List of 12 Jyotirlingas: Names, Places and Their Historical Significance Across India

Updated On: 22 November 2024, 12:00 AM IST

We talk about Lord Shiva and do not mention the Jyotirlingas, that is simply not possible. Whenever the glory of Lord Shiva is discussed, the blessings of the Jyotirlingas are also remembered. If you are also devoted to Lord Shiva and want to receive blessings of jyotirlingas, then this article is for you. There are a total of twelve Jyotirlingas devoted to Lord Shiva including, Somnath, Vishwanath, Kedarnath, Vaidyanath, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Bhimashankar, Nageshwar, Trimbakeshwar, Ghushneshwar, Malikarujna and Rameshwar. Each Jyotirlinga holds a different story and history related to Lord Shiva. According to the beliefs of Hindus, If you visit the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, you will witness the divine grace of Lord Shiva, and along with that, you will be freed from the cycle of life and death and attain the abode of the divine. Let’s delve into the history and significance of each Jyotirlinga.

SOMNATH JYOTIRLINGA

Somnath is the first Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva situated in Veraval, Gujarat. According to Mythology, Somnath Jyotirlinga is related to the story of Moon God and Lord Shiva. Moon God had many wives, but he loved his one wife named Rohini more than others. During that time, the other wives of Moon God got really upset and complained to their father, Daksha Prajapati. Daksha After that, Daksha cursed Chandra Dev (the Moon God) that he would set it within 24 hours, and Daksha would create a new celestial body in his place. To save Chandra Dev, Goddess Sati obtained the Mahamrityunjaya mantra from Rishi Markandeya. All of Chandra Dev's wives, along with Rishi Markandeya and Goddess Sati, established a Shivalinga on the seashore, laid Chandra Dev before it, and recited the Mahamrityunjaya mantra. At that moment, Lord Shiva appeared and granted new life to Chandra Dev. From that time, Shivalinga has been worshiped as a Jyotirlinga. It is believed that a person who takes blessings of Somnath Jyotirlinga can achieve long life.

How to reach Somnath Jyotirlinga ?

You can reach the Somnath Jyotirlinga by many ways, such as, train, place, bus or by road. Below mentioned are the nearest railway stations, airports, bus stands to the Somnath Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Railway Station to Somnath Jyotirlinga

• Veraval Railway Station 7km away from the Temple.

Nearest Airport to Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple

• Diu Airport 85km away from the Temple.
• Rajkot Airport 195km away from the Temple.

Nearest Bus stand to Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple

• Somnath Bus Stand 1km away from the Somnath Temple.

Nearby Places to visit in Somnath

• Somnath Beach - Opposite to the temple.
• Bhalka Teerath - 4km away from the temple.
• Triveni Sangam - 1km away from the Somnath Jyotirlinga.

VISHWANATH JYOTIRLINGA

Vishwanath Jyotirling is situated in the oldest town of India, Kashi which is also known as Banaras and Varanasi. According to Shiv Puaran, once upon a time Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu got into the argument that who among them is superior. After listening to their arguments, Lord Shiva asked both of them to go check the end point of Shivlinga which is present in universe, he asked Lord Brahma to go upwards and Lord Vishnu to go downwards, he said whosoever among both of them will find the end point of Shivlinga will be the superior one. Afterwards, when Lord Vishnu failed to find out the end point of Shivlinga, he came back and told Lord Shiva that there is no one superior than Lord Shiva itself, whereas Lord Brahma came back and lied to everyone that he found the start point of Shivlinga in order to prove that he is superior than others. In that case, Lord Shiva cursed Lord Brahma that he will never be worshiped again by people and Lord Shiva came to Banaras where he found peace and stayed there in the form of Shivlinga which is later known as Vishwanath Jyotirlinga.

How to reach Vishwanath Jyotirlinga ?

You can travel the Vishwanath Jyotirlinga by various ways, such as, train, place, or bus. Below mentioned are the nearest railway stations, airports, bus stands to the Vishwanath Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Railway Station to Vishwanath Jyotirlinga

• Varanasi Junction - 4.4km away from the temple
• Varanasi Cantt - 7.5km away from the temple.
• Manduadih Station - 6.5km away from the temple.

Nearest Airport to Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Temple

• Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport - 25km away from the temple.

