The 12 Jyotirlingas

(Barah Jyotirlingas) SAURASHTRE SOMANAATHAM CHA SHREESHAILE MALLIKARJUNAM II UJJAYINYAM MAHAKALAM OMKARE AMARESH ARAM II !ARALYAAM "AI#YANAATHAM CHA #AAKINYAM BHIMASHANKARAM II SETHU BAN#HE TU RAAMESHAM NAA$ESHAM #AARUKA"ANE II "AARAANASYAANTHU "ISH"ESHAM TRYAMBAKAM $AUTHAMEETHATE II HIMALAYE TU KE#AARAM $HRUSHNESHAM CHA SHI"ALAYE II ETAANI JYOTIRLIN$AANI SAAYAM !RAATAH !ATHENNARAHA II SA!THA JANMA KRITAM !AA!AM SMARANENA "INASYATHI II % So&nath in Sa'rashtra (Kathia(a))* $'+arat , Malli-ar+'n in Shrishaila& or Srisaila& A! (also list.) as a Sha-ti !itha sit.)/ 0 Maha-al in U++ain OR Maha-alas(ar at U++ain* M! stat./ 1 O&-ar in Ma&&al.sh(ara& (at O&-ar.sh(ar on th. ri2.r Nar&a)a* M!) 3 "ai+nath in !arli ("ai)yanath at #.ogarh* Bihar) 4 Bhi&a Shan-ar in #a-ini north(.st o5 !oona* in #ha-ini* Maharashtra 6 Ra&.sh(ara& in S.t'7an)ha* Ta&ilNa)' 8 Nag.sh* Naganath9Nag.sh(ar* in #ar'-a2ana* Maharaashtra : "ish(.sh(ar9 "is(anath in Banaras9"aranasi * U! %; Tri&7a-.sh(ar n.ar Nasi- on th. 7an-s o5 ri2.r $a'ta&i9$o)a2ari * Maharashtra %% K.)arnath9K.)ar.sh(ar in Utt.r-han) Hi&alayas* U! %, $h'r&.sh(ar in Shi2alaya OR $rin.sh(ar in "isala-a&* n.ar Ellora <a2.s* Mah On. (ho r.<it.s th.s. %, na&.s r.g'larly in th. &orning an) .2.ning (ash.s all th. sins <o&&itt.) in th. =r.2io's 6 7irths an) attains all th. =o(.rs an) Si))his/

SOMNATH

>>>

Chan)ra #.2an (orshi==.) Si2a at this s=ot to ri) hi&s.l5 o5 th. <'rs. o5 #a-sha/ Th. story ? Chan)ra #.2an is <onsi).r.) to ha2. 7'ilt this t.&=l. @ h.n<. th. na&. So&anathar to th. Lor)/ Chan)ran 5.ll in lo2. (ith Rohini* on. o5 th. )a'ght.rs o5 #a-shan/ B't #a-shan (ant.) to gi2. all his )a'ght.rs in &arraig. to on. a7l. @ lo2ing =.rson* (ho (o'l) tr.at all his )a'ght.rs .A'ally/ Chan)ran got &arri.) to all* 7't his lo2. 5or Rohini (as too gr.at @ th. oth.r )a'ght.rs <o&=lain.) to th.ir 5ath.r/ #a-shan <'rs.) Chan)ran to )(in)l. in =o(.r @ 7.a'ty/ h.n Chan)ran 7.gg.) 5orgi2.n.ss* #a-shan sai) that only =ray.rs to Lor) Si2a* <o'l) 5r.. hi& o5 th. <'rs./ Chan)ran <a&. to So&anath @ =ray.) to Lor) Si2a* )oing =.nan<. 5or a7o't 1*;;; y.ars/ Lor) Si2a a==.ar.) @ sai) that h. <o'l) not 5'lly a7sol2. hi& o5 th. <'rs./ Inst.a)* h. (o'l) (an. in %3 )ays* 7't (o'l) gro( again/ This is th. story sai) 5or th. (aBing @ (aning o5 th. &oon* =ro)'<ing n.( &oon @ 5'll &oon/

