12 Jyotirlingas In India To Visit In 2023: See The Spiritual Side Of The Country

 

    12 Jyotirlingas In India To Visit In 2023: See The Spiritual Side Of The Country

 

When you break the word “Jyotirlinga”, it becomes ‘Jyothi’, which means ‘radiance’ and ‘linga, which means phallus. These Jyotirlingas are considered different manifestations of Shiva. There are 12 Jyotirlingas in India spread in strategic locations, and Hindu devotees from all across the nation visit each one of them on their spiritual journey. So if you too are planning to embark on a spiritual journey, then begin your spiritual journey with these jyotirlingas that are as divine as the presence of the Almighty God itself.

Other than granting spiritual reckoning and blessings, these sanctums are utterly beautiful and peaceful. Whichever of these you choose to visit, you’ll find that the 12 Jyotirlingas images don’t do justice to the real deal. So, check out this list of 12 Jyotirlingas and choose will all destinations you still need to cover. 

    12 Jyotirlingas In India – Temples Of Lord Shiva

Spread across the country, Jyotirlingas are visited by devotees and travelers from different parts of the world. From planning to organizing your trip, this 12 Jyotirlinga list can be super helpful. Below is a list of 12 Jyotirlinga images with names and places: 

• Somnath – Gir Somnath In Gujarat
• Nageshwar – Daarukavanam In Gujarat
• Bhimashankar – Pune In Maharashtra
• Trimbakeshwar – Nashik In Maharashtra
• Grishneshwar – Aurangabad In Maharashtra
• Vaidyanath – Deoghar In Jharkhand
• Mahakaleshwar – Ujjain In Madhya Pradesh
• Omkareshwar – Khandwa In Madhya Pradesh
• Kashi Vishwanath – Varanasi In Uttar Pradesh
• Kedarnath – Kedarnath In Uttarakhand
• Rameshwaram – Rameswaram Island In Tamil Nadu
• Mallikarjuna – Srisailam In Andhra Pradesh

Jyotirlingas In West India

    Temple opening hours: The temple is open from 4:30 AM to 10 pm every day. Darshan is between 6:30 am to 1 pm and 6:30 pm to 9 pm.
    How to reach: You can reach Mallikarjuna by road from the nearby towns including Doranala, Markarpur, and Kurichedu. The nearest railway station is Markapur railway station.

1. Somnath – Gir Somnath In Gujarat

 

This is one of the most famous Jyotirlingas in India. Somnath is regarded as the first among the twelve aadi jyotirlingas and one of the most worshipped pilgrimage sites in the country. The temple architecture resembles the Chalukya style and Lord Shiva is believed to have appeared in this shrine, as a sizzling column of light. Shiv Purana tales reveal that Moon married 27 daughters of Dakshin Prajapati.

But Moon was cursed by Prajapati for neglecting all his wives except one; To order to get rid of the curse and regain luster and beauty, he worshipped Lord Shiva. The almighty granted his wish and resided here as Somnath eternally. Located in the Kathiawad region, Somnath jyotirlinga temple was destroyed and rebuilt almost sixteen times. There is no doubt in the fact that this temple comes on the top in the 12 Jyotirlingas’ list. 

Temple opening hours: Every day from 6 AM to 9 PM. Aarti takes place at 7 AM, 12 noon and 7 PM. The famous light and sound show; ‘Joy Somnath’ takes place every day between 8 to 9 in the evening.
    How to reach: The nearest railway station to Somnath is Veraval Railway station. It is well-connected with the major cities of India and is just 5 Km away from Somnath. This distance can be covered in a taxi or cab. 

    2. Nageshwar – Daarukavanam In Gujarat

Located on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat, between Gomati Dwarka and Bait Dwarka, Nageshwar is one of the popular Jyotirlinga tempes in India. Thousands of devotees visit the temple of Nagnath, round the year, to seek blessings from the holy shrine of Nageshwar Mahadev located in an underground sanctum. The 25-m tall statue of Lord Shiva, large garden and unobstructed views of the azure Arabian sea, fascinate the visitors. This is one of the most powerful Jyotirlingas in India, which symbolizes protection of all types of poisons.

Temple opening hours: 5 AM to 9 PM, on all days of the week. Devotees can go for darshan between 6 AM to 12:30 PM and 5 PM to 9 pm.
    How to reach: The nearest railway stations for Nageshwar are Dwarka station and Veraval station. Jamnagar Airport (45 Km) is the nearest airport to Dwarka

    3. Bhimashankar – Pune In Maharashtra

On the banks of River Bhima there lies, Bhimashankar temple- a marvellous black rock structure, with Nagara architectural pattern. Surrounded by a wildlife sanctuary of the same name, the jyotirlinga here is believed to be built by Bheema- Kumbhakarna’s son. Huge number of pilgrims visit this shrine, round the year, especially during Maha Shivratri. Devotees visiting Bhimashankar temple, also see Kamalaja temple- an incarnation of Parvati, located close by. This is one of the most popular jyotirlinga in India.

