~~OM~~
The twelve Jyotirlingams are:
Please click here for a presentation of the Jyotirlingam mantras.
Sati’s twenty-seven sisters were given in marriage to Chandra, the moon, the son of Atri and Anasuya. Chandra was so deeply in love with Rohini, that he neglected his other wives, and so he was cursed by Daksha, their father, and became beset with disease. Both Chandra and Rohini performed tapasya for Lord Shiva, and with Shiva’s blessings he regained his health. Along with this blessing, Lord Shiva conferred his eternal light, which is the origin of the Somnath Jyotir Lingam.
After many tribulations and much prayer by the Gods, the son of Shiva, Kartikeya, took birth from a ray of light which emanated from Shiva. The six Krittikas nurtured the infant child in the Satya Loka, and Ganga taught him wisdom.
At the appropriate time, the young Kartikeya slayed the wicked demon Tarakasura. Mother Parvati, desiring another child of her very own, brought forth Ganesh.
Ganesh’s head was cut by Shiva’s trishula, as he guarded the entrance to Parvati’s private chamber. Afterwards he was given the head of an elephant, for which he became known as the elephant headed God, Gajanan.
When Shiva and Parvati decided to find suitable brides for their sons, Ganesh and Kartikeya argued as to who is to get wedded first. Lord Shiva bade that the one who circumambulated the world first could get married first. By the time Kartikeya could go round the world, Ganesh went round his parents 7 times (for according to Sastras, circumambulating one’s parents is equivalent to going round the world). Ganesh was married to Siddhi and Buddhi, the daughters of Viswaroopan.
Kartikeya on his return was enraged and went away to live on Shree Saila Mountain in South India. In order to bring him back to Kailash, Parvati took the form of Malli, a village girl, and Shiva became Arjuna, a tribal youth. At the time of their marriage, Malli and Arjuna showed their true forms as Shiva and Parvati, and Shiva bestowed his eternal light for the establishment of the Mallikarjuna Jyotir Lingam.
The Brahmin Devavrata and the cow-herd boy Shreedhara prayed to Shiva for the destruction of the wicked demon asura Dushan, and when Shiva turned the asura to ashes, he bestowed his light, which is the origin of the Mahakaleswar Jyotir Lingam.
Legend has it that the Vindhya mountain prayed to Shiva – Omkareswara and was blessed here. Legend also has it that upon the request of the Devas, the Shivalinga split into two, one half being Omkareswara and the other Amaleswara or Amareswar. King Mandhatha of the Ishvaku clan worshiped Shiva here, and Lord Shiva was pleased and conferred his eternal light.
The Omkareswar temple is built in the North Indian style of architecture, with high spires. Devotees consider worship to Panchamuga Ganesha, also to be very auspicious.
Kumbhakarna and his wife Karkati had a son named Bhimasura. Bhimasura attacked the virtuous king Sudakshin, a great devotee of Lord Shiva. To save his devotee, Lord Shiva turned Bhimasura to ashes and conferred his eternal light. That was the origin of the Bhimashankar Jyotir Lingam. In another story, Shiva took the form of Bhima, the Terrifying One, to slay the demon Tripurasura. The temple is located on the crest of the Sahyadri Hills, and the sweat that poured forth from his body after the battle is said to have formed the Bhimarathi river.
Rishi Gautam and his wife Ahalya worshiped Lord Shiva to bring Ganga down to their hermitage. Pleased with their pure devotion Shiva requested Ganga to flow down and conferred his eternal light, which was established as the Tryambakeshwar Jyotir Lingam. Ganga became known as Godavari or Gautami in the South.
