Read all the divine mythological facts about Jyotirlingas

Read the mythology of  Jyotirlingas

Lord Shiva is considered to be the greatest among all gods and has millions of devotees not only in India but across the world. Popularly known as 'Mahadev lord shiva is believed to shower his blessings on every devotee that worships him with a pure heart.  There are various renowned temples of lord shiva situated in India that see a surging footfall round the year. By the sight of these Jyotirlingas worship, all the sins of the devotees after their births are eradicated. They become eligible for the grace of Lord Shiva. We have provided the story of such welfare Jyotirlingas together here


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Shri Somnath
This Jyotirlinga is established in the world-famous temple named Somnath on the bank of the sea in the Kathiawar region of Gujarat province. Earlier this region was known as Prabhas Kshetra. It is here that Lord Krishna had described his Leela by making the arrow of a huntsman named Jara an instrument. The story of the Jyotirlinga here is described in the Puranas as follows-

Daksha Prajapati had twenty-seven daughters. All of them were married to Chandra dev. But all the affection and love of the moon was only for Rohini among them. The other daughters of Daksha Prajapati were very unhappy with this act of his. He narrated this story of his grief to his father. Daksha Prajapati explained this to Chandradev in many ways.

But it had no effect on his heart under the control of Rohini. Eventually, Daksha got angry and cursed him to become 'decayed'. Due to this curse, Chandradev immediately became devastated. As soon as they were decayed, all their work of cool and cool precipitation on the earth stopped. There was uproar all around. Moon was also very sad and worried.

Hearing his prayer, the sages like Indradi Devta and Vasistha went to Brahmaji for their salvation. After listening to all the things, Brahma said- 'Moon, along with other deities, go to the holy Prabhas Kshetra and worship Lord Shiva, Mrityunjay, for the release of his curse. By his grace, their curse will surely be destroyed and they will become disease-free.

According to his statement, Chandradev completed all the work of worshiping Lord Mrityunjay. While doing severe penance, he chanted the Mrityunjaya mantra ten crore times. Pleased with this, Mrityunjay-Lord Shiva granted him the boon of immortality. He said- 'Chandradev! you don't grieve Not only will you get rid of your curses from my bridegroom, as well as the words of Prajapati Daksha will also be protected.

Every day in the Krishna Paksha your one art will decrease, but again in the Shukla Paksha, each and every art of yours will increase in the same order. In this way you will continue to attain full moon on every full moon.' The people of all the worlds were pleased with this boon given to the moon. Sudhakar Chandradev again started undoing the work of precipitation in the ten directions.

Freed from the curse, Chandradev along with other deities prayed to Lord Mrityunjay that you should reside here with Mother Parvati for the salvation of life forever. Lord Shiva accepted this prayer and started living here with Mother Parvati in the form of Jyotirlinga.

The glory of this Somnath-Jyotirlinga situated in the holy Prabhas Kshetra has been described in detail in Mahabharata, Shrimad Bhagwat and Skandapuranadi. One of the names of the moon is Soma, he had done penance here considering Lord Shiva as his Nath-swami.

Therefore, this Jyotirlinga is called Somnath, by its darshan, worship, worship, all the sins and evil deeds of the devotees are destroyed after birth. They become eligible for the inexhaustible grace of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. The path of salvation becomes easily accessible to them. All their worldly and transcendental actions automatically become successful.

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Shri Mallikarjuna
Sri Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is situated on the Srisailparvata, which is called the Kailas of the South, on the banks of the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh. Its glory and importance have been described in detail in the scriptures like Mahabharata, Shiva Purana and Padma Purana.

The story of this Jyotirlinga is described in the Puranas as follows. Once upon a time, Lord Shankar's two sons Shri Ganesh and Shri Karthikeya Swami started fighting each other for marriage. Everyone insisted that I should get married first.

Seeing them fighting and quarreling, Lord Shankar and Mother Bhavani said – The one who will come back here after going round the whole earth first, will be married first. Hearing this from his parents, Sri Karthikeya Swami, seated on his vehicle, Peacock, immediately ran for the earth circumambulation. But for Ganeshji, this task was very difficult. One, his physique was gross, secondly, his vehicle was also a mouse-rat. Well, how could he match Swami Karthikeya in the race?