MALLIKARJUNA

Sthala !'rana&? h.n Si2a an) !ar2athi ).<i).) to 5in) s'ita7l. 7ri).s 5or th.ir sons* $an.sha an) M'r'ga arg'.) as to (ho is to g.t (.)).) 5irst/ Lor) Si2a 7a). that th. on. (ho go.s ro'n) th. (orl) in !ra)a-shina& <o'l) g.t &arri.) 5irst/ By th. ti&. Lor) M'r'ga <o'l) go ro'n) th. (orl) on his 2ahana* Lor) $an.sha (.nt ro'n) his =ar.nts 6 ti&.s (5or a<<or)ing to Sastras* going in =ra)a-shina& ro'n) on.Cs =ar.nts is .A'i2al.nt to going on<. ro'n) th. (orl) (Boo=ra)a-shina&)/ Lor) Si2a got Si))hi @ B'))hi* th. )a'ght.rso5 "is(aroo=an &arri.) to Lor) $an.sha/ M'r'ga on his r.t'rn (as .nrag.) an) (.nt a(ay to stay alon. on Mo'nt Kra2'n+a

in th. na&. o5 K'&ara7rah&a<hari/ On s..ing his 5ath.r <o&ing o2.r to =a<5y hi&* h. tri.) to &o2. to anoth.r =la<.* 7't on th. r.A'.st o5 th. #.2as* stay.) <los.7y/ Th. =la<. (h.r. Lor) Si2a an) !ar2athi stay.) <a&. to 7. -no(n as Sri Saila&/ Lor) Si2a 2isits Lor) M'r'ga on A&a2asai )ay @ !ar2athi #.2i on !o'rna&i/ Th. t.&=l. is sit'at.) 5a<ing East/ Th. <.ntr. &an)a=a& has s2.ral =illars* (ith a h'g. i)ol o5 Na)i-.s(arar

MAHAKALESHWAR

Th. th..rta& o==osit. th. Maha-al.sh(arar t.&=l. is -no(n as Ko)ith..rtha& @ it is sai) that th. <olo'r o5 th. (at.rs o5 this th..rtha& -..=s <hanging/ Th. Moola linga& is 2.ry s&all @ is lo<at.) 'n).rgro'n)/ Th. linga& in th. to= l.2.l is <all.) Ongar.sh(arar/ Th. Kali #.2i (ho ga2. )arshan to "i-ra&a)itya is -no(n 7y th. na&. Harasi))hi Matha/

Th.r. on<. li2.) a 7rah&in in A2anti* (ho ha) 5o'r sons* (ho (.r. gr.at ).2ot..s o5 Lor) Si2a/ #'shanan* a ).&on (as gi2ing tro'7l.* )ist'r7ing all goo) @ r.ligio's a<ti2iti.s/ Th. 7rah&ins 5ro& all o2.r th. lan) gath.r.) (ith th. 5o'r sons @ =.r5or&.) =oo+a to Lor) Si2a/ Th. s=ot (h.r. th.y ha) ta-.n &') to &a-. th. Linga&* ha) 7.<o&. a h'g. =on)/ h.n #'shanan <a&. to )ist'r7 th.ir =oo+a* Lor) Si2a ros. 5ro& this =on) as Maha-al.sh(arar @ ).story.) #'shanan/ On th. r.A'.st o5 th. 7rah&ins* Lor) Si2a ga2. )arshan to ).2ot..s at this sthala&* on. o5 th. Jyotir Linga sthala&s/

