DWADASA
JyotirLinga Temples of Lord Shankar - Significance, Stories
JYOTIRLINGA:
THE STORY OF THE LIGHT
What is jyotirlinga ?
Worship of shivalinga is considered the prime
worship for the devotees of Lord shiva. Worship of all other forms is
considered secondary. The significance of the shivalinga is that It is the
resplendent light (flame) form of the Supreme - solidified to make the worship
of It easier. It represents the real nature of God - formless essentially and
taking various forms as It wills. More details on the shiva linga significance
could be found at Shaivam A Perspective.
This jyoti swarupa of God exist in all the
shivalinga forms, there are prominent abodes across Indian subcontinent, where
It is in a splendid form. These are renowned as DWADASA JYOTHIRLINGAs or 12
jyotirlingas. These are held at much great esteem since the ancient
pre-historic times. As per puranas said in many sections as well as in detail
about the glory of these jyothilingas. Devotees have been getting pulled
towards these JYOTHIRLINGA TEMPLES due to the highly benevolent divine presence
in these abodes, since ancient times.
The 12 jyotirlinga temples
There is an sanskrit shloka that lists the
twelve jyotirlinga temples. (This and the complete DWADASA jyotirlinga sthotra
could be found at Scripture Page) You may observe these sthothra in so many
shiva temples in the world.
“Saurashtre Somanathamcha Srisaile Mallikarjunam|
Ujjayinya
Mahakalam Omkaramamaleswaram ||
Paralyam Vaidyanathancha
Dakinyam Bheema Shankaram |
Setu Bandhethu
Ramesam, Nagesam Darukavane||
Varanasyantu
Vishwesam Tryambakam Gautameethate|
Himalayetu
Kedaaram, Ghrishnesamcha shivaalaye||
Etani
jyotirlingani, Saayam Praatah Patennarah|
Sapta Janma Kritam
pApam, Smaranena Vinashyati||”
Mahadeva, the Lord incorporates in Himself,
the aura and the holiness of all the twelve Jyotirlingas. The grandeur of these
places is unique. Devotees line up in great numbers to take a look and get a
Darshan of all the Jyotirlingas.
Location of the jothirlinga temples
Two
on the sea shore, three on river banks, four in the heights of the mountains
and three in villages located in meadows; the twelve Jyotirlingas are spread
out like this. Every place has been described in glorious words by many
detailing the surroundings etc.
Those
of us who go to these temples of Shubhankara Shankara- Jyoti-Sivasthan, receive
the holy blessings of the Lord, and come back happy, peaceful and blessed. This
in indeed depends on one’s devotion and experience too.
Somnath
JyotirLinga in Saurashtra (Guj)
Mallikarjun jyothirlinga in Srisailam (A.P.)
Mahakaleshwar
jyotirlinga in Ujjaini (M.P.)
Omkareshwar
jyotirlinga in Shivpuri / Mamaleswara (M.P.)
Vaidyanath
jyotirlinga in Parali (Maharastra)
Nageswar
jyotirlinga in Darukavanam
Kedareswar
jyotirlinga in Kedarnath / Himalayas (Utt)
Tryambakeswar
jyotirlinga in Nasik (Maharastra)
Rameshwar
jyotirlinga in Setubandanam / Rameshwaram (T.Nadu)
Bhimashankar
jyotirlinga in Dakini (Maharastra)
Visweswar
jyotirlinga in Varanasi (U.P.) and
Ghrishneswar
jyotirlinga in Devasrovar (Mah).
Those
who chant the Dwadasa JyotirLinga Stotram or prayer will attain salvation and
enlightenment and be released from this cycle of human existence with all its
travails. By worshipping the Lingas, people of all castes, creeds and colour
would be freed from all difficulties. By eating the holy offering made to these
Lingas (Naivedyam) one would be rid of all the sins instantly.
As a
matter of fact, we do the Darshan of the JyotirLingas as a part of our daily
life. Sun, Fire and Light etc., are indeed a part of that great Light. “Om
tatsavituvarenye” these magical words of the Gayatri mantra or chant invoke
this Supreme light only. By chanting this powerful Mantra, humans can obtain
divine power to their life-light or Atmajyothi.
The
aura of the Sun rays and the various benefits that can be derived there from is
indeed a difficult task to describe. This gorgeous life-light is the only thing
that is responsible for the activity in the universe. We salute this life
force.
“Agni”
or fire is a great light. For all the activities on the earth, “Fire” is the
pivot.
Deepajyoti
or light and its greatness, is known to all of us, and we offer our prayers.
Let us celebrate the glory of light. Light is offered a place of pride at
welcome celebrations and on all auspicious occasions.
“Shubham karoti kalyanam Arogyam Dhanasampada|
Shatru buddhi
vinashaya Deepa Jyoti namostute||”
This
light removes the darkness from the lives of one and all. Darkness means
ignorance and it is destroyed by this light. The natured light of God makes all
our wishes come true, when we take a Darshan of it.
Thus,
by taking a Darshan of these twelve JyotirLingas, the auspicious air
surrounding them and the holy pilgrimage, will bring happiness, peace and
satisfaction to all.