Nearest Bus stand to Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Temple

• Varanasi Cantt Bus Stand - 5km away from the Vishwanath Temple.

Nearby Places to Visit in Kashi Vishwanath

• Kaal Bhairav Temple - 1km away from the Kashi Vishwanath Temple
• Banaras Ghat - 1km away from the temple.
• Manikarnika Ghat - 500m away from Vishwanath Jyotirlinga
• Hanuman Ghat Temple - 2.2km away from the temple

KEDARNATH JYOTIRLINGA

Kedarnath Jyotirlinga is located in the Himalayan Garwali Range of Uttarakhand near Mandakini River. Kedarnath comes under the Char-Dham of Uttarakhand. According to Mythology, once upon a time there was a twin brother named Nar-Narayan which is also known as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Nara and Narayana sat on the mountain and meditated in the name of Shiva for more than 1,000 years. One day, Lord Shiva, pleased with their devotion, appeared to grant them a boon. When asked what they desired, the brothers said that they wanted water to be created on Kedar Mountain, as it was slowly drying up and had no water, so that people could live there. Lord Shiva agreed to their request and established the Mandakini River there, after which people began to settle in that place. Also, Lord Shiva itself stayed there in the form of Kedarnath Jyotirlinga. Apart from the story of existence, Kedarnath Jyotirlinga holds various stories and glories of Lord Kedarnath.

How to reach Kedarnath Jyotirlinga ?

You can travel the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga by various ways, such as, train, place, or bus. Below mentioned are the nearest railway stations, airports, bus stands to the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Railway Station to Kedarnath Jyotirlinga

• Rishikesh Railway Station - 215km away from the temple
• Haridwar Railway Station - 239km away from the temple.
• Dehradun Railway Station - 254km away from the temple.

Nearest Airport to Kedarnath Jyotirlinga Temple

• Maa Ganga Airport, Uttarkashi - 74km away from the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga.
• Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun - 238km away from the temple.

Nearest Bus stand to Kedarnath Jyotirlinga Temple

• Gaurikund Bus Stand - 16km away from the Kedarnath Temple.

Nearby Places to Visit in Kedarnath Jyotirlinga

• Bhairavnath Temple - 500m away from the KedarnathTemple
• Vasuki Tal - 26km away from the temple.
• Triyugi Narayan Temple - 27km away from Kedarnath Jyotirlinga
• Rudra Cave - 1km away from the temple
• Dev Prayag - 136km away from the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga Temple.

RAMESHWARAM JYOTIRLINGA

Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga is situated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, in the town of Rameswaram. The Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga is not just only a part of 12 Jyotirlingas but also a part of the Char Dham of the world. The Jyotirlinga was established during the time of Ramayana. When Lord Ram defeated Ravana, he wanted to thank Lord Shiva because he thought that he won with the blessings of Lord Shiva. There, Lord Ram asked Lord Hanuman to bring Shivlinga from Kailash Parbat, but when he delayed to come back, Lord Ram itself established a Shivlinga there and Lord Shiva came there and blessed everyone. Lord Shiva stayed there in the form of Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga. Apart from this, when Lord Hanuman arrived and saw that Lord was already there, he felt a little disappointed that he did not witness the establishment of Shivalinga, Lord Ram then placed the Shivlinga brought by Lord Hanuman. From then, there are two Shivlingas which form Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga. It is said that, in Rameshwaram, devotees get blessings from Lord Ram, Lord Shiva and Lord Hanuman. Every year, a group of many people come to take blessings from these Lords.

How to reach Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga ?

You can reach the Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga by many ways, such as, train, place, bus or by road. Below mentioned are the nearest railway stations, airports, bus stands to the Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Railway Station to Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga

• Rameshwaram Railway Station - 3km away from the Temple.

Nearest Airport to Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga Temple

• Madurai Airport - 175km away from the Rameshwaram Temple.

Nearest Bus stand to Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga Temple

• Rameshwaram Bus Stand - 1.9 km away from the Rameshwaram Temple.

Nearby Places to visit in Rameshwaram

• Dhanushkodi Beach - 19.8km away from the Rameshwaram temple.
• Pamban Bridge - 16km away from the Rameshwaram temple.
• Gandhamadhana Parvatham - 2.5km away from the Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga.
• Agni Theertham - 350m away from the temple.