OMKARESHWAR / MAMLESHWAR

Th. Jyotir Linga& s=lit into t(o* an) th.r. ar. t(o Si2a linga&s* O&-ar.s(arar @ A&al.sh(arar (A&ar.sh(arar)/ Man)hata (as a gr.at E&=.ror o5 th. Ish2a-' <lan (ho r'l.) this lan)/ H. )i) gr.at =.nan<. in this lan) @ th.r. is an ashra& <all.) Man)hata ashra& h.r./ This s=irit'al an) all =o(.r5'l +yotirlinga o5 Lor) Shi2a is at U++ain in Ma)hya !ra).sh/ Th.r. Lor) Shi2a <a&. in th. 5or& o5 Maha-al o't o5 th. linga that s=lit an) -ill.) th. ).&on/ Th.r.5or. all thos. (ho =ray to this linga (ill n.2.r 5.ar ).ath an) i5 th.ir 5aith is tr'. th.y (ill 7. o't o5 th. <ha-ra o5 li5. an) ).ath/ Th. O&-ar.sha(ar t.&=l. is 7'ilt in th. North Ini)an styl. o5 ar<hit.<t'r.* (ith high s=ir.s/ #.2ot..s <onsi).r (orshi= to !an<ha&'ga $an.sha* to 7. 2.ry a's=i<io's/ Th.r. is a shrin. 5or Anna=oorani/ Si2a Lingas o5 2ario's siD.s ar. sol) in gr.at n'&7.rs in this =la<./ It is sai) that on<.* sag. Nara)ar )'ring his 2isit to th. "in)yas* sang th. =rais. o5 &o'nt M.r' to Mo'nt "in)hya/ On h.aring this* Mo'nt "in)hya =ray.) to Lor) Si2a to gain in i&=ortan<./ Lor) Si2a 7l.ss.) hi& @ a==.ar.) h.r. as O&-ar.sh(arar @ A&al.sh(arar an) ga2. th. 7oon o5 gr(oing* 7't (itho't hin).ring Si2a ).2ot..s// B't th. "in)hyas )i) not sto= gro(ing* an) .2.n o7str'<t.) th. s'n an) th. &oon/ Sag. Agasthyar s'7)'.) its gro(th 7y saying it sho'l) not gro( till h. g.ts 7a<- th.r./ H. n.2.r (.nt 7a<- @ h.n<. th. gro(th (as arr.st.)/ O&-ar.sh(ar is sit'at.) on th. Man)hata hills in Ma)hya !ra).sh* -no(n in an<i.nt ti&.s as Shi2='ri/ Th. t.&=l. )at.s 7a<- to th. Krita Y'ga/ Ri2.r Nar&a)a 5lo(s h.r. aro'n) th. Man)hata hill in th. 5or& o5 an O& (O&-ara&)/

AI!"ANATH !HAM / #AI!"ANATHAM

The legend o5 "ai)yanathan go.s so&.thing li-. this/ Th. ).&on lor) 5ro& th. Ra&ayan* th. ).2o't Ravana &.)itat.) har) in or).r to in2o-. Lor) Shi2a* an) r.A'.st.) hi& to <o&. o2.r to Sri Lan-a* in or).r that his <a=ital &ay 7.<o&. in2in<i7l./ It is sai) that h. att.&=t.) to li5t th. holy &o'ntain* Lor) Shi2aCs a7o).* Mo'nt Kailash an) ta-. it (ith hi& to his <a=italE ho(.2.r Shi2a <r'sh.) hi& (ith his 5ing.r* an) Ra2ana =ray.) to hi& an) so'ght his &.r<y* a5t.r (hi<h Shi2a ga2. hi& on. o5 th. t(.l2. Jyotirlinga&s (ith th. <on)ition that i5 it (as =la<.) on th. gro'n) it (o'l) ta-. root i&&.)iat.ly an) h.n<. Ra2ana ha) to <arry it 7a<- on his tr.- to his <a=ital/ Varuna th. $o) o5 (at.r* .nt.r.) Ra2anaCs 7.lly* an) <a's.) hi& to 5..l th. n..) to r.li.2. hi&s.l5/ "ishn' th.n <a&. )o(n in th. 5or& o5 a la) an) 2ol'nt..r.) to hol) th. Jyotirlinga& as h. r.li.2.) hi&s.l5/ B't 7.5or. Ra2ana <o'l) r.t'rn* th. yo'ng la) =la<.) th. +yotirlinga& on th. gro'n) to (hi<h it 7.<a&. root.)/ A )isa==oint.) Ra2ana o55.r.) s.2.r. =.nan<.s to Shi2a h.r.* an) <'t o55 nin. o5 his h.a)s as a =art o5 his r.=.ntan<./ Shi2a r.2i2.) hi& an) +oin.) th. h.a)s to th. 7o)y* li-. a Vaidya or a =hysi<ian* h.n<. this Jyotirlinga& go.s 7y th. na&. "ai)yanath/ Th. sa&. l.g.n) hol)s at $o-arna& in Karnata-a/

