Jyotirlingas

A Jyotirlinga () or Jyotirlingam, is a devotional representation of the Hindu god Shiva. The word is a Sanskrit compound of ('radiance') and ('sign'). The Śiva Mahāpurāṇam (also ''Shiva Purana'') mentions 64 original ''jyotirlinga'' shrines in India, 12 of which are most sacred and they are called the Maha Jyotirlingam (The Great Jyotirlinga.)

Hinduism

Legend

According to a Shaiva legend from the Shiva Purana, once, Brahma (the god of creation) and Vishnu (the god of preservation) had an argument over their supremacy. To settle the debate, Shiva pierced the three worlds, appearing as a huge, infinite pillar of light, the ''jyotirlinga.'' Brahma and Vishnu decided to ascend and descend across the pillar of light respectively, to find the end of the light in either direction. According to some iterations, Vishnu assumed his Varaha avatar to achieve this task, while Brahma rode a hamsa (swan). Brahma lied that he had discovered the end of the light, producing a ketakī flower as proof, while Vishnu admitted that he could not find the end of the light from his journey. The dishonesty of Brahma angered Shiva, causing him to curse the creator deity that he would not be worshipped; He also declared that Vishnu would be eternally worshipped for his honesty. The ''jyotirlinga'' shrines are regarded to be the temples where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light.

Original 64

Originally there were believed to be 64 ''jyotirlings'' while twelve of them are considered to be very auspicious and holy. Each of the twelve ''jyotirlinga'' sites take the name of the presiding deity, each considered a different manifestation of Shiva. At all these sites, the primary image is ''lingam,'' representing the beginningless and endless ''stambha'' pillar, symbolising the infinite nature of Shiva.

Sanskrit shlokas

The following ''shloka'' (द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिंग स्तोत्रम् ''Dvādaśa Jyotirliṅga Stotram'') describes the 12 ''jyotirlingas'':

Twelve most sacred sites

The names and the locations of 12 ''jyotirlingas'' are mentioned in the Shiva Purana (, Ch.42/2-4). The detailed stories are given in Kotirudra Saṁhitā, chapters 14 to 33. These temples (not in order) are:

See also

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References

Citations

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External links

Jyotirlingas on Google Maps
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{{Hindu holy cities

Forms of Shiva