12 Jyotirlingas¶

The Shloka¶

———

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् ।

उज्जयिन्यां महाकालम्ॐकारममलेश्वरम् ॥

परल्यां वैद्यनाथं च डाकिन्यां भीमाशंकरम् ।

सेतुबंधे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने ॥

वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्र्यंबकं गौतमीतटे ।

हिमालये तु केदारम् घुश्मेशं च शिवालये ॥

एतानि ज्योतिर्लिङ्गानि सायं प्रातः पठेन्नरः ।

सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति ॥

———

Saurashtre Somanāthaṃ ca Śrīśaile Mallikārjunam ।

Ujjayinyāṃ Mahākālam Oṃkāramamaleśvaram ॥

Paralyāṃ Vaidyanāthaṃ ca Ḍākinyāṃ Bhīmaśaṅkaram ।

Setubandhe tu Rāmeśaṃ Nāgeśaṃ Dārukāvane ॥

Vārāṇasyāṃ tu Viśveśaṃ Tryambakaṃ Gautamītaṭe ।

Himālaye tu Kedāraṃ Ghuśmeśaṃ ca Śivālaye ॥

Etāni Jyotirliṅgāni sāyaṃ prātaḥ paṭhennaraḥ ।

Saptajanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ smaraṇena vinaśyati ॥

———

Meaning / Summary¶

The significance of this shloka lies in its role as a concise devotional hymn (stotram) that allows devotees to remember and connect with the twelve Jyotirlingas, which are considered supreme manifestations of Lord Shiva. Each Jyotirlinga is believed to be a self-manifested form of Shiva, representing his infinite light (Jyoti) and formless cosmic pillar (Linga). Reciting this stotram is believed to bestow immense spiritual benefits, including purification from sins, inner peace, and liberation (moksha). It serves as a spiritual map, guiding devotees to these sacred sites through remembrance, even if a physical pilgrimage is not possible. The act of remembrance itself is considered a powerful form of devotion, capable of eradicating karmic burdens and fostering spiritual growth.

In Saurashtra, Somnath; in Srisailam, Mallikarjunam. In Ujjain, Mahakal; in Omkareshwar, Amaleshwar. In Parali, Vaidyanath; in Dakini, Bhimashankar. At Setubandha, Rameshwaram; in Darukavana, Nagesham. In Varanasi, Vishvesham; on the bank of Gautami, Tryambakam. In the Himalayas, Kedaram; and in a Shiva temple, Ghushmesham. The person who recites these Jyotirlingas in the evening and morning, their sins committed in seven births are destroyed by merely remembering them.

This shloka lists the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva across India: Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Vaidyanath, Bhimashankar, Rameshwaram, Nageshwar, Vishwanath, Tryambakeshwar, Kedarnath, and Ghrishneshwar. It states that reciting or remembering these names daily, in the morning and evening, purifies a person of all sins accumulated over seven lifetimes.

This sacred Sanskrit verse enumerates the twelve prominent Jyotirlingas, which are considered to be the most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva in India. It begins by listing Somnath in Saurashtra (Gujarat) and Mallikarjuna in Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh/Telangana). It continues with Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) and Omkareshwar (or Amareshwar) in Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh). The verse then mentions Vaidyanath in Parali (Maharashtra, or Jharkhand depending on tradition) and Bhimashankar, whose exact location is debated but often associated with Dakini region (Maharashtra/Assam). Further, it lists Rameshwaram at Setubandha (Tamil Nadu) and Nagesham in Darukavana (often identified as Nageshwar in Gujarat). It then names Vishvesham (Vishwanath) in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and Tryambakeshwar on the banks of the river Godavari (Gautami) (Maharashtra). Finally, it includes Kedarnath in the Himalayas (Uttarakhand) and Ghrishneshwar (Ghushmesham) in a Shiva temple, usually identified as Grishneshwar near Ellora (Maharashtra). The latter part of the shloka emphasizes the spiritual benefit of chanting or remembering these names. It states that a person who recites these names daily, both in the morning and in the evening, will have all the sins accumulated over seven lifetimes eradicated simply by the act of remembrance. This underscores the immense purifying and liberating power attributed to the devotion to Lord Shiva and His sacred Jyotirlinga forms.

Sentence - 1¶

———

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् ।

———

Meaning¶

In Saurashtra, Somnath, and in Srisailam, Mallikarjunam.

Meaning of Words¶

सौराष्ट्रे	Saurashtre
In Saurashtra Refers to the region of Saurashtra, located in the state of Gujarat, India, where the first Jyotirlinga, Somnath, is situated.
सोमनाथं	Somanāthaṃ
Somnath One of the twelve revered Jyotirlingas, considered the first among them, located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra, Gujarat. It signifies ‘Lord of the Moon’.
च	ca	and
श्रीशैले	Śrīśaile
In Srisailam Refers to the sacred mountain town of Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh/Telangana, India, where the second Jyotirlinga is located.
मल्लिकार्जुनम्	Mallikārjunam
Mallikarjunam One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, located in Srisailam. It is unique as it is also one of the 18 Shakti Peethas.

