Monday, February 20, 2012

Mahashivaratri - Twelve Jyotirling

महाशिवरात्रीनिमित्त बारा ज्योतिर्लिंग दर्शन
 
श्री सोमनाथ
श्री सोमनाथ, गुजरात
श्री शैलम
श्री शैलम, आंध्र प्रदेश

श्री महाकालेश्वर
 श्री महाकालेश्वर, उज्जैन
श्री ओंकारेश्वर
श्री ओंकारेश्वर, मध्य प्रदेश
श्री केदारनाथ
श्री केदारनाथ, उत्तराखंड
श्री भीमाशंकर
श्री भीमाशंकर
श्री काशी विश्वनाथ
श्री विश्वनाथ, काशी
श्री त्र्यंबकेश्वर
 श्री त्र्यंबकेश्वर, नाशिक
श्री वैजनाथ
श्री वैजनाथ, परळी
श्री नागेश्वर
 श्री औंढ्या नागनाथ, परभणी
श्री रामेश्वर
श्री रामेश्वर, तामिळनाडू
श्री घृष्णेश्वर
श्री घृष्णेश्वर, औरंगाबाद

Jyotirling Yatra

Jyotirlinga shrines are held in great reverence in Hinduism. Puranas talk in detail about the significance of greatness of the Jyotirlingas. It goes on to say that by reciting the name of 12 Jyotirlinga a devotee can eliminate all the sins. Besides, the devotee becomes calm, chaste and pure as he becomes illuminated and enlightened with supreme and divine knowledge.
According to a legend of Lingodbhavamurthy narrated in Linga Purana, once Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma were fighting to prove who was the Supreme Being. At this point, Lord Shiva appeared as a flaming Linga and challenged the duo to measure the gigantic Linga (phallic symbol of Lord Shiva). Brahma and Vishnu decided to find one end each and declared that whoever returned first would be acknowledged as supreme. Vishnu assumed the form of a boar and went down. Brahma, in the form of a swan, flew upwards. They searched for days but in vain and returned to the starting point exhausted and bewildered. At that moment, the central part of the pillar split open and Shiva revealed himself in his full glory. Brahma and Vishnu realized their mistake and acknowledged Shiva as the Supreme Being.
Somnath Temple in Gujarat
Somnath Temple Jyotirlinga is situated at Somnath Patan (the south coast of Saurashtra), near Veraval in (Prabhas Kshetra) Kathaiwad district in Gujarat. Somnath is considered to be the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva and is a revered pilgrimage center in India
Mallikarjun Temple in Andhra pradesh
Mallikarjun Temple is situated on Shri Shaila Mountain by the banks of the Patal Ganga, Krishna River in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Also known as Kailash of the South, Mallikarjuna constitutes one of the 12 Jyotirlingam shrines of Shiva and is one of the greatest Shaivaite shrines in India. The presiding deities of Mallikarjuna Temple are Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and Bhramaramba (Devi). Every year there is a fair organized on account of Mahashivratri.
Mahakaleshwara Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
Mahakaleshwara Temple is located by the banks of river Kshipra, in the dense Mahakal forests in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. It is an important Shaivaite pilgrimage centre in North India and is revered as one of the 12 Jyotilinga manifestations of Shiva.
Omkareshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh
Omkareshwar Temple is situated on the mountain Mandhata by the banks of Narmada River in the Malva area in Madhya Pradesh. Omkareshwar Temple is one of the 12 revered Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. The temple is closely linked with Mammaleshwar Temple (situated on the south of river Narmada) as both the forms of Shiva have been counted as one.
Vaidyanath Temple in Deogarh, Bihar
Vaidyanath Temple, also called Vaijnath Temple and Baidyanth Temple is located at Deogarh in the Santal Parganas region of Bihar in the south west of Keeul Station. Baidyanath shrine is revered as one of the twelve Jyotirlingams of Shiva. It may be noted that some schools of thought believe Vaidyanath near Parali in Andhra Pradesh to be the Vaidyanatha Jyotirlingam.
Bhimashankar Temple near Pune in Maharashtra
