Jyotirlingas In India – A Comprehensive Guide

“Attain the spiritual reckoning and blessing of the supreme authority; Lord Shiva by visiting the 12 divine Jyotirlingas in India”

Scattered across the country in strategic locations like Adiyogi Shiva statue in Coimbatore, Banglore, Lord Shiva’s Jyortilingas is the highly venerated amidst Hindu and most visited shrine. Devotees of Mahadev (Lord Shiva) all across the globe visit these holy shrines for spiritual awakening and blessings.

So if you too are planning a spiritual journey, we highly suggest you embark on your pilgrimage with these devotional representations of Lord Shiva.

We have compiled this article with all the information corresponding to Jyotirlingas temples in India including darshan timings, the best time to visit as well as how you can reach them.

So, let’s get started!

What is Jyotirlinga? 

A Jyotirlinga is a sacred shrine solely and wholely dedicated to worshipping the supreme Lord Shiva (The Destroyer).

• The term Jyotirlinga is a Sanskrit compound of Jyotis (radiance and linga (sign).

• As per the purest Shiva Purana, there are 64 Jyotirlinga shrines in India. Amongst them, 12 are considered the most sacred, called “Maha Jyotirlingam”.

• It is firmly believed that the 12 Jyortilingas are self-manifested; the supreme deity manifested himself in these places for his devotees.

• According to some iterations, the person who visits all the majestic and divine shrines will attain “Moksha” (Salvation).

• Jyotirlinga is also known as “Dwadash Jyotirlingas”.

The Tale behind Jyotirlinga 

Quoting the sacred Shiva Purana, the legend of the “Jyotirlinga” commences with a debate proceeding amidst Lord Vishu (God of Preservation) and Lord Brahma (God of Creation) over their supremacy.

• To settle down and determine who is the supreme authority, Lord Shiva pierced down the three worlds and appeared in the form of light profoundly known as Jyotirlinga.

• As per some iterations, both authorities were tasked to find the end of the light in either direction.

• To accomplish the task Vishu took his “Varaha” avatar whereas Brahma rode his Hamsa (swan) to carry on the task.

• Producing a Ketaki Flower as proof, Lord Brahma lied and claimed that he had discovered the end of the light.

• On the other hand, Lord Vishu admitted that he failed to find the end of the light on his quest.

• The lie and dishonesty of Lord Brahma provoked Lord Shiva and he cursed that being the creator deity he will not be worshipped.

• For his integrity, the Preserver deity was blessed with the boon that he will be worshipped eternally.

12 Jyotirlinga Name and Place list

Somnath Jyotirlinga situated in Veraval in (Prabhas Kshetra) Kathiawad district Gujarat is reckoned one of the first 12 Jyotirlingas as well as the most visited pilgrimage sites in the country.

• It is believed that the supreme Lord Shiva resides in the shrine as the blazing column of light.
  

Legend Behind Somnath Jyotirlinga

• As per the holy Shiva Purana, Daksha Prajapati had 27 daughters and the Moon was married to all of them but amongst them, he is in awe of the Rohini the most. 

• Acknowledging Moon’s behavior towards the rest of his daughters, Daksha Prajapati cursed Moon that he will lose all his radiance.

• After that, the distressed Moon accompanied by Rohini reached Somanth and worshipped the “Sparsa Lingam” after being pleased by the devotion of both,  Lord Shiva blessed him with all his lost radiance.

• Later, at the request of the moon, Lord Shiva held the name “Somchandra” and ensured there for eternally. 

Best Time to Visit Somnath Jyotirlinga?

The best time to visit Somnath Jyotirlinga is during the winter Season.

Somnath Jyotirlinga Timings?

The Somnath Jyotirlinga darshan timing is 6 AM to 10 PM.

How to Reach Somnath Jyotirlinga?

Devotees can reach Somnath Jyotirlinga by the following routes;

Road	Somnath is well connected with all the major cities in Gujarat by state roadways such as Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Dwarka, and Chorwad.
Train	The nearest railway station to Somnath Jyotirlinga in Somnath (0.5 Km) as well as from all the major cities in Gujarat, the option of regular train service is available.
Air	The nearest airport to Somnath is Diu (85 km).

