The Twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva

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Coutesy : Vanamali Ashram, Rishikesh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Saurashtre Somanatham cha,Sri Saile Mallikarjuna.

Ujjanyinyam Mahakalam,Omkare Malamleshwara.Himalaye to Kedaram,Dakinyam Bhimashankara.Varanasyam cha Vishweshwam,Tryambakam Gautameethate.Paralyam Vaidyanatham cha,Nagesham Darukavane.Sethu bande Ramesham,

Grishnesam cha Shivalaya”.This is the famous sloka given in the Shiva Purana describing the 12 jyotirlingas of Shiva. In Hinduism, the Absolute is known as the Brahman and is formless and without attributes. But the human being has form and attributes so we need some form of the Absolute on which we can concentrate. The lingam which is a rounded, upright stone is used as a symbol of Shiva. Worship of the lingam is one of the most important aspects of the worship of Shiva. The word ”lingam” actually means a sign or characteristic. So the Shiva lingam is a sign of Shiva and helps us to remember him in his formless aspect. The Shiva lingam is also considered to be the divine phallus, containing within it the seed of the universe. From it all life is created. Together with the yoni or seat on which it rests and which corresponds to the female vulva, the yoni-lingam represents the union of man and woman, Shiva and Shakti, the cosmic Spirit in union with the cosmic Prakriti, which brings everything into existence