"Discovering the Unique Significance of Dvadasha Jyotirlinga on Maha Shivaratri: The 12 famous temples of Lord Shiva"

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Lord Shiva is known by many names and forms and is widely revered in India, particularly in his linga form. The country is home to many Shiva temples, including the famous Dvadasha Jyotirlingas, which are twelve sacred shrines located across the nation.

Shaivites encourage devotees to visit these Dvadasha Jyotirlingas at least once in their lifetime.

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is a form of Lord Shiva depicted on the Srisailam mountain, situated on the banks of the Krishna river in the Nandyala district of Andhra Pradesh. Commonly known as Mallikarjuna Swamy.

1. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga

This temple is one of the rare places that houses both Shaktipeeth and Jyotirlinga. The temple is named Bhramaramba after  a demon was defeated by Bhramari, the goddess of bees. 'Sri' signifies wealth and 'Sailam' means mountain. This extraordinary temple can be reached by road from Hyderabad."

The Somnath temple, which houses this Jyotirlinga, is located in Saurashtra, Gujarat. It has been repeatedly damaged during foreign invasions.

2. Somnath Jyotirlinga

According to the Puranas, the moon-god Chandra was cursed and suffered from  a disease, but he was able to obtain liberation by worshiping Lord Shiva as Someswara and taking a holy bath in the Saraswati river.

This Jyotirlinga is unique among the 12 as it is the only one facing south. It is situated in the historical region of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.

3. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

The Mahakaleshwara Jyotirlinga has many legends, including one in which Lord Shiva, in the form of Mahakali, saved the kingdom of Ujjain by defeating an enemy at the request of King Chandrasena.

Lord Shiva is worshiped as Omkareshwar at a temple located in the small town of Omeshwar in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district. The temple sits on the banks of the Narmada River and is easily accessible by train and plane.

4. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga

The surrounding mountains and rivers made Omkara. The Jyotirlinga got its name Omkareshwar due to the shape of Mount Mandhata as 'Om'. rewrite

Located on the Kedar Mountains in Uttarakhand, this Jyotirlinga is the tallest among the Dvadasha Jyotirlingas, standing at an altitude of 3,584 meters.

5. Kedarinath Jyotirlinga

The temple is only open for six months out of the year, and reaching it requires a journey on foot. Visitors must first travel by vehicle to Gaurikund before embarking on the trek to the temple.

In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Kashi Vishwanath and is  a popular destination for millions of devotees who visit the temple each year. The site is easily accessible by train and plane

6. Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga

Legend has it that the city was built by God himself, who chose it as his abode. Upon seeing the city, Goddess Parvati was overjoyed and proceeded to distribute food to all the inhabitants, leading to the city being named Annapurna

The Rameshwara Jyotirlinga, believed to have been consecrated by Lord Rama himself, is situated in Ramanatham, Tamil Nadu. The town of Rameswaram, where the temple is located, is easily accessible by direct train.

7. Rameswara Jyotirlinga

According to legend, after vanquishing Ravanasura, the demon king of Lanka, Lord Rama sought redemption by worshiping Lord Shiva.

The Tryambakeswara Jyotirlinga is situated near the source of the Godavari river in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. The temple is located near the Brahmagiri mountain, adding to its natural splendor and spiritual significance.

8. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga

The unique Tryambakeswara Jyotirlinga is believed to be the site where the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra manifested. Visitors can reach the temple by taking a train to Nashik and then continuing on by taxi.

Located in Deoghar, Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand, the Jyotirlinga is known as Chitrabhoomi and features a unique lingam that is situated within the earth.

9. Baidyanath Jyotirlinga

Visitors can reach the Jyotirlinga at Chitabhoomi by taking a train to Jasidih Junction or by flying into Ranchi Airport and continuing on by private vehicle.

The Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is enshrined in the Sahyadri mountains in the Pune district of Maharashtra. Visitors to the site must navigate winding roads that cut through dense mountain forests

10. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga

According to legend, Bhimashankar is  a Jyotirlinga due to the role Lord Shiva played in protecting the region from the destructive demon, Mudu. To visit the site, one can take a bus from Pune.

Another of the Jyotirlingas is located in Gujarat's Baroda region, situated just 15 km from the Dwarka railway station.

11. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

The uniqueness of the temple According to mythology, Lord Shiva is revered as the god of snakes at this location, which features a large garden and pond as well as a stunning 25-meter-high statue of the deity.

The Jyotirlinga is in Shambhajinagar district, Maharashtra, where the famous Ellora Caves are also located. It can be reached by train to Ellora and then by road.

12. Ghrishneswar Jyotirlinga

This Jyotirlinga is dedicated to Lord Ishwar in Hindu mythology, and it is believed that Lord Shiva appeared here as a boon requested by a devotee named Ghushma.