mahabharata. The temple is located in the town of
Dwarka, which is one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism.
Religious importance: The Nageshwar
temple is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites for
Hindus. It is believed that a visit to the Nageshwar temple can cure snakebite
and other ailments.
Bhimashanker
Place: Junnar, Maharashtra
Location: On the banks of the Bhima
River
History: The Bhimashankar temple is
dedicated to the god Shiva. It is said to have been built by the Pandavas, the
heroes of the Mahabharata. The temple is located in the town of Junnar, which
is about 100 kilometers from Pune.
Religious importance: The Bhimashankar
temple is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites for
Hindus. It is believed that a visit to the Bhimashankar temple can grant one's
wishes.
Trimbakeshwar
Place: Nashik, Maharashtra
Location: On the banks of the Godavari
River
History: The Trimbakeshwar temple is
dedicated to the god Shiva. It is said to be the place where Shiva received the
nectar of immortality from the gods. The temple is located in the town of
Nashik, which is about 150 kilometers from Mumbai.
Religious importance: The Trimbakeshwar
temple is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites for
Hindus. It is believed that a dip in the holy waters of the Godavari River at
Trimbakeshwar can wash away one's sins.
Grishneshwar
Place: Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Location: On the banks of the Godavari
River
History: The Grishneshwar temple is
dedicated to the god Shiva. It is said to be the place where Shiva killed the
demon Andhakasura. The temple is located in the town of Aurangabad, which is
about 300 kilometers from Mumbai.
Religious importance: The Grishneshwar
temple is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites for
Hindus. It is believed that a visit to the Grishneshwar temple can cure
blindness.
Vaidyanath
Place: Deoghar, Jharkhand
Location: On the banks of the Champa
River
History: The Vaidyanath temple is
dedicated to the god Shiva. It is said to be the place where Shiva cured the
Pandavas of their diseases. The temple is located in the town of Deoghar, which
is about 250 kilometers from Ranchi.
Religious importance: The Vaidyanath
temple is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites for
Hindus. It is believed that a visit to the Vaidyanath temple can cure all
diseases.
Mahakaleshwar
Place: Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
Location: On the banks of the Shipra
River
History: The Mahakaleshwar temple is
dedicated to the god Shiva. It is said to be the place where Shiva performed
the tandava dance, the dance of destruction. The temple is located in the city
of Ujjain, which is one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism.
Religious importance: The Mahakaleshwar
temple is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites for
Hindus. It is believed that a visit to the Mahakaleshwar temple can grant one's
wishes and protect one from evil.
Omkareshwar
Place: Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh
Location: On an island in the Narmada
River
History: The Omkareshwar temple is
dedicated to the god Shiva. It is said to be the place where Shiva meditated
and uttered the sacred syllable "Om".
Rameshwaram
Place: Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
Location: On Pamban Island, in the Gulf
of Mannar
History: The Rameshwaram temple is
dedicated to the god Shiva. It is said to be the place where Rama, the hero of
the Ramayana, built a lingam to worship Shiva after he defeated the demon
Ravana. The temple is located on Pamban Island, which is about 180 kilometers
from Madurai.
Religious importance: The Rameshwaram
temple is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites for
Hindus. It is believed that a visit to the Rameshwaram temple can grant one's
wishes and absolve one of all sins.
Kedarnath
Place: Kedarnath, Uttarakhand
Location: In the Garhwal Himalayas
History: The Kedarnath temple is
dedicated to the god Shiva. It is said to be the place where Shiva meditated
and attained samadhi. The temple is located in the Garhwal Himalayas, at an
altitude of about 3,584 meters.
Religious importance: The Kedarnath
temple is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites for
Hindus. It is believed that a visit to the Kedarnath temple can grant one's
wishes and bestow moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Mallikarjuna
Place: Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
Location: On the banks of the Krishna
River
History: The Mallikarjuna temple is
dedicated to the god Shiva and his consort Parvati. It is said to be the place
where Shiva and Parvati performed their penance. The temple is located in the
town of Srisailam, which is about 150 kilometers from Kurnool.
Religious importance: The Mallikarjuna
temple is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites for
Hindus. It is believed that a visit to the Mallikarjuna temple can grant one's
wishes and bestow moksha.
Ghrneshwar
Location: On the banks of the Krishna
River
History: The Ghrneshwar temple is
dedicated to the god Shiva. It is said to be the place where Shiva drank the
poison that was churned up from the ocean of milk. The temple is located in the
city of Kolhapur, which is about 350 kilometers from Pune.
Religious importance: The Ghrneshwar temple is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. It is believed that a visit to the Ghrneshwar temple can cure snakebite and other ailments.
The 12 Jyotirlingas are some of the most important pilgrimage
sites in Hinduism. They are said to be places of great power and spiritual
energy, and they are believed to offer a variety of benefits to those who visit
them. If you are interested in Hindu spirituality, or if you are simply looking
for a place to connect with your inner self, then a visit to one of the 12
Jyotirlingas is a worthwhile experience.
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