Temple opening hours: All days of the week from 4:30 AM to 12 noon and 4 PM to 9:30 PM. Darshan starts at 5 in the morning and continues till 9:30 in the night. In the afternoon, during Madhyan Aarti, darshan is closed for 45 minutes.
    How to reach: The nearest railway station to Bhimashankar is the Karjat station (168 Km). The remaining distance can be covered in a bus or a rickshaw

    4. Trimbakeshwar – Nashik In Maharashtra

Trimbakeshwar jyotirlinga is located near Brahmagiri mountain, the place of origin of Godavari River, also known as Gautami Ganga. According to Shiv Purana, Godavari River and Gautami Rishi pleaded Lord Shiva to reside here and hence the God emerged in the form of Trimbakeshwar. The most unique part of this jyotirlinga is its shape. Instead of a shrine, there is a void here with three pillars placed inside. The three pillars represent the three most powerful and authoritative Gods, namely, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar.

    Temple opening hours: 5:30 AM to 9 PM, all days of the week.
How to reach: Nearest airport to Trimbakeshwar is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The nearest railway station is Igatpuri Raiway station. Located in Nashik, Trimbakeshwar can be reached by road too.

    5. Grishneshwar – Aurangabad In Maharashtra

With impressive red rock 5 storied Shikhara style structure, carvings of Gods and Goddesses and a huge Nandi Bull in the main court hall, Grishneshwar temple is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Shiva Purana, located near the caves of Ajanta and Ellora. Built by Ahilyabai Holkar, this temple is also known as Gru Someswara and Kusum Eswarar. The sculpture of Vishnu’s Dashavatar, carved on red rock is immensely impressive and fascinates each and every visitor. This is also one of the best places to visit in Aurangabad. 

    Temple opening hours: For darshan and puja, visit the temple between 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM. During shravan, darshan is between 3 PM to 11 PM. Usually, darshan takes about a couple of hours. During the month of shravan, there are huge footfalls and it takes about 6 to 8 hours to complete darshan.
    How to reach: You can reach Aurangabad by train or flight from other parts of India. Delhi has direct trains and flights to this city. Aunrangabad is 30 Km away from Grishneshwar and this distance can be covered by road, in a taxi.

    Jyotirlingas In East And Central India

    Places like Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh are known for being home to these famed 12 Jyotirlingas in India other than offering immeasurable scenic beauty:

    6. Vaidyanath – Deoghar In Jharkhand

A highly revered jyotirlinga among the 12 Jyotirlinga names in the country, Vaidyanath or Baidyanath or Vaijinath is also one among the 52 shakti pethas shrines of Sati of Hindu religion. Mythological stories believe that Ravana revered Shiva for years and invited Shiva to Lanka. Shiva showed up as shivalinga and ordered Ravana to not to put down anywhere until he reaches Lanka. It is a popular Jyotirling in India. 

Vishnu interrupted Ravana in between and influenced him to keep the shivalinga at rest for sometimes. Thus, Ravana disobeyed Shiva and since then he resides as Vaidyanath, here in Deoghar. The month of Shravana receives maximum footfall here as people believe worshipping this shrine of Shiva will help them to get rid of all miseries and attain moksha and salvation.

Temple opening hours: The temple is open on all seven days from 4 AM to 3:30 PM and from 6 PM to 9 PM. During special religious occasions like Maha Shivaratri, darshan timings are stretched.
    How to reach: The nearest railway station to Vaidyanath is Jasidih Junction. This station can be reached from Ranchi. The temple is just 15 Km away from the station and can be reached in an auto or cab.

7. Mahakaleshwar – Ujjain In Madhya Pradesh

Surrounded by dense Mahakal forest, Mahakaleshwar temple, Ujjain is another the Jyotirling in India that has immense spiritual significance. As one of the popular jyotirlingas of central India, the shrine at Mahakaleshwar is believed to be set up by a five-year-old boy Srikar, who was inspired by the devotion of King Chandrasena of Ujjain. Located by the banks of Kshipra River, Mahakaleshwar jyotirlinga is also among the seven mukti-sthal in India; the place that can liberate a human being to eternity.

Temple opening hours: 4 AM to 11 PM. Devotees can experience darshan 8 AM to 10 AM,10:30 AM to 5 PM, 6 PM to 7 PM and 8 PM to 11 PM.
    How to reach: The nearest airport to Mahakaleshwar is Indore (51 Km). Ujjain Junction, Chintaman, Vikram Nagar, and Pingleshwa are the four nearest railway station to Mahakaleshwar. 

