Jyotirlinga Yatra

Jyotirlinga Yatra Lord Shiva, revered as the destroyer of evil in Hinduism, is associated with the sacred Jyotirlingas, which are representations of his divine presence. The term "Jyotirlinga" comes from the Sanskrit words "Jyothi," meaning Radiance, and "Lingam," meaning the Iconic Symbol of Lord Shiva. The legend behind the creation of these Jyotirlingas involves a dispute between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu over their superiority. To settle the argument, Lord Shiva transformed into an infinite column of light and asked them to find its top and bottom ends.

Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu set off in opposite directions to search for the ends of this immense light. Lord Vishnu admitted his inability to find the end and conceded defeat, while Lord Brahma falsely claimed to have succeeded and presented a flower called Tamara (Thazhampoo) as proof. Angered by the deception, Lord Shiva condemned Lord Brahma, declaring that he, along with the Thazhampoo, would not be worshipped in temples.

The Jyotirlingas are believed to symbolize Lord Shiva's boundless nature, representing his manifestation as a radiant light. There are twelve such Jyotirlingas, each considered self-manifested and representing Lord Shiva in a unique form. They are as follows:

1. Somnath Jyotirlinga Yatra – Gujarat

2. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Yatra – Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

3. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra – Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

4. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra – Madhya Pradesh

5. Kedarnath Jyotirlinga Yatra – Uttarakhand

6. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Yatra –Maharashtra

7. Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Yatra –Uttar Pradesh

8. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra –Maharashtra

9. Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga Yatra – Maharashtra

10. Aundha Nagnath Yatra – Maharashtra

11. Rameshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra –Tamil Nadu

12. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra –Maharashtra

Somnath Jyotirlinga Yatra (Hours: 6 A.M. to 9 P.M.)

Somnath Jyotirlinga Yatra is considered the first site of pilgrimage among the twelve Jyotirlinga Yatras. The name Somnath means "Lord of the Moon," reflecting its profound significance.

According to Hindu mythology, Soma, the Moon God, was cursed by his father-in-law, Daksha, to lose his radiance because he chose Rohini, one of his 27 wives, over the others. ToProtector relieve from the curse, Soma prayed to Lord Shiva at this place. Pleased by Soma's devotion, Lord Shiva partially relieved him of the curse, allowing the moon to wax and wane in cycles. Thus, the place was named Somnath, which means "ProtectorIn order of the Moon."

The best time to visit the Somnath temple is from October to March. The nearest railway station is Veraval Railway Station, nearest airport is in ,Surat.

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Yatra (Timing: 4:30 AM to 10:00 PM;6:30 AM to 1 PM;6:30 PM to 9 PM)

Srisailam is also known as the "Kailash of South India". Srisailam is located in Andhra Pradesh on a mountain near the banks of the Krishna River. Parts of the body of Goddess Sati are said to have fallen from this temple, which is also widely considered as Shakti Peetha.

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, are believed that they have come to this location to console their son Kartikeya, who had become angry because his brother Ganesha had gotten married before him. Since the celestial pair decided to remain here, the area was given the name Mallikarjuna.

Kurnool Town railway station is the most convenient one. The Nallamala forest range is picturesquely seen from the road leading to Srisailam.

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra (Timing: 4 AM TO 11 PM)

The Mahakaleshwar Temple lies on the banks of the Kshipra River.

A demon by the name of Dushana once threatened the city of Ujjain. Along with other devotees, a little kid named Shrikar prayed to Lord Shiva for protection. The demon had been defeated by Lord Shiva, who after that materialized into the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra. Because it faces south, this Jyotirlinga Yatra is distinct and represents Shiva as the ruler of time and death. For this reason, it is also referred to as "Dakshinamurthi."

The closest airport to Mahakaleshwar is Indore. The nearest railway station is Ujjain Jn.

Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra (Timing:5 AM to 10PM)

Omkareshwar Jyothirlinga Yatra is situated on the Narmada River.

According to legends, Vindhya Mountain once offered Lord Shiva a very hard penance to atone for his deeds. Shiva blessed him in the form of Omkareshwar, pleased with his dedication. The island of Mandhata, where the Jyotirlinga is located, is said to be shaped like the sacred Hindu symbol "Om".

The nearest railway station and airport to Omkareshwar are Ujjain and Indore.

Kedarnath Jyotirlinga Yatra (Timing:4 AM to 12 Noon and 3 PM to 9 PM)

In Hinduism, Kedarnath Jyotirlinga Yatra is considered one of the Four Dhams. It lies in Uttarakhand's Garhwali Himalayas at an elevation of over 11,000 feet. The temple at Kedarnath is only opened for six months, usually from April to November.