VAIDYANATH JYOTIRLINGA

Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga is located in Deoghar in the state of Jharkhand. Mythology says, Ravana, the king of Lanka was one of the greatest devotees of Lord Shiva. He meditated for more than 100 years to Lord Shiva and attained various blessings from him, like, power, energy, wealth and more. Ravana visited Kailash Mountain and requested Lord Shiva to come along with him to Lanka in the form of a Shivlinga. Lord Shiva denied his request instead he gave him another Shivlinga and asked him to not place it on earth till he reached Lanka, because wherever he will place the Shivlinga, he won’t be able to lift it again. Ravana agreed to the condition and took Shivlinga with him. Later, Lord Vishnu disguised as a cowherd in order to fool Ravana so that he mistakenly placed the Shivlinga on ground. Later, Lord Vishnu achieved his goal and Shivlinga came on ground. Ravana tried his hardest to lift it again but failed and the Shivlinga later became known as Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga.

How to reach Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga ?

You can reach the Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga by many ways, such as, train, place, bus or by road. Below mentioned are the nearest railway stations, airports, bus stands to the Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Railway Station to Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga

• Deoghar Railway Station - 7km away from the Temple.
• Jasidih Junction - 9km away from the temple

Nearest Airport to Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple

• Deoghar Airport (DOM) - 8km away from the Vaidyanath Temple.
• Gaya Airport - 180km away from the Vaidyanath temple.
• Patna Airport - 230km away from the temple.

Nearest Bus stand to Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple

• Deoghar Bus Stand - 5 km away from the Vaidyanath Temple.

Nearby Places to visit in Vaidyanath

• Trikuta Hills - 10km away from the Vaidyanath temple.
• Naulakha Mandir - 1.5km away from the Vaidyanath temple.
• Basukinath Temple - 43km away from the Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga.
• Satsang Ashram - 2km away from the temple.

MAHAKALESHWAR JYOTIRLINGA

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The Jyotirlinga came into existence when a demon named Dushan spread destruction in the state. A devotee named Shrikhar made a group of devotees and along with them he placed a Shivlinga in front of him and started chanting “Om Namah Shivaay”. When Dushan heard this news, he immediately came there to break the Shivlinga, there Lord Shiva came out of the Shivlinga and killed Dushan. Afterwards, the Shivalinga rejoined by itself, and Lord Shiva became enshrined in it. Since then, he has been worshiped as King Mahakal of Ujjain.

How to reach Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga ?

You can travel the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga by various ways, such as, train, place, or bus. Below mentioned are the nearest railway stations, airports, bus stands to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Railway Station to Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

• Ujjain Junction - 1.5km away from the Mahakaleshwar temple
• Indore Junction - 56km away from the temple.

Nearest Airport to Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

• Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport, Indore - 57km away from the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga.
• Raja Bhoj Airport, Bhopal - 190km away from the temple.

Nearest Bus stand to Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

• Ujjain Bus Stand - 2km away from the Mahakaleshwar Temple.
• Nanakheda Bus Stand, Ujjain - 3.5km away from the temple.

Nearby Places to Visit in Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

• Kaal Bhairav Temple - 6km away from the Mahakaleshwar temple.
• Ram Ghat - 2km away from the temple.
• Harsiddhi Temple - 2km away from Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
• Bade Ganesh Ji Ka Mandir - 1km away from the temple
• Rin Mukteshwar Mahadev - 4km away from the temple.

OMKARESHWAR JYOTIRLINGA

Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is located in Omkareshwar, district of Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. According to mythology, the origin of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is related to various stories. According to one well-known tale, the gods prayed to Lord Shiva for victory during a major battle between them and the demons. Because of their devotion, Lord Shiva blessed and empowered them by becoming the form of Omkareshwar. In order to appease Lord Shiva, King Mandhata and his sons engaged in severe penance on this island, according to another tradition. Shiva showed up and blessed the location after being moved by their devotion, establishing it as a hallowed dwelling.

How to reach Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga ?

You can travel the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga by various ways, such as, train, place, or bus. Below mentioned are the nearest railway stations, airports, bus stands to the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Railway Station to Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga

• Omkareshwar Road Railway Station - 12km away from the temple
• Indore Junction - 77km away from the Omkareshwar temple.

Nearest Airport to Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

• Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport, Indore - 80km away from the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Bus stand to Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

• Omkareshwar Bus Stand - 1.5km away from the Omkareshwar Temple.
• Indore Bus Stand - 75km away from the temple.

