MAHA SHIVRATRI

The 12 Jyotirlings & Temples of Lord Shiva

Happy Maha Shivratri

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INDEX

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Brief Summary All 12 Jyotirlings Shivlings The Story of all Jyotirlings Shloks for all Jyotirlings All 12 Jyotirlings - Temples Importance of Puja on Maha-Shivratri How to perform Shivling Puja Travel Tips to visit all Jyotirlings

3 5 7 13 14 17 19 20

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What is meaning of God?

http://bhole-na th.blo gspot. com/ http://www.squidoo. com/the-1 2-shiva-li ngams-of-l ight

Everybody knows that what is means of God, somebody knows that God means BHAGWAAN but I want to explain something different about it. If Brahma is the creator, Vishnu the preserver, Shiva is the quintessential destroyer. His duty is to destroy the world at the end of creation and dissolve them into nothingness.

G: Generation of Universe (Lord Brahma) O: Operator of Universe (Lord Vishnu) D: Destroy of Universe (Lord Shiva)

Powerful God (Lord Shiva - Bhole Nat)

Shiva is 'shakti' or power, Lord Shiva is the destroyer, the most powerful god of the Hindu pantheon and one of the godheads in the Hindu Trinity. Known by many names - Mahadev, Mahayogi, Pashupati, Nataraja, Bhairava, Vishwanath, Bhava, Bhole Nath. None gave him birth, He knows no Lord. None rules Him in the world, nor yet controls. No features mark Him out, yet cause He is. Prime cause of that which steers, the senses five, the soul within. "Shvetashvattara Upanishad."Shiva! The name, the word itself seems to come with so much aplomb to the Hindu mind. Images flood the mind eye. The savage one; The handsome one. The fierce one; The ardent lover of Parvati. One who wears snakes for ornaments; One who holds the Ganges on his head. One who destroys; One who dances. Wearer of leopard skin; Wielder of cymbals. One with long matted hair; One who wears the moon on his head! Worshiped in the form of a phallic symbol; Worshiped for the power of his third eye... Shiva is one of the Hindu trinity that comprises the creator Brahma, the protector Mahavishnu, and the godhead Shiva whose primary responsibility is maintaining the life cycle. Shiva is the only god who is forever in deep meditation, totally absorbed in contemplation in His abode, Kailash Mountain in the great Himalaya. On the other hand Lord Shiva is all compassion when it came to saving the world from the serpent Vaasukis poison during the amritamanthan. Vaasuki, used as a churning rope, was so tired and sick from the repeated action of churning that he vomited the most potent poison into the ocean of milk. Fearing the destruction of the world through this poisoning, Shiva immediately drank the poison. He Himself would have succumbed to the poison were it not for the timely intervention by Paarvati, His consort. Paarvati held Shivas throat tightly preventing entry of the poison into His body.
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Shiva is worshipped as a Ling to help us contemplate the need to think of him as the most basic and essentially formless one. Shiva is commonly portrayed as an ascetic with a serpent around His neck, vibhooti (sacred ash) adorning, His face and His essentially bare body, a trishul (trident) in one of His hands and a kamandal (container of water for use in religious practices) in an other hand and a damaru (small drum) in yet another hand.

The 12 Jyotirlings of Lord Shiva

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The 12 Jyotirlings of Lord Shiva

Somnath Jyotirling Saurashtra, Gujarat Mahakaleshwer Jyotirling Mahakal forests, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

Bhimshanker Jyotirling Sahyadri Hills near Pune, Maharashtra

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirling Nasik, Maharashtra

Rameshwaram Jyotirling Tamil Nadu

Omkareshwar Jyotirling On mountain Mandhata, Madhya Pradesh

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The 12 Jyotirlings of Lord Shiva

Vaidyanath Jyotirling Deogarh, Bihar Mallikarjun Jyotirling Shaila Mountain, Andhra Pradesh