HIMASANKARA

Entran<. into th. inn.r <ha&7.r (h.r. th. holy Shi2 Linga r.si).s/ Bhi&ashan-ara& is lo<at.) at Bh'2anagiri 2illag. in !'na )istri<t o5 Maharashtra/ Ri2.r Bhi&a has its so'r<. h.r./ This t.&=l. in th. Nagara styl. is an ol) an) not a 2.ry larg. str'<t'r./ Th. +yotir Linga& is sit'at.) on to= o5 th. Sahya)ri hill t.&=l./ Lor) Si2a is <onsi).r.) to 7. ta-ing r.st h.r. a5t.r th. Tr='ranta-a sa&hara&/ Th. s(.at )ro=s o5 Lor) Si2a (.r. <on2.rt.) as st.a& @ is r'nning as Bhi&arati/ N.( str'<t'r.s ha2. 7..n a)).)/ Th.r. ar. t(o i)ols o5 Nan)i).2a/ On. i)ol is ol)* (hil. th. oth.r is o5 5airly r.<.nt a))ition/ Th.r. is a th..rtha& @ a (.ll 7.hin) th. t.&=l. str'<t'r./ Th. Bhi&ashan-arar Linga& &.as'r.s aro'n) on. an) a hal5 5..t @ A'it. narro(/ Th. $o)).ss is (orshi==.) as Ka&ala+a/ Shi2a+i* th. Maratha r'l.r ha) &a). ri<h .n)o(&.nts 5or th. &aint.nan<. o5 th. t.&=l./ Th. &oola linga& is at a lo(.r l.2.l/ Th.r. is anoth.r t.&=l. at $'(ahati in Assa& -no(n as th. Bhi&shan-ara& an) th.r. is a 7.li.5 that this is th. r.al Bhi&ashan-ara&/ Bhi&a (as an as'ra* son o5 K'&7a-arnan @ Kar-a)i/ On h.aring that his gran)5ath.r* 'n<l.s @ 5ath.r ha) 7..n -ill.) 7y a 7rah&in @ -ings* h. s.t o't to ).stroy th.&/ H. 'n).rtoo- s.2.r. =.nan<. @ got i&&.ns. &ight an) =o(.r 5ro& Lor) Brah&a/ King !riya)ar&an o5 Ka&ar'=a (as also ='t 'n).r =rison/ !riya)ar&an @ his (i5. #a-shina).2i =ray.) sin<.r.ly to Lor) SI2a .2.ry)ay/ F.aring that th.y (o'l) o2.r<o&. hi&* Bhi&a as-.) th.& to sto= th.ir =ray.rs/ h.n th.y r.5's.)* h. s.t o't to -ill th.&/ Lor) Si2a ros. o't o5 th. Linga& that th.y ha) 7..n (orshi==ing @ slay.) Bhi&a/ On th. r.A'.st o5 th. #.2as* Lor) Si2a r.si).s h.r. 'n).r th. na&a& Bhi&ashan-arar/

RAMESHWARAM

Th. t.&=l. at Ra&.sh2ara&* 7.si).s 7.ing <onsi).r.) a #ha&a* is also on. o5 th. t(.l2. sa<r.) Jyotir Linga sit.s/ Th.s. sit.s* lo<at.) thro'gho't th. s'7G<ontin.nt o5 In)ia* ar. (h.r. th. go) Shi2a is sai) to ha2. &ani5.st.) as a to(.ring <ol'&n o5 5ir./ Th. +yotirlinga& (as (orshi==.) 7y Lor) Ra&a to aton. th. sin o5 -illing Ra2ana/ Han'&an 5l.( to 7ring th. Linga 5ro& Kailasa* 5or Lor) Ra&a to (roshi=/ As it (as g.tting lat.* Ra&a (orshi==.) th. Linga& that (as &a). o5 san) 7y Sita #.2i/ This Linga& (orshi==.) 7y Lor) Ra&a is -no(n as Ra&anathar/ h.n Han'&an r.t'rn.) h. (as )isa==oint.) that his Lor) ha) not 's.) th. Linga& that h. ha) 7ro'ght/ Lor) Ra&a =a<i5i.) Han'&an @ na&.) this Linga& Kasi "is(anathar/ #.2ot..s ha2. to (orshi= Kasi "is(anathar 7.5or. (orshi==ing Ra&anathar/