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is situated on the banks of the Kshipra river, located next to Rudra Sagar lake in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. 

• The divine shrine is one of the Maha-Shakti Peetham.

• Another reason why Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga carries so much spiritual significance is that it is one of the seven “Mukti-Sthal”. 

• It is believed that the sacred place liberates humans and blesses good health.

The Legend Behind Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

• Quoting the tale from Shiva Purana, a five-year-old boy named “Shrikar” got engrossed by seeing the devotion of Chandrasena (king of Ujjain) and desired to accompany the king.

• However, the boy was forced by the guards to head to the river Kshipra and pray.

• Surprisingly, Shrikar came to know that the rivals of Ujjain (King Ripudamana and King Shinghaditya) planned to strike Ujjain.

• After that, Shrikar started praying immediately, and the news got widespread and heard by Vridihi (priest) who also began praying.

• After hearing the plight of devotees, Lord Shiva appeared in the Mahakaal form and eliminated the enemies.

• Later on, Shrikar and Vridhi requested Lord Shiva to reside in Ujjain and he agreed and resided in the form of light to protect the city and its people.

Best Season to Visit Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit Mahakaleshwar is during the winter Season.

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Timing?

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga darshan timing is from 4 AM to 11 PM.

How to Visit Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga?

Road	Bus routes are also available from major cities such as Indore, Surat, Mumbai, Pune, Udaipur, Nasik, and Mathura.
Train	Devotees can catch direct trains to Ujjain from prominent cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, etc.
Air	The nearest airport is Indore (53 Km) away from Ujjain.

Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is also one of the profoundly venerated Jyotirlingas located on an island named Shivapuri on the banks of the Narmada rivers, Madhya Pradesh.

Legend Behind Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga 

The First Tale

• According to the Hindu scriptures, once there was a great lethal war going on between Sur and Asurs (Gods and Demons) where Asurs were weighing over the Surs and losing the battle.

• After seeing the fatal destruction, the god pleaded to Lord Shiva and the supreme Lord incarnated in the form of “Omkareshwar” and exterminated the vermin.

The Second Tale

• The other legend begins with Vindhya (Controller of Vindhyachal Mountain Range) and his immense devotion towards the almighty Shiva.

• He formed a sacred diagram and Lingam of the Sand and Clay. Impressed by the devoutness, Mahadev (Lord Shiva) appeared in two forms;

• Omkareshwar: “Lord of the Sound OM or “Lord of Omkara”
• Amareshwar: “Immortal Lord” or “Lord of the Devas or Immortals”

• Amareshwar temple is located on the south bank of the river Narmada.

Best Time to Visit Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best time to visit Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is during the winter season.

Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Timing?

Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga darshan timing is from 5 AM to 9 PM.

How to Reach Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga?

Admirers can visit Omkareshwar by the following routes;

Road	Omkareshwar is well-linked with all the major cities.
Train	Omkareshwar has a dedicated Railway station on its own that connects to all the major countries.
Air	The closest airports are at Ujjain and Indore. Devotees can drive from there to Omkareshwar.

Mallikarjuna means Malika “Goddess Parvati” and Arjuna means “Lord Shiva”. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is located at Srisailam on the banks of the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh. 

• The Jyotirlinga temple is also known as “The Kailash of the South”.

• The sacred shrine is also amidst the 275 Paadal Petra Shiva Sthanghal as well as one of the 18 Shakti Peethas of Goddess Parvati.

• Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is the only temple in the whole of India that is both a Shakti Peeth as well as a Jyotirlinga.

•  The believed certainty of this Jyotirlinga is that the person who reaches the temple attains salvation and all his desires get fulfilled.

Best Time to Visit Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga?

The best time to visit Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is during the winter season.

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Timing?

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga darshan timing is from 4:30 AM to 10:00 PM.

How to Reach Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga? 

Road	Bus services are also available from Srisailam Bus Stand.
Train	The nearest railway station is Markapur ( 80 Km away followed by Nandyal and Kurnool.
Air	Admirers can head to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad (202 Km away from Srisailam).