Kedarnath Jyotirling Himalaya - (Opens Apr-Nov)

Kasi Vishwanath Jyotirling Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Nageshwer Jyotirling Dwarka, Gujarat

Grishneshwar Jyotirling Near Aurangabad, Maharashtra

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The Story of the 12 Jyotirlings

1. Somnath Jyotirling: Prajapati Daksh married away twenty seven of his daughters to Chandra Dev (Moon) but Chandra had great infatuation for only Rohini to the neglect of other wives. Daksh warned Chandra about this but to avail. Finally Daksh cursed Chandra who appealed to Lord Brahma and in turn asked to perform Tapasya to Lord Shiva. Chandra observed penance at Prabhasa on the banks of River Sarasvati. On His appearance Lord Shiva sorted out the problem with a compromise that the first bright fortnight of a month (Sukla Paksha) Moon would wax and the Krishna Paksha Moon would wane. He also blessed Moon to be near him and Parvati always. Being a Sparsha (Touch) Jyotirling-Somachandra- stated to be the first in the series, it would remove away all physical ailments particularly tuberculosis and leprosy and bathing in the Water body Chandra kund washes off all the sins committed by human beings. Known as Prabhat Kshetra [near Veraval in Kathiawad District of Saurashtra in Gujarat], Lord Krishna is believed to have performed his Leelas (Miracle Acts). [An ever burning light in a cave of the Temple is witnessed till date]. 2. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirling: The only Svayambhu (Self-born) Jyotirling of Lord Shiva in the form of Mahakal originating Mantra Shakti (Power of Mantras) from within is indeed a unique specimen among all the Jyotirling on the banks of River Kshipra. This is the only Temple of various Jyotirlings maintained on Tantrik Principles. While Mahakaleshwar faces south as a Dakshin murthi, the Idols of Ganesh, Parvati, Kartikeya and Nandi are installed on West, North, East and South respectively. Shree Yantra is perched upside down at the Ceiling of Garbha Griha where the Main Ling is situated. The Temple has five levels including an underground and on the third level is installed the idol of Nagchandreswar open for public view only on Nag Panchami days. Experience at the time of very early morning Bhasmabhishekhasor the spread of ash along with the loud chanting of Mantras of the Deity and with the thrilling and reverberating sounds of various percussion and bronze gong instruments takes one to devotional ecstasy. [It is stated that the hasmabhishekas are performed by using the ashes of the first dead bodies of the previous day, sanctified by Mantras from the holy waters of River Kshipra. Ladies are not allowed to enter the Sanctum at the time of the Bhasmabhishekas although they could witness the proceedings on Close Circuit TVs]. The mythological background of the Temple was that there was a pious Brahmana well versed in Vedas and Scriptures had four learned sons named Devapriya, Priyamedha, Survita and Suvrata. A demon named Dushana lived nearby on a hill Ratnamala, who could not tolerate the very concept of Vedas and its applications and particularly hated the Brahmana brothers. One day the Demon decided to destroy the brothers who were unfazed and continued their worship of Lord Shiva. As the Demon and his cruel followers were about kill the brothers there was such a Hunkar or roaring sound of Mahakal which itself took away the breath of the entire band of Danavas headed by Dushan instantly. The Brahman brothers prayed to the Lord who appeared on the spot and implored His manifestation of Mahakala to stay put for the greatest benefit of posterity and conducted daily worship from generation to generation.