This shrin. is lo<at.) at th. .Btr.&. so'th .ast.rn =oint o5 th. In)ian =.nins'la/ Th. s.th' 7ri)g. (as <onstr'<t.) to lin- this lan) to Lan-a 5or th. "arnara&s to r.a<h Lan-a/ This islan) t.&=l. r.s.&7l.s th. !an<ha+anya ("ishn'Cs <on<h) an) li-. th. Ta&il l.tt.r COMC/ Ra&.s(ara& is 5a&o's 5or th. &any t..rtha&s/ Th.r. ar. a total o5 3% t..rtha&s* ,, o5 th.& sit'at.) (ithin th. t.&=l./ !ilgri&ag. is <onsi).r.) <o&=l.t. (ith a 7ath in th. Agni t..rtha&/ Th.s. (at.rs ar. <onsi).r.) to ha2. &.)i<inal A'aliti.s/ It is th. <'sto& to (orshi= at #han'sh-o)i 7.5or. going to Ra&.sh(ara&/ S.2.ral s=ots in this islan) ar. asso<iat.) (ith Lor) Ra&a/ Th. Kothan)ara&a t.&=l. stan)s at th. s=ot (h.r. "i7..shanan so'ght r.5'g. to Ra&a/

NA$ANATH / NA$ESHWAR

Nag.sh(ar is lo<at.) n.ar #(ara-a* on th. (ay to B.ti #(ara-a/ Th.r. on<. li2.) a ra-shasa <all.) #ar'-a* (ho (as .Btr.&.ly <r'.l an) tort'r.) th. goo) on.s/ B't y.t h. (as a gr.at ).2ot.. o5 Lor) Si2a/ A Si2a ).2ot..* S'=riya (ho (as a &.r<hant r.a<h.) th. #ar'-a2ana&* (h.r. #ar'-a li2.) (ith his (i5. #ar'-i* (hil. sailing (ith his goo)s/ #ar'-a as-.) S'=riya to t.a<h hi& th. =ath o5 ).2otion to Si2a* th. nor&s o5 =.r5or&ing =oo+a an) =.nan<./ F.aring that #ar'-a (o'l) 's. any a))itional =o(.rs gain.) 7y s'<h =.nan<.* to 7a) 's.* S'=riya r.5's.) to g'i). hi&/ Th. .nrag.) #ar'-a 7.gan to tort'r. S'=riya/ S'=riya ho(.2.r (as sta'n<h is his 5aith in th. Lor) an) (as 'n&o2.) 7y any tort'r./ Lor) Si2a (as =l.as.) an) a==.ar.) an) -ill.) th. ).&on #ar'-a/ #ar'-i* #ar'-aCs (i5.* no( start.) gi2ing .2.n &or. tro'7l. than h.r h's7an)/ Si2a 2anA'ish.) h.r too an) gi2.s )arshan to his ).2ot..s at this =la<. as Nag.sh(ar/ Th. Nag.s(ara Jyotirlinga& is <lai&.) to .Bist in 0 =la<.s in #(ara-a* in A')hgra&* n.ar Al&ora in Uttar !ra).sh/ Th. Si2alinga& is 5a<ing So'th* (ith th. $o&'ga& 5a<ing East/ Th.r. is a story 5or this =osition/ A ).2ot.. 7y na&. Naa&).2 (as singing 7ha+ans in 5ront o5 th. Lor)/ Oth.r ).2ot..s as-.) hi& to stan) asi). an) not hi). th. Lor)/ To this Naa&).2 as-.) th.& to s'gg.st on. )ir.<tion in (hi<h th. Lor) )o.s not .Bist* so that

h. <an stan) th.r./ Th. .nrag.) ).2ot..s <arri.) hi& an) l.5t hi& on th. so'thsi)./ To th.ir astonish&.nt* th.y 5o'n) that th. Linga (as no( 5a<ing So'th (ith th. $o&'ga& 5a<ing East/

