Jyotirlingas: A Complete Guide to the 12 Shiva Temples

Scattered across India are twelve Shiva temples known as Jyotirlingas — from Somnath on the Gujarat coast to Grishneshwar in Maharashtra. These aren't just temples; for millions of Shiva devotees, they're among the most sacred pilgrimage destinations in the country.

What Is a Jyotirlinga?

The word "Jyotirlinga" combines two Sanskrit words — jyoti (light/radiance) and linga (a symbolic form of Shiva). According to the Shiva Purana, it refers to the 12 sites where Shiva is believed to have manifested himself as an infinite pillar of light.

The Origin Story

According to the legend, Brahma and Vishnu once argued over which of them was supreme. To settle the dispute, Shiva appeared as an infinite column of light piercing through the three worlds. Vishnu travelled upward and Brahma downward, each trying to find an end to the pillar. Vishnu honestly admitted he could not find the top; Brahma falsely claimed he had found the bottom, using a ketaki flower as false witness. Angered by Brahma's dishonesty, Shiva cursed him to never be worshipped, while blessing Vishnu with eternal veneration. The Jyotirlingas mark the places where Shiva is said to have appeared in this fiery form.

The Shiva Purana originally names 64 such jyotirlinga sites, but 12 of these are considered the most sacred and significant.

The Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram

Adi Shankaracharya is traditionally credited with composing the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram, a Sanskrit hymn that names all 12 Jyotirlingas together. Tradition holds that reciting it regularly frees one from the sins of past lives — though that, like much here, is a matter of faith and tradition rather than historical fact.

The Complete List of 12 Jyotirlingas

This site's Temples section already has a full, detailed page for each of these 12 Jyotirlingas, with history, darshan timings and how-to-reach information.

A Quick Look at Each Jyotirlinga

Somnath (Gujarat) — On the Gujarat coast, this is one of India's most repeatedly attacked temples. Historical records describe it being destroyed and rebuilt multiple times over the centuries; the present structure was reconstructed in 1951.

Mallikarjuna (Andhra Pradesh) — On the banks of the Krishna river at Srisailam, this Jyotirlinga is also considered a Shakti Peetha, where the goddess is worshipped as Bhramaramba.

Mahakaleshwar (Madhya Pradesh) — The Ujjain Jyotirlinga is the only one of the 12 that faces south, and is considered Swayambhu (self-manifested). It, too, is simultaneously worshipped as a Shakti Peetha.

Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh) — Located on Mandhata Island in the Narmada river, the temple is notable for the island's natural shape, traditionally said to resemble the Om symbol.

Vaidyanath (Jharkhand) — The Deoghar temple is traditionally associated with healing, and draws enormous crowds of Kanwar pilgrims during the month of Shravan.

Bhimashankar (Maharashtra) — Set in the Sahyadri hills near Pune, the temple sits inside a dense forest that is also a wildlife sanctuary.

Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu) — According to the epic, Lord Rama installed a Shiva lingam here before setting out for Lanka. This temple is also part of the Char Dham (as Rameswaram Dham) and is known for its exceptionally long corridors.

Nageshwar (Gujarat) — Located near Dwarka, this temple's exact location is genuinely disputed among traditions (see below), though popular belief holds this to be the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.

Kashi Vishwanath (Uttar Pradesh) — In Varanasi on the banks of the Ganga, this is one of the holiest sites in Hinduism and is closely associated with moksha (liberation). It is also one of the Shakti Peethas.

Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra) — Near Nashik, at the source of the Godavari river, the temple is notable for its three-faced lingam, said to represent Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva together.

Kedarnath (Uttarakhand) — High in the Himalayas, this temple is also part of the Chota Char Dham Himalayan circuit, and is open to pilgrims only for a few months each year.

Grishneshwar (Maharashtra) — Near the world-famous Ellora Caves, this is traditionally considered the last of the 12 Jyotirlingas.

The Nageshwar Dispute

One fact worth stating honestly: there is a genuine, long-standing dispute over which temple is the "real" Nageshwar Jyotirlinga. Three sites lay claim to the title — the Nageshwar temple near Dwarka in Gujarat, the Aundha Nagnath temple in Hingoli district, Maharashtra, and the Jageshwar temple in Almora district, Uttarakhand. Each claim rests on a different reading of the Puranic reference to "Darukavan" (a forest). There's no settled historical answer, but popular tradition most widely favors the temple near Dwarka, and it's the one usually listed among the 12.

Jyotirlingas That Are Also Shakti Peethas

Three Jyotirlingas are simultaneously counted among the Shakti Peethas — Mallikarjuna (Srisailam), Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain) and Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi). At these three sites, both Shiva and the Goddess are worshipped together.

Planning a Jyotirlinga Yatra

All 12 Jyotirlingas are spread across very different parts of India — from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu, and from Jharkhand to Maharashtra. Most pilgrims cover them in regional clusters across several trips:

• Western India: Somnath, Nageshwar (Gujarat)
• Central India: Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh)
• Maharashtra: Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar, Grishneshwar
• South India: Mallikarjuna (Andhra Pradesh), Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu)
• North & East India: Kashi Vishwanath (Uttar Pradesh), Kedarnath (Uttarakhand), Vaidyanath (Jharkhand)

Kedarnath is only accessible during the summer months (roughly May to early November) because of Himalayan weather, so it's worth checking the seasonal opening dates before planning a trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Jyotirlingas are there in India?

The Shiva Purana names 64 jyotirlinga sites in total, but 12 of them are considered the most sacred, and it's these that are popularly known as "the 12 Jyotirlingas."

What are the names of the 12 Jyotirlingas?

Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Vaidyanath, Bhimashankar, Rameshwaram, Nageshwar, Kashi Vishwanath, Trimbakeshwar, Kedarnath and Grishneshwar.

Which is considered the first Jyotirlinga?

Somnath is generally listed first in traditional lists and stotras.

Can all 12 Jyotirlingas be visited in one trip?

It's difficult in practice, since they're spread across the entire country. Most pilgrims visit them in regional clusters across multiple trips.

Which Jyotirlingas are also Shakti Peethas?

Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar and Kashi Vishwanath are each considered both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.