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3. Bhimashankar Jyotirling: Located some 110 km from Pune in Maharashtra State in the Ghat region of Sahyadri Hills near the head of Bhima River, which merges with Krishna River too, the fifth Jyotirling Bhima Shankar is the appearance Lord Shiva who exterminated Demon Bhima, son of Kumbhakarna (Ravans brother). Demon Bhima on knowing from his mother Kartaki wanted to avenge the death of his father by Lord Rama, who was Lord Vishnus incarnation and performed penance to Lord Brahma to receive boons to conquer even mighty opponents. He defeated Indra and Devas and what provoked Lord Shiva most was the tormenting of a great Shiva Bhakta King Kamarupeshwara insisting that the latter should pray to himself rather than Shiva Ling. As the Demon was about to destroy the Shivaling by his sword, Lord Shiva appeared and destroyed the Demon and His mighty anger caused sweat which flowed as River Bhima. The Jyotirling thus manifested is a powerful representation of Ardhanariswara in the Temple provides proof of instant fulfillment of all desires thus attracting thousands of devotees, especially on all Mondays and definitely on Shivaratri festivals. As in certain other cases like at Ujjain, the Swayambhu Jyotirling is set at a level lower than the normal Ground; also there is a specialty here that there is a constant flow of water from the Ling! The Bhima Shankar Temple is also associated with the killing of Demon brothers Tripurasuras along with Devi Parvati in Her manifestation as Kamalaja whose temple is also nearby the main Temple. Devi Kamalaja was worshipped by Brahma and hence she was called so. Sakini and Dakini were among those whose contribution was significant in the battle against Tripurasuras and their worship too is performed at the Temple. Mokshakund Tirtha, the Holy Waterbody adjacent the Bhimashankar Temple is associated with Sage Kausika. 4. Triambakeshwar Jyotirling: Located 30 km away from Nasik in Maharashtra, the renowned Jyotirling of Lord Shivas materialization called Tryambakeswar attracts thousands of Pilgrims round the year providing boons of material and spiritual nature. The Punyakshetra or the Hallowed Land is the source point of the Holy River Godavari basically owing to the Bhagiradhlike efforts of Sage Gautama and his highly pious wife Ahalya. By virtue of the Sages penance and prayers, Lord Varuna was pleased to supply water and food grains in abundance but this boon turned out as a basis of jealousy of co-Sages and their spouses who created a cow to plunder the grains. Sage Gautama destroyed the cow, but as a result of a sin in killing the cow, the Sage couple was banished to a hermitage on the mountain of Brahmagiri. Gautama Muni made relentless Tapasya to Lord Shiva who endowed Gautama with the double desires of bringing River Ganga near his hermitage and also stay on its banks along with Bhagavati in the form of a Jyotirling. Lord Shiva granted both the wishes that Ganga was brought near Gautamas hermitage as River Godavari and His manifestation as Tryambakeswara Jyotirling in the vicinity of the River Godavari / Gautami. In parallel to this, another legend related to the formation of a Jyotirling at Brahmagiri was the interface of Lords Brahma and Vishnu vis--vis an appearance of a Fire Column whose height and depth could not be ascertained by both of them; Brahmas cover-up story was that he found out the height of the Column and cited a Ketaki flower as a witness.
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Lord Shiva gave a curse to Brahma that there would not be worship of the former and Brahma gave a return curse that Lord Shiva would be pushed underground. Hence the manifesation of Tryambakeswara under the Brahmagiri. The Jyotirling is of a small size in a depression on the floor with water oozing out constantly from the top. The force of waves of the River appears to be as per the intensity of the prayers of Sage Gautama according to the conviction of devotees in the Temple! 