#ISHWANATH

Kasi is a&ongst th. holy s=ots 5or 2isit 7y th. Hin)'s/ It is 7.li.2.) that a 2isit to Kasi .ns'r.s li7.ration @ h.n<. =io's Hin)'s s..- a 2isit )'ring th.ir li5.ti&./ Th. Lor) hi&s.l5 has ).<lar.) this s=ot as his Royal r.si).n<./ $o)).ss !ar2athiCs &oth.r 5.lt asha&.) that h.r sonGinGla( ha) no ).<.nt )(.lling/ To =l.as. !ar2athi #.2i* Si2a as-.) Ni-'&7ha to =ro2i). hi& (ith a )(.lling =la<. at Kasi/ On th. r.A'.st o5 Ni-'&7ha* A'ni-'&7ha a 7rah&in &a). #i2o)as <onstr'<t a t.&=l. 5or th. Lor) h.r./ Th. =l.as.) Lor) grant.) 7oons to all his ).2ot..s/ B't #i2o)as (as not 7l.ss.) (ith a son/ Th. ang.r.) #i2o)as ).&olish.) th. str'<t'r./ Ni-'7ha <'rs.) that th. ar.a (o'l) 7. ).2oi) o5 =.o=l./ h.n th. =la<. (as .&=ti.) Lor) Si2a on<. again too- r.si).n<. h.r. =.r&an.ntly/ Th. Lor) along (ith !ar2athi #.2i on<. again start.) 7l.ssing his ).2ot..s (ith (on).r5'l 7oons/ !ar2athi #.2i (as so =l.as.) that sh. o55.r.) 5oo) (anna&) to on. an) all an) h.n<. is (orshi==.) as Anna=oorani/ Th. Lor) hi&s.l5 is s..n (ith a 7o(l in his han)s as-ing 5or anna& 5ro& th. s.at.) #.2i at th. #.2iCs shrin. a)a+a<.nt to "is(anatharCs shrin./ This is <onsi).r.) to 7. on. o5 th. 3, Sa-thi=..)a&s (th. =la<. (h.r. !ar2athiCs l.5t han) 5.ll* (h.n h.r <or=s. (as <'t 7y Maha2ishn'Cs s')arsana <ha-ra&)/ Th. Si2a linga& is =la<.) in a sA'ar. sha=.) 7rass =lat.) =it/ #.2ot..s ar. =.r&itt.) to o55.r (orshi= s'<h as a7hish.-a& (ith holy ganga (at.r* garlan)ing th. Lor)* -ar=oora aarathi* .t</ =.rsonally to th. s(ay&7h' linga&/ Th.r. ar. s.2.ral s&all.r shrin.s aro'n) th. &ain shrin./ Th. h.a) o5 .a<h ghat has a Si2a linga shrin./ Th. Lor) <an 7. s..n =la<.) on a =.).stal at .2.ry lo<ation in th. <ity* .2.n i5 th.r. is not shrin. as s'<h/ B.hin) th. t.&=l. is sit'at.) th. t.&=l. o5 #h'n)hira+a $ana=athi/

TR"AM AKESHWAR

In th. <.nt.r o5 this =i<t'r.* yo' <an s.. th. 5or&s o5 Shi2a* "ishn' an) Brah&a/ Th. Triya&7a-.sh(arar t.&=l. is lo<at.) in th. Triya&7a- to(n n.ar Nasi-/ Th. t.&=l. is in th. In)o Aryan styl./ Th. t.&=l. str'<t'r. (ith .B<.ll.nt a)orn&.nts o5 i)ols an) s<'l=t'r.s* is s'rro'n).) 7y a &assi2. ston. (all/ Th.r. is a h'g. 7'll in 5ront o5 th. t.&=l. @ anoth.r &ar7l. Nan)i is s..n on th. insi)./ Th. s<'l=t'ral a)orn&.nts <ontin'.s .2.n to th. gar7agriha (ith h'&an* ani&als an) ya-shas <ar2.) / Fro& th. Jyotir Linga& at th. <.ntr. o5 th. gar7agriha* tri<-l.s th. $ang.s <ontin'o'sly thro'gho't th. y.ar/ So&.ti&.s* it is sai) 5la&.s iss'. 5orth as also a r'&7ling so'n)/