Nearby Places to Visit in Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga

• Mamleshwar Temple - 1km away from the Omkareshwar Temple
• Siddhant Temple - 2km away from the temple.
• Kajal Rani Cave - 9km away from Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga
• Indira Sagar Dam - 13km away from the temple
• Maheshwar - 65km away from the temple.

GHUSHNESHWAR JYOTIRLINGA

Ghushneshwar Jyotirlinga is located in the village of Vellura, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra. Shiva Purana says, once upon a time two sisters named Ghushma and Sudeha got married in the same house with two brothers. Ghushma was younger than Sudeha but she gave birth to the child before Sudeha. On the other hand, Sudeha was struggling to get her own child. At first point, Sudeha was very happy to see Ghushma's son but at second point she started feeling jealous of her. Later, Sudeha killed Ghushma's son and threw his body into the lake where Ghushma would sit in front of Shivlinga every day to worship and chant the name of Lord Shiva. When Ghushma found out, she sat by the lake and called upon Lord Shiva, and a miracle happened. Ghushma saw that her son emerged from the lake alive. There, the Shivlinga became Ghushneshwar Jyotirlinga.

How to reach Ghushneshwar Jyotirlinga ?

You can travel the Ghushneshwar Jyotirlinga by various ways, such as, train, place, or bus. Below mentioned are the nearest railway stations, airports, bus stands to the Ghushneshwar Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Railway Station to Ghushneshwar Jyotirlinga

• Aurangabad Railway Station - 30km away from the temple

Nearest Airport to Ghushneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

• Aurangabad Airport - 35km away from the Ghushneshwar Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Bus stand to Ghushneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

• Ellora Bus Stand - 1.5km away from the Ghushneshwar Temple.

Nearby Places to Visit in Ghushneshwar Jyotirlinga

• Ellora Caves - 1km away from the Ghushneshwar Temple
• Daulatabad Fort - 15km away from the temple.
• Bibi ka Maqbara - 30km away from Ghushneshwar Jyotirlinga
• Aurangabad Caves - 30km away from the temple
• Ajanta Caves - 110km away from the temple.

MALIKAARJUNA JYOTIRLINGA

Malilaarjuna Jyotirlinga is located in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh. According to scriptures, the two sons of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, named Ganesh and Kartikeya got into an argument regarding their marriages. After that, Kartikeya left the Kailash Parvat in anger and started his meditation on Kronch Hills. After some time, Goddess Parvati along with Lord Shiva visits Kronch Hills in order to pull down the anger of their son, Kartikeya. Afterwards, Kartikeya gives up on his anger, there, ShivShakti together formed a Shivlinga named Malikaarjuna in which Malika name was denoted to Goddess Parvati and Arjuna name was denoted to Lord Shiva. The Malikaarjuna Jyotirlinga is denoted to the love and bond of ShivShakti.

How to reach Malikaarjuna Jyotirlinga ?

You can travel the Malikaarjuna Jyotirlinga by various ways, such as, train, place, or bus. Below mentioned are the nearest railway stations, airports, bus stands to the Malikaarjuna Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Railway Station to Malikaarjuna Jyotirlinga

• Markapur Road Railway Station - 85km away from the temple

Nearest Airport to Malikaarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple

• Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Uttarkashi - 195km away from the Malikaarjuna Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Bus stand to Malikaarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple

• Srisailam Bus Stand - 1km away from the Malikaarjuna Temple.

Nearby Places to Visit in Malikaarjuna Jyotirlinga

• Sirsailam Dam - 15km away from the Malikaarjuna Temple
• Akka Mahadevi Caves - 12km away from the temple.
• Pathala Ganga - 2km away from Malikaarjuna Jyotirlinga
• Shikharam - 8km away from the temple
• Mallela Teertham - 58km from the temple.

BHIMASHANKAR JYOTIRLINGA

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is situated in Pune, Maharashtra, India. The existence of Bhimashankar is mentioned in the Hindu scriptures. According to these scriptures, once upon a time, there was a demon named Tripurasura, he gained powers from Gods by performing meditation for many years. After receiving powers from Gods, he started destruction on the earth. At that point, people started worshiping Lord Shiva and requested him to save them. Lord Shiva came in front of Tripurasura and killed him in a fight. During the fight, the sweat of Lord Shiva dropped on the ground where Bhima River was formed. There only, Lord Shiva stayed in the form of a Shivlinga which is now known as Bhimashankara Jyotirlinga.