5. Rameswaram Jyotirling: The Temple town of Lord Shivas emergence of the penutimate Jyotirling of Ramaling happens to be celebration point of Lord Ramas glorious victory over Ravana paying Ramas dutiful homage to Lord. Having crossed Setu Bandhan across the Sea on the triumphant return journey from Lanka en route Ayodhya, Lord Rama dispatched Hanuman to visit Varanasi to pray Viswesvara and bring a replica of the Ling from Kasi for consecrating it on the Sea coast but since Hanuman could not return by the appointed auspicious time, Sita Devi improvised a Sand Ling and installed it formally amid Vedic Mantras. Hanuman was upset and wished that the Ling blessed at Kasi Viswanath be substituted instead and tried hard to pull it out but the so called temporary Sand Ling was ever lasting, blessing millions of devotees ever since. The Kasi Ling or Hanuman Ling too was installed nearby which too is worshipped by devotees. It would be appropriate therefore that worship to Rameswar or Rathnaswami be performed after the homage to the Kasi Ling or Hanuman Ling. Spread over some 15 acres of land, the Temple could boast of rich architectural heritage of high Raja Gopurams on the East (126 feet high) and the West side, massive walls, a huge Nandi (18 feet tall and 22 feet long) and a 4000 feet long corridor with 4,000 carved granite pillars on raised platforms on either side perhaps the longest in the World. 6. Omkareshwar Jyotirling: Situated in the banks of Narmada River on the Mandhata (Shivapuri) Island formed in the shape of OM in Sanskrit, Omkareshwar is one of the Jyotirlings besides another Amareswar Ling. The Legend was that Sage Narada visited Vindhya Raja and the latter bragged that Vindya was the highest and most powerful Mountain in the entire World. Narada replied that perhaps Meru was the greatest in terms of height and might. Vindhya Raja felt jealous and executed severe Tapasya and pleased Lord Shiva and requested that He should always be present in the Vindhyas and establish a Ling of Lord on the banks of Narmada near to Vindhya. Hence the Omkareshwar Jyotirling is there. Puffed by Lord Shivas presence there, Vindhya Raja grew taller and taller to compete with Sumeru. This obstructed Sun Gods routine circumambulation of the Universe and He had to return half way turning half of the Universe dark. Bhagavati asked Sage Agastya from Kasi to visit Vindhya Raja who out of veneration bent down to touch the feet of Agastya, who asked Vindhya to be in that position till he returned and he never came again from the South! 7. Vaidyanath Jyotirling: Vaidyanath Jyotirling is one of the twelve Jyotirling of Lord Shiva and most sacred abodes of Shiva. It is located in Deoghar of Santhal Parganas division, Jharkhand, India. It is also known as Baba Dham, Baidyanath Dham, Chitabhoomi and Hardapeeth. The legendary background of Vaidyanath Jyotirling is related to Ravan, the Epic Villain of Ramayana.
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The King of Lanka carried out a relentless meditation to Lord Shiva at Kailash Mountain for mighty supremacy and indomitability in the Three Loks. But as Shiva was still not responsive, he moved out from Kailash to Vrikshakandhaka towards south of Kailash. He dug up a pit and worshipped a Shivaling even by sacrificing his ten heads, one by one and at the end Lord Shiva became visible and gave away boons of supremacy as also to let a Shivaling to carry to his Kingdom on the condition that he should reach Lanka directly without even a single halt, lest the Ling if kept down on ground would never be pulled out! Devas became afraid that once Ravan turned unquestionable, there would be chaos in the Three Loks and Dharma would be wiped out. Thus Devas prayed to Devi Parvati and Ganesh to somehow prevent the risk of the Shivaling to reach Lanka. Parvati appeared on way to Ravan in disguise and in collaboration with Varun, tempted pure waters of major holy Rivers to quench Ravans thirst. The Kings stomach got bloated and he wished to stop over urgently for a relief and luckily for him, there was a lad whose assistance was sought to hold the Ling for a few moments without