How Many Jyotirlingas are there in India?

In Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is the supreme destroyer and transformer of the universe. While there are thousands of Shiva temples across the world, the most sacred and powerful shrines are known as the Jyotirlingas (The Pillars of Radiant Light). Millions of devotees perform long pilgrimages to visit these temples at least once in their lifetime.

Question (Click to Flip)

Can anyone touch the Jyotirlinga?

Answer

Rules vary by temple. In Mahakaleshwar, devotees are allowed to touch the Shivling and pour water (Jal) directly on it. However, in Kashi Vishwanath and Somnath, strict security and glass barriers often prevent direct touching by the general public.

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Key Facts

The state of Maharashtra holds the highest number of Jyotirlingas, containing exactly three out of the twelve (Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar, and Grishneshwar).

The Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain is famous for its 'Bhasma Aarti', a deeply sacred ritual performed at 4:00 AM using sacred ash.

1. The Total Number

According to the ancient Shiva Purana, there are exactly 12 (Twelve) Maha Jyotirlingas located in various parts of India.

2. The Complete List of 12 Jyotirlingas

Here is the list of all 12 shrines and the states they are located in:

Somnath: Located in Saurashtra, Gujarat. It is widely considered the very first and most important Jyotirlinga.
Mallikarjuna: Located in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh.
Mahakaleshwar: Located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. It is the only Jyotirlinga facing south (Dakshinamukhi).
Omkareshwar: Located on an island in the Narmada river, Madhya Pradesh.
Kedarnath: Located high in the snow-capped Himalayas of Uttarakhand.
Bhimashankar: Located in the Sahyadri mountains near Pune, Maharashtra.
Kashi Vishwanath: Located in the holy city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Trimbakeshwar: Located near Nashik, Maharashtra. The holy Godavari river originates near here.
Vaidyanath (Baidyanath): Located in Deoghar, Jharkhand.
Nageshwar: Located near Dwarka, Gujarat.
Ramanathaswamy (Rameshwaram): Located on an island in Tamil Nadu. It is deeply connected to Lord Rama's journey to Lanka.
Grishneshwar: Located near the Ellora Caves in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

3. What is the Mythological Story?

According to legend, Lord Brahma (The Creator) and Lord Vishnu (The Preserver) once had an argument about who was the most supreme god. Suddenly, Lord Shiva appeared as an endless, towering pillar of burning fire (Jyotirlinga) piercing through the earth and the sky. He challenged them to find the top and bottom of the fire pillar. Both failed. The 12 temples represent the places where this infinite column of light physically manifested on Earth.

Questions and Answers

Can anyone touch the Jyotirlinga?+

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