12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva

12 జ్యోతిర్లింగాలు — శివుని పుణ్యక్షేత్రాలు

The 12 most sacred Shiva pilgrimage sites in India

The 12 Jyotirlingas (jyoti = light, linga = symbol) are the holiest manifestations of Lord Shiva — sacred sites where Shiva is said to have appeared as a pillar of infinite light. They span India: Somnath (Gujarat) → Srisailam (AP) → Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain) → Omkareshwar (MP) → Kedarnath (Uttarakhand) → Bhimashankar (Maharashtra) → Vishwanath (Varanasi) → Trimbakeshwar (Nashik) → Vaidyanath (Jharkhand) → Nageshwar (Dwarka) → Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu) → Grishneshwar (Maharashtra). Visiting all 12 in one lifetime is one of the most sacred pilgrimages in Hindu tradition. Reciting the 12-line "Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram" daily grants the merit of physical pilgrimage.

The 12 Jyotirlingas (in traditional order)

#1Somnath

సోమనాథ్

Gujarat · Veraval, Gir Somnath district

The first Jyotirlinga. Believed to be eternally re-consecrated even after multiple destructions by foreign invaders. The temple is at the shore of the Arabian Sea....

#2Mallikarjuna at Srisailam

మల్లికార్జున - శ్రీశైలం

Andhra Pradesh · Srisailam, Nandyal district

Combined Jyotirlinga + Shakti Peetha (rare). Mentioned in Skanda Purana. See our detailed guide: /temples/srisailam-mallikarjuna/...

#3Mahakaleshwar

మహాకాళేశ్వర్

Madhya Pradesh · Ujjain

The only south-facing Jyotirlinga (Dakshinamukhi). Famous Bhasma Aarti at 4:00 AM (Lord adorned with sacred ash from cremation grounds). Considered the most powerful for time/death...

#4Omkareshwar

ఓంకారేశ్వర్

Madhya Pradesh · Khandwa, on Mandhata island in Narmada river

The island itself is shaped like the OM symbol. Two temples — Omkareshwar (on the island) and Mamleshwar (on the southern bank). Both are considered the same Jyotirlinga....

#5Kedarnath

కేదార్నాథ్

Uttarakhand · Kedarnath, Rudraprayag district (Himalayas)

Among the most difficult Jyotirlingas to reach — Himalayan pilgrimage at 3,583m altitude. Open only May to October due to snow. Part of the Chota Char Dham yatra....

#6Bhimashankar

భీమశంకర్

Maharashtra · Bhorgiri, Sahyadri (Western Ghats), Pune district

Source of the Bhima river. Set in dense Western Ghats forest. The temple architecture is in Hemadpanthi (Nagara) style....

#7Kashi Vishwanath

కాశీ విశ్వనాథ్

Uttar Pradesh · Varanasi (Kashi)

The holiest of all Hindu pilgrimage cities. Death in Kashi is believed to grant moksha (liberation). Recently expanded with the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor (2021)....

#8Trimbakeshwar

త్రయంబకేశ్వర్

Maharashtra · Trimbak, Nashik district

Source of the Godavari river. The Linga has three faces representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Major center for performing Narayan Nagbali rituals (for ancestor afflictions)....

#9Baidyanath (Vaidyanath)

వైద్యనాథ్

Jharkhand · Deoghar

Center of Shravan Mela — millions of Kanwariyas walk barefoot from the Ganga at Sultanganj (108 km) carrying holy water for Shiva. Note: there is dispute between Deoghar and Parli ...

#10Nageshwar

నాగేశ్వర్

Gujarat · Dwarka

Near Dwarka (Krishna's capital). Features a massive 25-metre statue of Shiva. Specifically venerated for protection from snake-related Kala Sarpa Dosha....

#11Rameshwaram (Ramanathaswamy)

రామేశ్వరం

Tamil Nadu · Rameshwaram island, Ramanathapuram district

Part of the Char Dham (4 holy abodes). The longest temple corridor in India (1,212 metres). 22 sacred wells (theerthams) — devotees take bath in each before darshan....

#12Grishneshwar

ఘృష్ణేశ్వర్

Maharashtra · Verul, near Aurangabad (Sambhajinagar)

The 12th and final Jyotirlinga. Located near the famous Ellora Caves (UNESCO World Heritage). Built in early-medieval Hemadpanthi style....

The Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotra

A 12-verse Sanskrit stotra naming all 12 sites in sequence. Composed by Adi Shankaracharya. Reciting it daily is believed to confer the spiritual merit of visiting each shrine in person:

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् ।
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालं ओङ्कारममलेश्वरम् ॥
परल्यां वैद्यनाथं च डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करम् ।
सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने ॥
वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमीतटे ।
हिमालये तु केदारं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये ॥

Sauraashtre Somanaatham cha Shrishaile Mallikarjunam / Ujjayinyaam Mahakalam Omkaaram-Amaleshwaram / Paralyaam Vaidyanaatham cha Daakinyaam Bhimashankaram / Setubandhe tu Raamesham Nagesham Daarukavane / Vaaranasyaam tu Vishvesham Tryambakam Gautamitate / Himalaye tu Kedaram Ghushmesham cha Shivalaye.

Planning a Jyotirlinga Yatra

South circuit (5 sites): Srisailam → Rameshwaram → (continue to Madurai Meenakshi for cultural extension)
North circuit (5 sites): Kashi Vishwanath → Vaidyanath → Mahakaleshwar → Omkareshwar → Kedarnath (only May-Oct)
West circuit (4 sites): Somnath → Nageshwar (both in Gujarat) → Bhimashankar → Grishneshwar → Trimbakeshwar (all in Maharashtra)
Sacred season: Karthika Masam (October-November), Maha Shivaratri, Sawan/Shravan Mondays

శ్రీశైలం (Detailed)

Mallikarjuna Telugu guide