placing it on the Ground. By the time Ravan returned, the lad- Lord Ganesh disappeared and the Ling was stuck to the Ground and no force applied by Ravan was a match to Lords decision. That was the Jyotirling of Vaidyanath, who was a Vaidya (Physician) and he helped to piece together the slashed heads of Ravan at the time of his sacrificing them one by one. 8. Mallikarjun Jyotirling: Mallikarjun Swamy is one of the 12 Jyotirlings of Lord Shiva, located at Srisailam the Series of the Sri Parvat (in Andhra Pradesh, some 230 Km from Hyderabad) on the banks of River Krishna, Lord Shivas manifestation as Mallikarjun along His Spouse Devi Bhramaramba is famed mythologically as the place of penance when Kartikey was unhappy and felt cheated as Ganesh was wedded earlier despite the Agreement that whoever arrived first after full Bhu Pradakshina (circulation of the World) would win, but Ganesh took advantage of a Provision of the Scriptures and performed a Pradakshina of his parents and attained the advantage of the Pradakshina. Shiv and Parvati visited the Krouncha Mountain to pacify Kartikey but to no reward and thus moved over to the Mountain from Kailash. As Vrishabha Deva Shiv Parvatis Carrier did Tapasya to the Maha Devas, they appeared as Mallikarjun and Bhramaramba at this Holy Spot. Lord Rama is said to have installed a Sahasraling and Pandavas set up Pancha Pandava Lings in the Temple surroundings. In a tiny hole inside the temple of Devi Bhramaramba, one could still hear the buzz of bees as the Devi assumed the form of bees all over Her Body and killed Mahishasur. Adi Shankara is reputed to have scripted his well known work named Shivananda Lahari at this Temple. 9. Kedarnath Jyotirling: Amongst the 12 Jyotirlings of Lord Shiva, the one at Kedarnath is located in the snow covered area of Himalayas. Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva, the protector and the destroyer. Edge by breath taking views of snow-clad peaks of Himalayas at a height of 3585 meter from Sea level on the banks of River Mandakini, Kedareswar is the highest point where Maha Devas presence is indeed felt in the sign of a famed Kedareswar Jyotirling as spread out as a fairly large expanse of black stone with an inclined elevation in the middle portion. Being inaccessible excepting by a difficult 14 km trek by foot, or horse back or dolis (palanquins) carried by two or four humans from Gaurikund, the Temple is open only during end
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April through November since residents, let alone pilgrims, have little access to the Mountain Top Temple during heavy snowfall in the intervening period. At the entrance of the temple, is the statue of Lord Nandi, the divine bull of Lord Shiva. 10. Vishveshwar Jyotirling: The most celebrated pilgrimage site in India. Famed as the Place of Devas that was founded by Lord Shiva Himself, some five thousand years ago, Kasi has a hoary legend with age old reputation worldwide. Varun, Ganga and Assi, flowing in different directions, confluence in Varana-Assi or Varanasi. Eulogized in several Scriptures like Rig Veda, Puranas and Epics, Varanasi was the Capital of Kasi King three thousand years ago and was reputed even by then as the capital of Religion, Education and Arts. The City covers some five kilometers of the Holy and ever flowing Ganges on its banks attracting lots of Pilgrims every year as the Ultimate Destination of Salvation for Hindus of all faiths and several other religions especially Buddhists and Jains. This is the Sacred Spot that Bhagavan Visveswara manifested as Avimukta Jyotirling in the renowned Golden Visveswara Temple. It is stated that Lord Brahma executed such severe Tapasya ( meditation) here so much that Maha Vishnu moved His head across fast in disbelief and the latters ear ring fell at a place on the bank of the River and was since then named Manikarnika. When Brahma was once chanting Vedas in praise of Shiva in the form of