KE!ARNATH

K.)arnath* at th. h.a) o5 th. Man)a-ini Ri2.r* is a&ongst th. holi.st =ilgri&ag.s 5or th. ).2o't Hin)'/ Th. t.&=l.* 7.li.2.) to 7. 2.ry an<i.nt* has 7..n <ontin'ally r.no2at.) o2.r th. <.nt'ri.s/ A<<or)ing to l.g.n)* Lor) Shi2a (ish.) to .l'). th. !an)a2as* an) too- r.5'g. in K.)arG nath in th. 5or& o5 a 7'll/ On being followed, He dived into the ground, leaving behind His hump of the surface. The hump is worshipped in the temple of Kedarnath in the conical Shiva pinda form. Th. r.&aining =arts o5 th. 7o)y ar. (orshi==.) at 5o'r oth.r =la<.s H th. ar&s (Bah') at T'ngnath* 5a<. (&'-h) at R')ranath* na2.l (na7hi) at Ma)&ah.sh(ar an) hair (+ata) at Kal=.sh(ar/ Tog.th.r (ith K.)arnath* th.s. =la<.s ar. -no(n as th. !an<h K.)ar/ Th. linga& at K.)arnath* 'nli-. its 's'al 5or&* is =yra&i)al an) is r.gar).) as on. o5 th. %, Jyotirlings/ I K.)arnath is sit'at.) in th. Hi&alayan slo=.s in th. $har(al )istri<t o5 Uttar !ra).sh/ Th. 'niA'.n.ss an) gr.atn.ss o5 this t.&=l. s..s &.ntion in th. 2.)as* ithihaasaas* .=i<s/ Th. t.r& K.)ara 5or th. Lor) ).not.s Th. Lor) (ho hol)s th. holy $ang.s in his &att.) lo<-s @ allo(s it to 5lo( .2.nly to th. (orl)/ It <o'l) also &.an th. &ar- that is l.5t on th. Lor)Cs h.a) 5ro& th. ti&. (h.n Ar+'na got th. !aas'=athastra&/ This shrin. is lo<at.) at an .l.2ation o5 %%*603 5..t a7o2. s.a l.2.l/ Th. r.gion o5 th. Hi&layas* (h.r. th. shrin. is lo<at.) is -no(n 7y s.2.ral na&.s s'<h as $an)ha&a)ana =ar2atha&* S'&.ra =ar2atha&* !an<ha =ar2atha&* .t</ (!an<ha =ar2atha&* 5or this is th. s=ot o5 5i2. sa<r.) =.a-s na&.ly R')ra Hi&alayas* "ishn'='ri* Brah&a='ri* U)ayagiri @ S(argarohini/ Th. .Bt.rior o5 th. t.&=l. is rath.r si&=l.* 7't th. int.rior is a)orn.) (ith &ar2.llo's s<'l=t'r.s/ In th. gar7a griha is an irr.g'lar sha=.) <oni<al ro<- (hi<h is a7o't 5i2. 5..t 7y 5o'r 5..t/ Lor) Si2a in th. 5or& o5 +yotirlinga& is (orshi==.) h.r. as Lor) K.)ar.sh(ar/ It is 7.li.2.) that th. +otirlinga& is a<t'ally th. r'&= o5 th. 7'll* (hi<h (as th. 5or& that Lor) Si2a ass'&.)* (h.n th. !an)a2as tri.) to r.a<h hi& to aton. th. sins o5 th. K'r'-sh.tra (ar/ Sin<. it (as not ti&. ).signat.) 5or h'&ans to (orshi= th. Lor) h.r.* Lor) Si2a tri.) to go a(ay in th. 5or& o5 a 7'll/ It is 7.li.2.) that t.&=l. str'<t'r. that .Bists till )at. (as a<t'ally th. on. <onstr'<t.) 7y th. !an)a2as/ Th. sanna)hi o5 th. Lor) is 5a<ing So'th/ Th.r. ar. th. i)ols o5 K.)arago(ri* Krishna* !an)a2as* #ra'=a)i* "inayagar* "..ra7a)rar* Kaarthi-.yan* Nan)i// Th. shrin. is <o2.r.) 7y sno( 5or 4 &onths in a y.ar (<los.) 5ro& O<tGNo2 '=to A=rGMay)/ It is 7.li.2.) that this is th. ti&. (h.n th. #.2as ar. (orshi==ing th. Lor)/