The story goes that the Pandavas went to Lord Shiva to get their sins forgiven following the Kurukshetra conflict. Shiva hid in the Garhwali area, disguising himself as a bull, to escape from them. Shiva sank below the earth, leaving his hump visible above ground, after being found by the Pandavas. This hump is referred to be the Jyotirlinga of Kedarnath.

Kedarnath's closest train station is Haridwar/Delhi.

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Yatra (Timing: 4:30 AM to 9:30 PM)

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Yatra is a Nagara-style architectural pattern, is a marvelous black rock structure, situated on the banks of the Bhīma River. The temple is believed to have been built by Bheema (son of Kumbhakarna).

The legend involves the demon Tripurasura, who harassed the gods and humans. Lord Shiva, upon the request of the gods, incarnated in the form of Bhimashankar and vanquished the demon. The sweat from Shiva’s efforts is believed to have formed the Bhīma River. The nearest railway station to Bhimashankar is Nashik Road.

Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Yatra (Timing: 3:00 AM to 11:00 PM)

The temple is situated in Varanasi, a place where a Hindu is expected to make a pilgrimage at least once in his life, and people also wish to pour the remains of their cremated ancestors in the Holy Ghats of the Ganges.

The legend states that Shiva, in the form of Vishwanath (Lord of the Universe), made Kashi his permanent abode. It is believed that the Jyotirlinga here grants Moksha (liberation) to devotees, from and a visit to this temple ensures freedom from the cycle of rebirth. Varanasi is connected by both a railway station and an airport, which draws tourists all over the world.

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra: (Timing: 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM)

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra originated from the holy river Godavari, this temple houses a rare Linga with three faces symbolizing Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva.

The legend involves Sage Gautama, who lived here with his wife, Ahalya. Due to a curse, they suffered from a severe drought. Gautama worshipped Lord Shiva, who ordered the Ganga to flow through this region to relieve the drought. At Gautama’s request, Shiva . This stays here as Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra. Nasik Road is the closest railway station.

Parli VaiThe Parlijnath Jyotirlinga Yatra (Timing: 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM)

The Parli Vaijnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas Yatra, sacred to Lord Shiva. It is located in the Beed district of Maharashtra. The lingam here represents Shiva's manifestation as Vaijnath, meaning "Lord of Physicians," and is revered for its healing powers. The temple complex is a significant pilgrimage site and attracts devotees seeking blessings for health and well-being.

Legend has it that the demon Vritrasura terrorized the gods, leading them to seek Lord Shiva's help. Shiva emerged as Parli Vaijnath and defeated Vritrasura, restoring peace. Another tale involves the immortal Sudharma and his mortal wifeSudarmi, who merged into the Sudharmeshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra at Parli, symbolizing eternal love. These legends enshrine Parli Vaijnath as a site of divine intervention and eternal devotion.Parli has its own Railway Station.

Aunda Nagnath Jyotirlinga Yatra (Timing: 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM)

Aun Maharashtrada Nagnath is a famous site in India known for its ancient Shiva temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas Yatra located in Maharastra. The temple, believed to date back to the Pandavas' time, features beautiful carvings and grand pillars.

According to legend, Ravana, a devotee of Shiva, was given the Atmalinga by Shiva but was tricked by Lord Ganesha, disguised as a boy, into placing it on the ground. The Atmalinga took root there and became the Aunda Nagnath Jyotirlinga Yatra.

Rameshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra (Timing: 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM)

Rameshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra, also known as Ramanathaswamy, is a revered temple located on the sacred island of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva here and installed a Lingam on his way to Lanka to rescue Sita.

This was done to atone for the sin of killing Ravana, who was a Brahmin. The temple's deep spiritual significance, combined with its connection to the Ramayana, makes it a unique blend of devotion, mythology, and architectural beauty. While Rameswaram Yatra has its own railway station, ongoing construction on the Pamban Bridge makes Mandapam or Mana Madurai stations the nearest railway access points until the bridge work is completed.

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra (Timing: 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM)

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra is located less than a kilometer from the famous Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The name 'Grishneshwara' translates to 'Lord of Compassion'.

According to legend, a devout woman named Kusuma worshipped Shiva by immersing a lingam in a tank daily. Despite villagers killing her son out of envy, she continued her devotion. Pleased, Shiva appeared and brought her son back to life. The temple is also known for its holy water spring. The nearest major railway station is Aurangabad, providing access to the Jyotirlinga.

Tritiya

Amongst the 12 Jyotirlinga Yatra, Kedarnath Yatra can be undertaken only, during Akshaya Trithi to Diwali. Kashi and Rameswaram are other Jyotirlinga Yatra that are commonly visited. The other 9 Jyotirlinga Yatra can be visited round the year. For comfortable darshan of the Jyotirlinga Yatra call 7305 85 85 85 or visit www.tourtimes.in. Jyotirlinga, Yatra packages include flights, transfers, hotels, food & tour manager.