the Jyotirling with the formers Panchamukhas or Five Heads, some pronunciation slips rolled by and becoming furious of the chanting mistakes which changed the sense of the words, Lord Shiva opened the third eye and burnt one of Brahmas heads which fell and found a permanent place in the Temple. Vishvenath Temple is also considered as a Shakti Peeth and it is believed that Devi Satis earrings fell at the spot, where Devi Visalakshis shrine stands. Durga Temple, nick-named as Monkey Temple owing to large presence of monkeys, is considered as a shrine built originally by Durga herself and during Navaratri of Dussera festival comes fully alive and heavily crowded by devotees. Sankata Vimochana Hanuman Temple is frequently visited, especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays. 11. Nageshwar Jyotirling: Nageshwar Temple is located on the route between Gomati Dwarka and the Bait Dwarka Island on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat. The Jyotirling enshrined in the Temple of Nagnath is known as Nageshwar Jyotirling and attracts thousands of pilgrims all round the year. This powerful Jyotirling symbolizes protection from all Poisons. It is said that those who pray to the Nageshwar Ling become free of poison. The Rudra Samhita shlok refers to Nageshwar with the phrase 'Daarukaavan Nagesh'. According to Shiv Puran, a Shiva devotee by name Supriya was attacked by a demon Daaruk while in a boat. The demon imprisoned him along with several others at his capital Daarukaavan where he resided with his wife Daaruki. Supriya advised all prisoners to perform the mantra Aum Namaha Shivay. When Daaruk came to know about this he ran to kill Supriya. Instantly Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a Jyotirling and vanquished the demon with the Paasupata Astram. This Jyotirling manifestation of Shiva is worshipped as Nageshwar. Two other sites in India, one near Purna in Andhra Pradesh and another near Almora in Uttar Pradesh also enshrine temples to Nageshwar Jyotirling. According to the Shiv Puran, anyone who ever with devotion
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reads the birth and greatness of this Jyotirling shall beget all material happiness and divine status in the end. 12. Grishneshwar Jyotirling: It is located in the vicinity of the tourist town of Ellora, which has several rocks cut monuments from the 1st millennium CE. On a mountain called Devagiri, there were a pious Brahman named Sudharma and his wife Sudeha, but she was barren and had no child. Sudeh proposed that her younger sister, Ghushma or Kusuma who was a staunch devotee of Parameswar and be wedded to Sudharma. Sudharma agreed and in course of time, they had a male child due to Lord Shivas blessings. Ghushma was in the habit of daily worship by creating Shivaling of clay and immerse them after Puja and Abhishek in a pond nearby. Sudeha got jealous of her younger sister as she was blessed with a son. One night Sudeha killed the child out of jealousy and threw away the child in the same pond where the Shivaling were immersed by her. The latter no doubt wept over the tragedy but continued her daily worship of Shiva none-the-less. The dead body of the child floated in the pond where Ghushma used to immerse the Ling and there was commotion in the family and indeed in the village. Ghushma still continued her prayers to Lord Shiva, who finally stood before her and desired to kill Sudhrama, but she requested not to do so out of her extreme kindness. Lord Shiva brought back the child from death and also asked Ghushma for any boon and she requested Him to stay in pond and the Lord Shiva agreed to do so and hence the formation of Ghrishneswar as a Jyotirling. Alternative names of the Place are Ghushmeswar or Kusumeswar. This Temple is situated in the Village of Verul or Yelur where River Yala flows and is some 30 km from Aurangabad. [From Aurangabad, Ellora is 30 km, Ajanta is 106 km and Shirdi is 130 km].