Profoundly uttered as “Baba Dham ”, Vajinath Jyotirlinga is an enthralling shrine whose every nook and corner is adorned with blessings of Lord Shiva.

• Vajjanth/Baijnath is based at Parli in the Beed district of Maharashtra. 

• According to some iterations, the entity who visits the sanctum assumes Moksha (salvation) and gets freed from all the plights.

Best Time to Visit Vaijnath Jyotirlinga?

The best time to visit Vaijnath Jyotirlinga is during the winter season.

Vaijnath Jyotirlinga Timing?

Vaijnath Jyotirlinga darshan timing is from 5 AM to 9 PM.

How to Reach Vaijnath Jyotirlinga?

Road	The holy shrine is well-connected with the major cities, as well as several bus services are also available from cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and other corresponding cities.
Train	The nearest rail route is Parli railway station (2 Km away from Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga. Direct train services are also available from Secunderabad, Kakinada, Bangalore, and Visakhapatnam.
Air	The closest airport is in Nanded (105 Km away from Parli Vaijnath temple). Enthusiasts can also take the flight to Chikkalthana Airport (174 Km away).

Kedarnath Jyotirlinga is one of the most famous and visited shrines amongst the 12 Jyotirlingas. Devotees and admirers from all across the globe reach the sacred destination every year in abundance.

Other than granting devotional awakening and blessings, the sanctum is possessed with heavenly charms and peace. 

• It is located on the Rudra Himalayan Range on the mountain named Kedar at the height of 12,000 feet.

• The enthralling shrine is also one of the 4 Dhams including Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Badrinath.

•  It is well believed that one who visits the shrine and inaugurates the Jyotirlinga gets released from all the pain, sorrow, and misfortunes.

Best Time to Visit Kedarnath Jyotirlinga?

The best time to visit Kedarnath Jyotirlinga is during the Summer season.

Kedarnath Jyotirlinga Timing?

Kedarnath Jyotirlinga darshan timing is from 4 AM to 9 PM.

How to Reach Kedarnath Jyotirlinga?

Road	Bus services are available from Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Tehri, Srinagar, Pauri, and Chamoli.
Train	The nearest railway station is Rishikesh (216 Km from Kedarnath).
Air	The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (238 Km away from the temple).

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is located in Saurashtra, Gujarat amidst the Gomti Dwarka and Bait Dwarka islands.  

• The profound shrine is also referred to as the Nagnath temple. 

• As per the Shiv Puran, Supriya; a true devotee of Lord Shiva was abducted and imprisoned by the demon named Daaruka.

• Supriya and other imprisoners started praying to Lord Shiva, who later on appeared and rescued the devotees as well as resided there eternally in the form of Jyotirlinga.

Best Time to Visit Nageshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best time to visit Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is during the winter season.

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Timing?

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga darshan timing is from 6 AM to 9 PM.

How to Reach Nageshwar Jyotirlinga?

Road	Direct bus services are available from Jamnagar and Ahmedabad.
Train	The rail route also connects to the south through Surat, Vadodara, Mumbai, Goa, etc.
Air	The nearest airport is Jamnagar (137 Km away).

On the spiritual journey of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India, devotees can sightsee Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga at Nasik, in the town of Trimbak near Brahmagiri mountain.

• The forte of this alluring and spiritual shrine is that the Jyotirlinga in this temple has three faces. 

• The respective faces depict the three supreme authorities; Brahma (The Creator, Vishnu (The Preserver), and Mahesh (The Destroyer).

• Godavari, the holy river also originates near Trimbak.

Best Time to Visit Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best time to visit Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is during the winter season.

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Timing?

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga darshan timing is from 5:30 AM to 9 PM.

How to Reach Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga?

Road	Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is well-linked to all the prominent cities such as Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, etc.
Train	The closest railway station is at Nasik. It is also firmly linked with the Mumbai train station.
Air	The adjacent flight route is at Mumbai (200 Km away from Trimbakeshwar)

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is also a prominent Jyotirlinga that holds a tremendous spiritual significance.

• The Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is located in the Ghat Region of the Sahyadri Hills in Pune, Maharashtra.

• The legend behind this Jyotirlinga begins with the son of Kumbh Karan.