How to reach Bhimashankara Jyotirlinga ?

You can travel the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga by various ways, such as, train, place, or bus. Below mentioned are the nearest railway stations, airports, bus stands to the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Railway Station to Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga

• Pune Junction - 110km away from the temple

Nearest Airport to Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple

• Pune Airport - 115km away from the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Bus stand to Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple

• Bhimashankar Bus Stand - 1km away from the Bhimashankar Temple.

Nearby Places to Visit in Bhimashankara Jyotirlinga

• Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary - 1m away from the BhimashankarTemple
• Gupt Bhimashankar - 3km away from the temple.
• Hanuman Lake - 7km away from Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga
• Nagphani - 3km away from the temple

TRIMBAKESHWAR JYOTIRLINGA

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is located in Nashik, Maharashtra. The Jyotirlinga is linked to the holy Godavari River. According to the story, Sage Gautama prayed to Lord Shiva to bring the Ganga (Godavari) to Earth to clean his ashram from a sin. Lord Shiva was pleased with his devotion and granted his wish by appearing as the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga. This temple is special because it has three lingas that represent Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh (Shiva). People believe that visiting Trimbakeshwar washes away sins, removes problems, and brings peace and prosperity. It is a famous and sacred place for devotees.

How to reach Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga ?

You can travel the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga by various ways, such as, train, place, or bus. Below mentioned are the nearest railway stations, airports, bus stands to the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Railway Station to Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga

• Nashik Road Railway Station - 37km away from the temple

Nearest Airport to Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

• Ozar Airport, Nashik - 56km away from the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga.
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja International Airport, Mumbai - 180km away from the temple.

Nearest Bus stand to Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

• Trimbakeshwar Bus Stand - 1km away from the Trimbakeshwar Temple.

Nearby Places to Visit in Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga

• Brahmagiri Hills - 1km away from the Trimbakeshwar Temple
• Anjaneri Hills - 7km away from the temple.
• Vaitarna Dam - 35km away from Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga
• Pandav Leni Cave - 30km away from the temple

NAGESHWAR JYOTIRLINGA

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is located in Dwarka, Gujarat. Hindu scriptures say, there was a demon named Daruka who does not like people worshiping any God as for him, he is more powerful than God himself, hence he should be worshiped and not any other God should be worshiped. He sent all the people in jail who were worshiping other Gods. From those people, there was a kid, named Supriya. When Daruka sent Supriya to jail, he did not stop his puja. Instead he placed a stone in the jail, imagined the stone as Shivlinga, and started worshiping the stone with loud chants of “Om Namah Shivay”. When Daruka came to know about this, he immediately came and tried to kill Supriya and Lord Shiva appeared in order to stop Daruka. Afterwards, Lord Shiva killed Daruka and stayed in the shivlinga placed by Supriya. The Shivlinga became Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.

How to reach Nageshwar Jyotirlinga ?

You can travel the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga by various ways, such as, train, place, or bus. Below mentioned are the nearest railway stations, airports, bus stands to the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.

Nearest Railway Station to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

• Dwarka Railway Station - 30km away from the temple
• Okha Railway Station - 40km away from the temple.

Nearest Airport to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

• Jamnagar Airport - 130km away from the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.
• Rajkot Airport - 230km away from the temple.

Nearest Bus stand to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

• Dwarka Bus Stand - 30km away from the Nageshwar Temple.

Nearby Places to Visit in Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

• Dwarkadhish Temple - 30m away from the Nageshwar Temple
• Bet Dwarka Island - 50km away from the temple.
• Gopi Talav - 35km away from Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
• Rukmini Devi Temple - 32km away from the temple

Conclusion

The 12 Jyotirlingas are a symbol of divine energy and hold immense importance in Hinduism. Each temple has its unique history and spiritual significance which makes them a must visit place for devotees and spiritual seekers. These Jyotirlingas remind us of the power and presence of Lord Shiva in our lives. Visiting these places is not just a journey through beautiful temples but also a path to inner peace and spiritual growth. They inspire faith, devotion and a deeper connection with the divine.