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The 12 Jyotirlings of Lord Shiva

Shloks dedicated to the 12 Jyotirlings

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The 12 Jyotirling Temples Somnath Jyotirling Saurashtra, Gujarat Mahakaleshwar Jyotirling Mahakal forests, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

Bhimashankar Jyotirling Sahyadri Hills near Pune, Maharashtra

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirling Nasik, Maharastra

Rameshwaram Jyotirling Tamil Nadu

Omkareshwar Jyotirling On mountain Mandhata, Madhya Pradesh

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The 12 Jyotirling Temples Vaidhyanath Jyotirling Deogarh, Bihar Mallikarjun Jyotirling Shaila Mountain, Andhra Pradesh

Kedarnath Jyotirling Himalaya - (Open Apr-Nov)

Kasi Vishwanath Jyotirling Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Nageshwer Jyotirling Dwarka, Gujarat

Grishneshwar Jyotirling near Aurangabad, Maharashtra

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The 12 Jyotirlings of Lord Shiva

Shloks dedicated to the 12 Jyotirlings

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Importance of Puja on Maha-Shivaratri

"Maha-Shivaratri" is a Hindu festival observed on the night of the fourteenth day of the dark half in the month of 'Magha', corresponding 'FebruaryMarch', in honor of Lord Shiva, one of the Hindu Trinity, representing the destructive aspect in the universe. Shivaratri Puja has been given tremendous significance in Hindu mythology. It is said that ritual worship of Lord Shiva on a Shivaratri day pleases Lord Shiva the most. Devotees further believe that by pleasing Lord Shiva on the auspicious Shivaratri day, a person is absolved of past sins and is blessed with Moksha. The night is divided into four quarters, each quarter going by the name of a Jamun or Yama and pious people keep awake during every one of it, worshipping Shiva. Shiva Purana further says that performing Abhishek of Shiva Ling with six different dravyas including Milk, Yoghurt, Honey, Ghee, Sugar and Water (prefer Gangajal), while chanting Sri Rudram, Chamakam and Dasa Shanthi, pleases Lord Shiva the most. According to the mythology, each of these dravya used in the Abhishek blesses a unique quality:

Milk is for the blessing of purity and piousness. Yogurt is for prosperity and progeny. Honey is for sweet speech. Ghee is for victory. Sugar is for happiness. Water is for purity.

Besides, worship of Lord Shiva on Shivaratri is also considered to be extremely beneficial for women.

It is said that the whole world was under destruction once and the Goddess Parvati worshipped her husband Shiva then and prayed to him that the Jivs (living souls) remaining in space like particles of gold dust in a lump of wax during that long period of pralay (flood) night, should, when they became active once again and are in the enjoyment of their short day and night, have his blessings if they but worshipped him just as she did then, and her prayer was accordingly granted. The night fixed for the worship of Shiva by mortals by Parvati was named Maha-Shivaratri or the great night of Shiva, since pralay is brought about by him and hence the period is really his night from the great night or pralay which was the cause for the origin of this Maha-Shivaratri. The people who observe this Shivaratri Vrat takes only single meal during the day, previous to Vrat day and sleep in clean place during the night. In the morning of the Vrat day they take a bath in the waters of a sacred river and then go to witness the divine worship in a Shiva temple and at night offer worship to Shiva during every one of the four Yamas. Night long vigil on Shivaratri day, watching the sacred ablutions of Shivling at the temple, is the core of the Shivaratri festival. The Rudra Jap, Abhishek of Shivling resounds the multifaceted glory of Lord Shiva, who is also called Ashutosh or one who is easily pleased by copius ablutions with water, the cheapest available commodity. We should remember that water in essence is Pran Shakti or life force. Such an observance of Shivaratri will really bestow on the devotee the greatest grace of Lord Shiva, the auspicious knowledge of Atma Jnana. Besides the devotee is also blessed with material prosperity the items of which are beautifully listed in the Chamaka Mantra uttered on this occasion.

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There is also a myth emphasizing the importance of the worship of Shiva during the Shivaratri night and it is in brief as follows: Once there was a hunter, went to forest to obtain meat for his family by hunting some animals. From morning till night in search of animals, but he wasnt able to shoot any. At last, when night goes beyond him, he climbed on a Bilwa Tree to escape from a wild animal that be hunt him, being awaken from its nest. The animal was thinking down at the foot of tree quite certain that the man would fall down either from sleep or from tiredness and that he might eat him. The hunter, exhausted as he was tired from his hard work and hunger, wished to scare away the animal by throwing handful of Bilwa leaves. These leaves dripping with water on account of the recent shower fell on a Shivling that was near, the night happened to be the Maha-Shivaratri night. He had fasted during the whole day since he could not find anything to eat. The drench rain constituted a bath and his action of throwing the bilwa leaves on the Shivling, the worship of Shiva on the Shivaratri night. Though his actions were not intentional to worship Shiva, yet he is said to have gained heaven as he had observed the Shivaratri Vrat accidentally. The basic principle underlying the observance of the Maha-Shivaratri Vrat appears to be to emphasize the fact that Death is sure to follow Birth, Night is sure to follow Day, Pralay, active cosmic life and so on, and consequently people should always bear in mind while enjoying the one its opposite and regulate their life accordingly. They should not be overjoyed at success nor should they allow themselves to be carried away by despair at failures but always have trust in God and worship him.