Bhimashankar Temple Jyotirlinga is situated in the ghat region of the Sahyadri hills in the village of Bhavagiri, 50-km north west of Khed, near Pune in Maharashtra. Bhima Shankar Temple lies on the banks of the river Bhima. Bhimashankar is also the source of the river Bhima, which flows southeast and merges with the Krishna River near Raichur. The other Jyotirlinga shrines in Maharashtra are Tryambakeshwar and Grishneshwar. It may be noted that according to the Shiv Purana the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is situated on the Mountain Brahmapur in district Kamrup, Assam.
Rameshwaram Temple in Tamil Nadu
Rameshwaram Temple is situated in the island of Rameswaram, off the Sethu coast of Tamil Nadu and is reached via the Pamban Bridge across the sea. The huge temple is known for its long ornate corridors, towers and 36 theerthams.
Nageshwar Temple in Dwarka, Gujarat
Nageshwar Temple or Nagnath Temple is located on the route between Gomati Dwarka and the Bait Dwarka Island on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat. The Jyotirlinga enshrined in the Temple of Nagnath is known as Nageshwar Mahadev and attracts thousands of pilgrims all round the year. This powerful Jyotirlinga symbolizes protection from all poisons. It is said that those who pray to the Nageshwar Linga become free of poison. The Rudra Samhita sloka refers to Nageshwar with the phrase 'Daarukaavane Naagesham'.
Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi
Vishwanath Temple is located amidst the crowded lanes in the holy city of Varanasi also known as Kashi and Benares. The Vishwanath Temple enshrines one of the twelve Jyotirlingams of Lord Shiva and is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for Hindus. It is believed that Varanasi is the point at which the first Jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light by which Shiva manifested his supremacy over other gods, broke through the earth crust and flared towards the heavens. More than the Ghats and even the Ganga, the Shivalinga installed in the temple remain the devotional focus of Varanasi. Millions of pilgrims converge here to perform an abhishekam to the sacred Jyotirlingam with sacred water of river Ganga.
Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nasik, Maharashtra
Shri Trimbakeshwar Temple is located at a distance of about 30-km from Nasik in Maharashtra near the mountain named Brahmagiri from which the river Godavari flows. Trimbakeshwar Temple is revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva and as the source of the river Godavari. Just as Ganga is known as Bhagirathi and is one of the most important river in North India, in the same way, Godavari is also known as Gautami Ganga and is the most sacred river in South India.
Kedarnath Temple in Himalayas
One of the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus, Kedarnath Temple Jyotirlinga is located in the picturesque surroundings of Rudra Himalaya Range at a height of 12000 feet on a mountain named Kedar. Near Kedarnath is the source of the river Mandakini that joins Alakananda at Rudraprayag. This place is approximately 150 miles away from Hardwar and 132 miles north of Hrishikesh and is accessible by foot.
Grishneshwar Temple in Daulatabad, Maharashtra
Grishneshwar Temple is an ancient pilgrimage site revered as the abode of one of the 12 Jyotirlinga manifestation of Lord Shiva. The Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga shrine is located at a village called Verul, which lies 20 km from Daulatabad (near Aurangabad in Maharashtra) and approximately 100 kms from Manmad station. Located close to Daulatabad (once known as Devagiri) is the popular tourist attractions Ajanta - Ellora.
Suggested Travel Plan for Jyotirling Yatra :
Day 1: Chennai : Reaching Chennai Airport and proceeding to Rameshwaram. Chennai to Rameshwaram can be covered by Taxi (600 km, 10 hr. journey) or up to Madurai by flight and then from Madurai to Rameshwaram by Taxi (180 km, 2 hrs). One can get comfortable travel in train up to Madurai as well. Stay at Rameshwaram.
Day 2: Rameshwaram Jyotirling visit : Rameshwaram Temple visit. One can visit other temples in and around Rameshwaram apart from the Jyotir Linga temple. Evening return to Chennai. Stay at Chennai.