Th.r. is &o'ntain =ath <all.) Sorga "aasal* thro'gh (hi<h th. !an)a2as* San-ara<haryar ar. s'==os.) to ha2. gon. thro'gh/ h. ri2.r Man)a-ini 5lo(s )o(n 5ro& n.ar this ar.a

$RINESHWAR

! "rineshwar in "isala-a&* n.ar th. Ellora <a2.s* Maharashtra stat./ Th.r. has to 7. l.g.n) asso<iat.) (ith .2.ry t.&=l./ This on. too is no .B<.=tion/ Th.r. (as on<. a ).2o't (o&an K's'&a (ho (as an ar).nt ).2ot.. o5 Lor) Shi2a an) sh. r.g'larly i&&.rs.) a Shivalingam in a tan-* as a =art o5 h.r )aily rit'al (orshi=/ H.r h's7an)Cs 5irst (i5.* .n2io's o5 h.r =i.ty an) stan)ing in so<i.ty &'r).r.) K's'&aCs son in <ol) 7loo)/ An aggri.2.) K's'&a <ontin'.) h.r rit'al (orshi=* an) (h.n sh. i&&.rs.) th. Shi2alinga& again in th. tan-* h.r son (as &ira<'lo'sly r.stor.) to li5./ Shi2a is sai) to ha2. a==.ar.) in 5ront o5 h.r an) th. 2illag.rs* an) .2.r sin<. th.n th. shi2alinga& h.r. has 7..n (orshi==.) in th. 5or& o5 a Jyotirlinga $h's&.sh(ar/ Jyotir Linga& .Bists at #.2agiri n.ar Ellora/ Th. Lor) is -no(n 7y s.2.ral na&.s G K's'&.s(arar* $h'sh&.s(ara* $r'sh&.s(ara* $rishn.s(ara Th.r. on<. li2.) a =io's 7rah&in @ his (i5./ H. (as a gr.at ).2ot.. o5 Si2a/ H. (as not 7l.ss.) (ith a son/ At th. =.rs'asion o5 his 5a&ily* h. got &arri.) to K's'&a* in or).r to gi2. hi& a son/ K's'&a (as an .2.n gr.at.r ).2ot.. o5 Lor) Si2a/ E2.ry)ay sh. (o'l) &a-. on. Si2a Linga* (orshi= it an) th.n i&&.rs. it in th. t.&=l. tan-/ Soon sh. (as 7l.ss.) (ith 7oy 7a7y/ Th. 5irst (i5. (as s..ting (ith +.alo'sy @ ill tr.at.) K's'&a/ !'tting all h.r 5aith in th. Lor)* K's'&a 7or. all th. s'55.rings h'&7ly/ h.n th. 7oy gr.( ol).r* th.y =lann.) his (.))ing/ Th. +.alo's 5irst (i5.* -ill.) th. 7oy (ith an aB./ K's'&a (as )..=ly gri.2.)* y.t )i) not sto= h.r )aily (orshi= o5 Lor) Si2a/ Sh. <ontin'.) to &a-. th. Linga&* (orshi==.) @ i&&.rs.) it in th. tan-/ To th. s'r=ris. o5 on. an) all* h.r son ros. o't o5 th. (at.r on. )ay* <o&ing 7a<- to li5./ Lor) Si2a a==.ra.) 7.5or. th.& @ 7l.ss.) th.&/ H. ).<lar.) that h. (o'l) gi2. )arshan to ).2ot..s in his Jyotir Linga s(ar'=a& at th. sa&. s=ot (h.r. K's'&a i&&.rs.) th. Linga&s/ This Jyotir Linga& is <onsi).r.) to .Bist in t(o =la<.s* on. at #.2agiri n.ar Ellora @ th. oth.r at th. Kailasa t.&=l. at Ellora/

Jyotirlinga& n.ar Ellora