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How to perform Puja and Abhishek during Maha-Shivaratri

Bathing and staying clean yourself for the worship of Lord Shiva in the form of Shivling is done in the four jamuns or yamas (four equal time intervals) of the night. First perform Ganapati puja praying for no hurdles to the puja. Simply have a murti of Lord Ganesh and offer him incense, lamp and flowers. Before the prayer starts make sure that you wash the Shivling properly with water. Now place the Ling on a tray. You can perform the Abhishek in your prayer room. Also you should have made during the day 4 flower garlands. Also make sure that you have at least 4-incense sticks, 4 camphor and 4 whole flowers for the Arati. Get from temple lots of Bilwa leaves. At 6:00 PM the first Abhishek is performed. While chanting mantras of Lord Shiva bath the Ling with Milk and then Water bath the Ling. Then with a clean cloth only used for the prayer dab the Ling to remove the excess liquids. Now, place Bilwa leaves on top of the Ling and with Chandan paste with the ring finger of your right hand draw three lines on the Ling and on the centre line dot it with kum-kum. Then garland the Ling and now offer arati with incense, lamp and flower 7 times around the Ling. This is the end of the first Yama. At 9:00 PM the second Yama is performed. Please replace the Milk above with Yoghurt and the procedure is the same. At 12:00 AM the third Yama is performed. Please replace Milk above with Ghee and the procedure is the same. Do not use one lota of ghee, rather in a lota add teaspoon of ghee and add luke warm water to it. At around 3:00 4:00 AM the fourth and last Yama is performed. Please replace Milk above with Honey and the procedure is the same. Do not use one lota of honey, rather in a lota add teaspoon of honey and add luke warm water to it.

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Visit All Jyotirlings / Trip Itinerary

Jyotirlings: Jyotirlings are set of 12 Shiva Temples spread all over India and considered holiest for Shiva devotees. Its rather an arduous task to visit all at once and therefore most devotees make it a point to visit all over a period of time, sometime part of an Itinerary and sometime two or three at a time.

Based on geographic location Jyotirling Temples can be divided into following: State Gujarat Jyotirling Temples

Somnath Near Vevaral Nageshwar near Dwarka Trimbakeshwar near Nashik Bhimashankar, Off Pune Maharashtra Grishneshwar near Ellora caves /Auranbabad Aundha Nagnath Temple near Nanded Parli Baidyanath near Bid Tamilnadu Rameshwaram, Off Madurai Andhra Pradesh Srisailam Madhya Pradesh Omkareshwar and Mahakaleshwar Jharkhand Baidyanath, Deoghar Uttar Pradesh Kashi Vishwanath, Varanasi Uttaranchal Kedarnath (One of the Chaar Dhams) NORTH INDIA Varanasi Jyotirling Getaway (All round the year) Ek Dham - Kedarnath (Ex-Haridwar - 3 nights) (Mid-May-Oct) WEST INDIA Dwarka - Somnath (3 nights) - Ex-Dwarka / Veraval / Ahmedabad Jyotirling Itinerary of Maharashtra (Ex-Mumbai / Pune / Nashik) Nashik-Shirdi pilgrimage w Aurangabad - 4 nights (Ex-Mumbai / Pune / Nashik / Aurangabad) Omkareshwar Mahakaleshwar Jyotirling Getaway (Ex-Indore / Ujjain) SOUTH INDIA Srisailam Getaway (Pilgrimage) (Ex-Hyderabad) Madurai - Rameshwaram Getaway (Pilgrimage ) (Ex-Hyderabad) email: Jyotirling@nivalink.co.in
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