But his intellect was as subtle and sharp in proportion as his physique was gross. He immediately found an easy way to circumambulate the earth, after worshiping the parents sitting in front, he completed the work of earth circumambulation by doing seven rounds of them. His work was scripture-approved-

Pitrosch poojanam kritva prakrantin chi kroti yaha.
Tasya vai prithivijanyam phalaam bhavati nisham

By the time Swami Kartikeya returned after circling the whole earth, Ganesha was married to two daughters named 'Siddhi' and 'Buddhi' and had also got two sons named 'Kshem' and 'Labh'. Seeing all this, Swami Karthikeya went to the mountain of Krauncha very angry. Mother Parvati came there to persuade him. After reaching there Lord Shankar appeared in the form of Jyotirlinga and since then became famous as Mallikarjuna-Jyotirlinga. They were first worshiped with Mallika flowers. This is the reason for getting the name Mallikarjuna.

Another story is also told that at some time near this rock mountain was the capital of King Chandragupta. For the prevention of any particular calamity, one of his daughters came out of the palace and came to the ashram of this mountain king and started living with the gopas here. That girl had a very auspicious Lakshara beautiful Shyama cow. Somebody used to steal the milk of that cow at night.

One day, by chance, the princess saw the thief milking her and ran towards the thief in anger, but after reaching the cow, she saw that there was nothing other than the Shivling. After some time the princess built a huge temple on that Shivling. This Shivling is famous as Mallikarjuna. A huge fair is held here on the festival of Shivratri.

All the sattvik wishes of the devotees who worship and worship this Mallikarjuna-Shivling are fulfilled. He has a steady love at the feet of Lord Shiva. They are freed from all kinds of obstacles, physical, divine, material.

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Shri Mahakaleshwar

This holiest Jyotirling is in Ujjain city of Madhya Pradesh. Ujjain situated on the banks of river Punyasila Kshipra was famous in ancient times as Ujjaini, it was also called Avantikapuri. It is one of the most sacred saptapuris of India. The glory of Mahakal Jyotirling has been described in full detail in Mahabharata, Shiv Purana, and Skanda Purana.

The story of this Jyotirlinga is described in the Puranas as follows- King Chandrasen used to rule in Ujjayini in ancient times. He was the ultimate Shiva devotee. One day a five-year-old cowboy named Shrikar was passing by with his mother. Seeing the king's worship of Shiva, he was very astonished and curious. He himself became eager to worship Shiva with similar materials.

Not being able to get the means of material, while returning, he picked up a piece of stone from the way. After coming home, installing the same stone in the form of Shiva, started worshiping him with flowers, sandalwood, etc. with utmost devotion. Mother came to call her for food, but she was in no way ready to leave the worship and get up. In the end, the mother frantically picked up that piece of stone and threw it away. Being very sad because of this, the child started crying loudly calling Lord Shiva. In the end, he fell down crying.
Seeing this devotion and love of the child towards himself, Lord Shiva became very pleased. As soon as the child came to his senses and opened his eyes, he saw that in front of him stood a very grand and huge temple made of gold and gems. Inside that temple stands a very luminous, bhaswar, stunning Jyotirlinga. The child was filled with happiness and joy and started praising Lord Shiva.

When the mother got this news, she ran and hugged her beloved Lal. After reaching there, King Chandrasen also appreciated the devotion and accomplishment of that child. Gradually a large crowd gathered there. In this, Hanumanji appeared at that place. He said- 'Humans! Lord Shankar is the first among the deities to give quick fruits. Pleased with the devotion of this child, he has bestowed upon him such a fruit, which the great sages and sages could not attain even by penance for crores of births.

In the eighth generation of this gopa-child, the godly soul Nandgopa will be born. In Dwapara Yuga, Lord Vishnu will take Krishna incarnation and perform various pastimes there. Hanumanji disappeared after saying this. At that place, worshiping Lord Shiva according to the rules, in the end, Shrikar Gopa and King Chandrasen went to Shivdham.

Another story about this Jyotirlinga is told as follows- Once upon a time in Avantikapuri lived a very brilliant Brahmin, Vedapathi Taponishtha. One day a tyrannical demon named Dushan came there to disturb his penance. He became very powerful after getting a boon from Brahmaji. There was uproar all around because of his atrocities.

