Jyotirlinga
The twelve self-luminous lingams of light where Shiva is worshipped as the infinite.
12 TemplesThe Jyotirlingas — literally 'lingams of light' (jyoti, light; linga, mark) — are the twelve most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva, scattered across the length of Bharat from Somnath on the Arabian Sea to Rameshwaram in the deep south. Each is believed to be a place where Shiva manifested as a fiery column of light without beginning or end, a sign of his limitless nature.
Their story is told in the Shiva Purana: when Brahma and Vishnu argued over who was supreme, Shiva appeared between them as an endless pillar of fire and challenged each to find its end. Neither could — and so the lingam of light became the emblem of the formless Absolute. Devotees recite the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram, which names all twelve in a single verse of remembrance.
To complete a darshan of all twelve is among the highest aspirations of a Shaiva pilgrim. Together they trace a sacred geography of India across eight states — each shrine carrying its own legend, ritual and architectural genius.
The Pilgrimage Circuit
The twelve are traditionally remembered in this order: Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Kashi Vishwanath, Trimbakeshwar, Vaidyanath, Nageshwar, Rameshwaram and Grishneshwar.
Jyotirlinga Temples
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Somnath
Prabhas Patan, Veraval, Gujarat
The first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, rising on the Arabian Sea shore — destroyed and rebuilt through the ages as a symbol of faith's endurance.
Mallikarjuna
Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
The 'Kailash of the South' on the Nallamala hills — a rare site that is at once a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
Mahakaleshwar
Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
Ujjain's south-facing, self-manifested Lord of Time — the only Jyotirlinga woken each dawn with the famous Bhasma Aarti.
Omkareshwar
Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh
An island in the Narmada shaped like the sacred syllable ॐ, holding the Omkar Jyotirlinga.
Kedarnath
Kedarnath, Uttarakhand
One of Shiva's most revered abodes — the highest of the twelve Jyotirlingas, at 3,583 m in the Garhwal Himalaya, open only half the year.
Bhimashankar
Pune district, Maharashtra
A forest Jyotirlinga in the Sahyadris — source of the Bhima river and home of the rare Indian giant squirrel.
Kashi Vishwanath
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
The golden-spired Lord of Kashi on the Ganga at Varanasi — among the most revered of all Shiva shrines.
Trimbakeshwar
Nashik, Maharashtra
The three-faced lingam at the source of the Godavari, beneath the Brahmagiri hill near Nashik.
Vaidyanath (Baidyanath)
Deoghar, Jharkhand
Baba Baidyanath Dham at Deoghar — the 'divine physician', thronged by Kanwariyas through the month of Shravan.
Nageshwar
Dwarka, Gujarat
The serpent-lord of Daruka-vana near Dwarka, guardian against all poison, marked by a towering Shiva statue.
Ramanathaswamy (Rameshwaram)
Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
Where Rama worshipped Shiva before crossing to Lanka — a Jyotirlinga and Char Dham with India's longest temple corridor.
Grishneshwar
Ellora, Aurangabad, Maharashtra
The twelfth and final Jyotirlinga, beside the Ellora caves — a red-stone temple revived by Ahilyabai Holkar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Jyotirlinga?+
A Jyotirlinga is a shrine where Shiva is worshipped as a 'lingam of light' — a self-manifested (swayambhu) form said to mark where he appeared as an infinite column of fire. There are twelve principal Jyotirlingas across India.
How many Jyotirlingas are there?+
Twelve principal Jyotirlingas are recognised, named together in the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram, from Somnath in Gujarat to Grishneshwar in Maharashtra.
Which is the first Jyotirlinga?+
Somnath in Gujarat is traditionally counted as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
In which states are the Jyotirlingas located?+
They span Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra (which has three), Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.