Day 3: Hydrabad : Traveling to Hyderabad by train or flight. Stay at Hyderabad.
Day 4: Srisailam Jyotiring : Travel to Srisailam at early morning which is about 230 km away by taxi or bus. It will take about 5 hours Journey. One can go to Markapur railhead and hire a taxi to temple (85 km, 2 hours) Visit to Mallikarjuna Temple in Srisaialm. Evening return to Hyderabad. Stay at Hyderabad. Many good standard hotels are available at Hyderabad for a nice comfortable stay.

Day 5 and 6: Pune : Travel to Pune from Hyderabad by flight or train. Stay at Pune. Many budget hotels are available in Pune.

Day 7: Bhimashankar Jyotirling : Visit to Bhimasanker in the morning, which is 95 km away from Pune. One can try out taxi or bus. Travel will take about two and a half hours. After the Darshan at Bhimashanker, the pilgrim can reach Triambakeshwar in Nasik by evening. Bhimasanker to Triambakeshwar is about 100 km, which can be covered by less than 3 hours. Evening Darshan at Triambakeshwar and move on to Mumbai, which is about 200 kms away taking about 4 hours by taxi. Stay at Mumbai. Mumbai has got enough accommodation facilities for all kinds of travelers from budget hotels to Star Hotels.

Day 8: Travel to Aurangabad for a visit in Grishneshwar jyotirling. Taxis and train services are available. It will take about 7 hours to reach Aurangabad by taxi or train from Mumbai. Evening visit to temple and stay at hotels in the neighborhood of the temple.

Day 9 & 10: Travel to Mahakaleshwar jyotirling located at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. One can reach Indore either by flight or by train. stay at Indore on Day 10.

Day 11: Visit to Mahakaleshwar Jyotirling in Ujjain at a distance of 55 km from Indore in the morning. Taxi services can be availed. Many bus services are also available. Travel to the next Jyotirlinga temple Omkareshwar in Maheshwar, which is at a distance of 95 km from Indore. Night return to Indore and stay at Indore. Indore offered fantastic accommodation facilities for the pilgrims.
Day 12 & 13: Dwarka : Travel to Dwarka in Gujarat from Indore by train, Stay at Dwarka either in hotels or pilgrim centers at Nageshwar Jyotirling. Nageshwar can be reached by taxi from Dwarka (17 km).
Day 14: Visit to Nageshwar temple. Evening train can be used to move on to Veraval for a visit to Somnath. Stay at Somanath temple lodges.

Day 15: Visit to Somanath temple

Day 16: Free day before moving to North Indian Jyotirlinga temples.

Day 17 & 18: Travel to Patna by train. Stay at Patna.

Day 19: Visit to Vaidyanath temple. Taxi can be availed from Patna to temple (280 km) or first travel to Deoghar railway station and then travel to temple by taxi (10 km from Deoghar).. Stay at Deoghar.

Day 20 & 21: Travel to Varanasi for visit in Kashi Viswanath temple. Train services can be availed fro the travel. Flights are available from Patna to Varanasi as well. Stay at Kashi.

Day 22: Darshan at Kashi Viswanath temple and Stay at Kashi. Government owned guest houses, temple lodges and private hotels are plenty in Varanasi.

Day 23: Travel to Dehradun Varanasi. Flight services are available from Varanasi to Dehradun. Train services can also be availed from Varanasi to Rishikesh. Stay at Dehradun. Or Rishikesh.

Day 24 & 25: Travel to Kedarnath temple. Temple can be reached from Dehradun or Rishikesh. Some part can be covered by taxi up to Gaurikund and other parts require trekking. One day trekking of about 14 km required to reach the temple.

Day 26: Return to Dehradun or Rishikesh.

Day 27: Travel to Delhi finishing the 27 day 12 Jyotirlinga travel.

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