• When he came to know that his father was killed in the lethal battle between Lord Rama and Ravana. He worshipped Lord Brahma and attained phenomenal powers.

• Next, he started destroying everything that came his way, to stop him, all the gods along with Lord Brahma also prayed to Lord Shiva.

• At last, Lord Shiva defeated the demon and on everyone’s request manifested himself in the form of Bhimashankar.

Best Time to Visit Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga?

The best time to visit Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is during the winter       season.

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Timing?

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga darshan timing is from 4:30 AM to 10 PM.

How to Reach Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga?

Road	From Pune, regular bus services are also available from 5:30 AM to 4 PM. Devotees can also catch a bus from Kalyan at 9 AM and one from Ghatkopar or Kurla at 11 AM.
Train	The nearest railway station is Pune railway station (120 Km away from the temple).
Air	The closest airport is Pune Airport. As there are no certain air routes available to Bhimashankar.

It is Widely known as “The Varanasi of South ”, Rameshwar Jyotirlinga is situated in Rameshwaram island on Tamil Nadu.

• The respective shrine is the southernmost Jyotirlinga.

• Next to the divine Jyotirlinga, there is Dhanushkodi beach, the very place where Lord Rama built the Ram Setu to release his wife Sita from the abduction of the Demon King, Ravana.

•  Rameshwar Jyotirlinga is also counted amongst the holy Char Dhams.

Along with Rameshwar Jyotirlinga, you can also visit Guruvayur temple. To go there you can also do Guruvayur Temple online bookings to get better darshan and avoid rush.

Best Time to Visit Rameshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best time to visit Rameshwar Jyotirlinga is during the winter season.

Rameshwar Jyotirlinga Timing?

Rameshwar Jyotirlinga’s darshan timing is from 6 AM to 8:30 PM.

How to Reach RameshwarJyotirlinga?

Road	The respective Jyotirlinga is well-connected to all the Tamil Nadu cities and towns, as several state-run and private buses are also available.
Train	Rameshwaram railway station is the closest proximity to the temple (Only 1 Km Away)
Air	The adjacent airport is Madurai (174 km from Rameshwaram).

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga refers to “Lord of Compassion”. This pure Jyotirlinga is located in Verual which is less than a kilometer away from Ellora. 

• The holy Jyotirling is also known as Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga and Dushmeshwar Jyotirlinga.

Best Time to Visit Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best time to visit Grineshwar Jyotirlinga is during the winter season.

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Timing?

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga’s darshan timing is from 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM and in Shravan from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM.

How to Reach Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga?

Road	Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is well-linked with all the profound cities via road.
Train	Aurangabad is the nearest station and Manmad is much closer and well-connected.
Air	The closest airport is Aurangabad, as well as the option of regular flights, which are also available from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, etc.

Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga is situated on the western bank of River Ganga in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. 

•  The name “Kashi” was derived from other names of Kashi. Vishwanath or Vishweshwar signifies the “Ruler of the Vishwanath”.

• The majestic divine shrine is also referred to as “The Golden Temple of Varanasi”.

• It is thoroughly believed that taking the dip in the holy Ganges assumes Moksha (Salvation).

• The other iterations are when the true devotee of Mahadev (Lord Shiva) becomes immortal and is taken straight to the home of Lord Shiva; Mount Kailash.

Best Time to Visit Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Jyotirlinga?

The best time to visit Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga is during the winter  season.

Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Timing?

Jyotirlinga darshan timing is from 2:30 AM to 11 PM.

How to Reach Kashi Vishwanath?

Road	The city is situated on the NH2 highway connecting Kolkata to New Delhi. Bus services are also available from places such as Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Patna, etc.
Train	The closest railway station is Varanasi junction or the Mughal Sarai Junction. Train services from major cities are also available such as Delhi, Chennai, Howrah, Jammu, etc.
Air	The nearest airport is Babatpur (22 Km from Varanasi). Direct flights and private airlines from prominent cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, etc.

So, these are the 12 Jyotirlinga in India that devotees throughout the world can visit and attain the spiritual awakening and blessing from the one and only supreme lord; SHIVA.