Seeing the Brahmin in trouble, Lord Shankar, who did the welfare of the soul, appeared there. He burnt that cruel tyrannical demon to ashes with a mere shout. The Lord appeared there with a hum and hence his name was Mahakal. That is why the most sacred Jyotirlinga is known as 'Mahakal'. Seeing this devotion and love of the child towards himself, Lord Shiva became very pleased. As soon as the child came to his senses and opened his eyes, he saw that in front of him stood a very grand and huge temple made of gold and gems. Inside that temple stands a very luminous, bhaswar, stunning Jyotirlinga. The child was filled with happiness and joy and started praising Lord Shiva.

When the mother got this news, she ran and hugged her beloved Lal. After reaching there, King Chandrasen also appreciated the devotion and accomplishment of that child. Gradually a large crowd gathered there. In this, Hanumanji appeared at that place. He said- 'Humans! Lord Shankar is the first among the deities to give quick fruits. Pleased with the devotion of this child, he has bestowed upon him such a fruit, which the great sages and sages could not attain even by penance for crores of births.

In the eighth generation of this gopa-child, the godly soul Nandgopa will be born. In Dwapara Yuga, Lord Vishnu will take Krishna incarnation and perform various pastimes there. Hanumanji disappeared after saying this. At that place, worshiping Lord Shiva according to the rules, in the end, Shrikar Gopa and King Chandrasen went to Shivdham.

Another story about this Jyotirlinga is told as follows- Once upon a time in Avantikapuri lived a very brilliant Brahmin, Vedapathi Taponishtha. One day a tyrannical demon named Dushan came there to disturb his penance. He became very powerful after getting a boon from Brahmaji. There was uproar all around because of his atrocities.

Seeing the Brahmin in trouble, Lord Shankar, who did the welfare of the soul, appeared there. He burnt that cruel tyrannical demon to ashes with a mere shout. The Lord appeared there with a hum and hence his name was Mahakal. That is why the most sacred Jyotirlinga is known as 'Mahakal'.

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Shri Omkareshwar-Shri Mamleshwar
This Jyotirlinga is situated on the banks of the holy river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh. At this place, due to the splitting of Narmada into two streams, an island has been formed in the middle. This island is called Mandhata-parvat or Shivpuri. One stream of the river flows north and the other south of this mountain.

The southernmost stream is considered to be the mainstream. The temple of Shri Omkareshwar-Jyotirlinga is situated on this Mandhata-mountain. In the past, Maharaj Mandhata had pleased Lord Shiva with his penance on this mountain. Due to this mountain came to be called Mandhata-Parvat.

Inside this Jyotirlinga-temple one has to go through two chambers. Due to the darkness inside, the light burns continuously here. Omkareshwar Linga is not man-made. Nature itself has created it. There is always water around it. The entire Mandhata-mountain is believed to be the form of Lord Shiva. That is why it is also called Shivpuri, people worship it with devotion.

A huge fair is held here on the day of Kartik Purnima. Here people offer gram dal to Lord Shiva, the night Shiva Aarti program is done with great grandeur. Pilgrims must visit it.

There are two forms of this Omkareshwar-Jyotling. One is known as Mamleshwar. It is a little away from Omkareshwar on the south bank of the Narmada, yet both are counted as one.
The story of the two forms of the Linga is given in the Puranas as follows- Once Vindhyaparvat worshiped Lord Shiva with earthly Archana for six months. Pleased with his worship, Bhutabhavan Shankarji appeared there. He granted Vindhya his desired boon. Many sages and sages also came there on the occasion of the blessing of Vindhyachal. On his request, Shiva divided his linga named Omkareshwar into two parts. One was named Omkareshwar and the other Amaleshwar. Even though the place and temple of both the sexes are different, the power and form of both are considered the same.

The glory of this Jyotirling has been described in detail in Shiv Purana. Describing the virtue of having darshan of Shri Omkareshwar and Shri Mamleshwar, the holy fruit of Narmada-bath has also been described. Every person must visit this area. The attainment of the best fruits of both worldly and transcendental types becomes easily by the grace of Lord Omkareshwar. Artha, Dharma, Kama, all means of salvation are easily accessible to him. Eventually, he also attains the supreme abode of Lord Shiva, Lokeshwar Mahadev.

Lord Shiva is the one who blesses the devotees without any reason. Then what to say about the good fortune of those who come here and see them? For them, all kinds of good virtuous paths are opened forever and ever.

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