8. Omkareshwar – Khandwa In Madhya Pradesh

Omkareshwar, translating to ‘Lord of the Om Sound’, is one of the most sacred places in India. Situated in an island called Shivapuri, on the Narmada River, this temple has immense mythological significance too. People believe that once there was a war between Devas and Danavas, and the devas prayed to Lord Shiva for victory. Satisfied with the prayer, Lord Shiva appeared as Omkareshwar and helped the devas to achieve triumph over the evils.

    Temple opening hours: Open on all days of the week from 5 in the morning to 10 in the night. Darshan is between 5:30 AM to 12:20 PM and 4 pm to 8:30 PM.
    How to reach: Indore (77km) and Ujjain (133km) are the nearest airports to Omkareshwar. The nearest major railway station is 77 Km away, in Indore.  There are also buses running from Indore, Ujjain, and Khandwa to Omkareshwar.

    Jyotirlingas In North India

    See where the 12 Jyotirlingas are situated in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand that you can visit during your trip there:

    9. Kashi Vishwanath – Varanasi In Uttar Pradesh

Renowned as Golden Temple in Varanasi, Kashi Vishwanath is a popular one on the Jyotirlinga temples list. Constructed in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar- a Maratha Monarch, this Jyotirlinga is a significant religious place for the Hindus. Devotees believe that Lord Shiva resided here and offered liberation and happiness to all. It is also considered one of the first Jyotirlingas in the country which showcased its power over other Gods, broke through Earth’s surface and moved towards heaven. It’s among the most sought after 12    Jyotirlingas in India.

    Temple opening hours: The temple opens every day from 2:30 AM for 11 PM. Read below for the daily puja rituals and darshan timings.
Mangala Aarti: 3 AM to 4 PM
Sarva Darshan: 4 AM to 11 AM
Bhog Aarti: 11:15 AM to 12:20 PM
Sarva Darshan: 12:20 PM to 7 PM
Sandhya Aarti: 7 PM to 8:15 PM
Shringara Aarti: 9 PM to 10:15 PM
Shayana Aarti: 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM
    How to reach: Varanasi Junction is the nearest railway stations and there are several other stations in the city.

    10. Kedarnath – Kedarnath In Uttarakhand

Situated in the Rudra Himalayan Range, at an altitude of 1200 feet, Kedarnath Jyotirlinga is also considered as one of the 4 dhams of Hindu religion. Due to extremely cold weather and snowfall, the temple remains closed for 6 months during winter and is open only from May to June. Pilgrims on their way to Kedarnath, first visit Gangotri and Yamunotri to take holy water, which they offer to Kedarnath shivalinga.

    People believe on visiting Kedarnath temple and bathing the jyotirlinga, one can get rid of all unhappiness, ill luck, and misfortunes. Trekking up to Kedarnath is moderately difficult and people use walking sticks or ride on mules or dolis. The Samadhi of Shankaracharya- the famous Hindu saint is located just behind the main Kedarnath temple.

    Temple opening hours: 4 AM to 12 Noon and 3 PM to 9 PM
How to reach: Jolly Grant is the nearest aiport and Rishikesh is the nearest railway station to Kedarnath. The nearest road connectivity is till Gaurkund from where you cna trek to Kedarnath.

    Jyotirlingas In South India

Scroll down if you are looking for any of these 12 Jyotirlingas with locations in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh:

    11. Rameshwaram – Rameswaram Island In Tamil Nadu

Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga is believed to be worshipped by Lord Rama, after his phenomenal victory over Ravana. Known as the southernmost jyotirlingas in the country, the temple is surrounded by sea and boasts of its beautiful architecture, decorated corridors, and 36 theerthams.

    Popular as ‘Varanasi of the south’, Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga is also one of the most visited holy places in India, approached via Madurai in Tamil Nadu. Devotees visiting this jyotirlinga, also visit Dhanushkodi beach, from where Lord Rama had built Ram Setu up to Lanka, to save his wife. This is also one among the char dhams of India. 

    Temple opening hours: 5 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 9 PM. Darshan is permitted till 8 PM.
    How to reach: The nearest airport to Rameshwaram is in Madurai (163 Km). It is also connected by railway from several major South Indian cities including Chennai. 

    12. Mallikarjuna – Srisailam In Andhra Pradesh

    Popular as Kailash of the South among the other 12 Jyotirlingas in India; Mallikarjuna jyotirlinga temple is located atop Shri Saila Mountain, on the banks of River Krishna. With beautiful architecture and sculptures, decorated pillars known as gopurams and mukha mandapa hall, the temple of Mallikarjuna consists of deities of Shiva and Bhramaramba or Parvati and is listed as one among the 52 shakti peeths of Sati. Mallikarjuna jyotirlinga is unquestionably, one of the greatest Shaivite shrines in the country.

Out of the long 12 Jyotirlingas list, find out where to head for your spiritual awakening in places like Maharashtra and Gujarat.