Sentence - 2¶

———

उज्जयिन्यां महाकालम्ॐकारममलेश्वरम् ॥

———

Meaning¶

In Ujjain, Mahakal; and in Omkareshwar, Amaleshwar (or Amareshwar).

Meaning of Words¶

उज्जयिन्यां	Ujjayinyāṃ
In Ujjain Refers to Ujjain, an ancient city in Madhya Pradesh, India, famous for its Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga.
महाकालम्	Mahākālam
Mahakaleshwar, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, located in Ujjain. It is the only Jyotirlinga that is Dakshinamoorthy (south-facing) and believed to be self-manifested (svayambhu).
ॐकारम्	Oṃkāram
Refers to the holy island of Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, India, where the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is situated. The island is shaped like the sacred syllable ‘Om’.
अमलेश्वरम्	Amaleśvaram
Amaleshwar (or Amareshwar) Amaleshwar or Amareshwar, which is considered a form of the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga. Sometimes it refers to the same lingam as Omkareshwar, or a distinct lingam nearby.

Sentence - 3¶

———

परल्यां वैद्यनाथं च डाकिन्यां भीमाशंकरम् ।

———

Meaning¶

In Parali, Vaidyanath, and in Dakini, Bhimashankar.

Meaning of Words¶

परल्यां	Paralyāṃ
In Parali Refers to Parli Vaijnath in Maharashtra, India, or sometimes interpreted as Baidyanath in Deoghar, Jharkhand, both claiming to be the location of the Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga.
वैद्यनाथं	Vaidyanāthaṃ
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Its location is a subject of debate among devotees, with prominent claims from Parli Vaijnath in Maharashtra and Baidyanath in Deoghar, Jharkhand. Vaidyanath means ‘Lord of Physicians’.
डाकिन्यां	Ḍākinyāṃ
In Dakini Refers to the region associated with the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga. While primarily identified with Bhimashankar in Maharashtra, some traditions also link it to sites in Assam.
भीमाशंकरम्	Bhīmaśaṅkaram
Bhimashankar One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, located in the Sahyadri range near Pune, Maharashtra, known for its dense forests and serene surroundings.

Sentence - 4¶

———

सेतुबंधे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने ॥

———

Meaning¶

At Setubandha, Rameshwaram, and in Darukavana, Nagesham.

Meaning of Words¶

सेतुबंधे	Setubandhe
At Setubandha Refers to the ‘bridge of Rama’, associated with Rameswaram, a sacred town on Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu, India, where Lord Rama built a bridge to Lanka.
तु	tu	indeed/and
रामेशं	Rāmeśaṃ
Rameshwaram, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, located at the southernmost tip of India. It is believed to have been established and worshipped by Lord Rama himself.
नागेशं	Nāgeśaṃ
Nagesham Nageshwar, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. There are multiple sites claiming to be this Jyotirlinga, most prominently Nageshwar near Dwarka in Gujarat, Aundha Nagnath in Maharashtra, and Jageshwar in Uttarakhand.
दारुकावने	Dārukāvane
in Darukavana Refers to a specific forest (vana) mentioned in ancient texts as the location of the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga. ‘Daruka’ means ‘of deodar trees’ or ‘forest of wood’.

Sentence - 5¶

———

वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्र्यंबकं गौतमीतटे ।

———

Meaning¶

In Varanasi, Vishvesham, and on the bank of Gautami, Tryambakam.

Meaning of Words¶

वाराणस्यां	Vārāṇasyāṃ
In Varanasi Refers to Varanasi (also known as Kashi), an ancient and highly sacred city in Uttar Pradesh, India, situated on the banks of the Ganges River.
विश्वेशं	Viśveśaṃ
Vishvesham Vishwanath, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, located in Varanasi. It is one of the most famous and widely visited Shiva temples, signifying ‘Lord of the Universe’.
त्र्यंबकं	Tryambakaṃ
Tryambakam Tryambakeshwar, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, located near Nashik in Maharashtra. It is unique for having three lingams representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
गौतमीतटे	Gautamītaṭe
on the bank of Gautami Refers to the banks of the Gautami river, which is another name for the Godavari river, near which the Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga is situated.

Sentence - 6¶

———

हिमालये तु केदारम् घुश्मेशं च शिवालये ॥

———

Meaning¶

In the Himalayas, Kedaram, and in a Shiva temple, Ghushmesham.

Meaning of Words¶

हिमालये	Himālaye
In the Himalayas Refers to the Himalayan mountain range, a sacred abode where Kedarnath Jyotirlinga is located.
केदारम्	Kedāraṃ
Kedaram Kedarnath, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, situated at a high altitude in the Himalayas in Uttarakhand. It is a vital pilgrimage site, accessible only for a few months a year.
घुश्मेशं	Ghuśmeśaṃ
Ghushmesham Ghrishneshwar, the twelfth and final Jyotirlinga listed in this shloka, located near Ellora Caves in Maharashtra. It is also known as Grishneshwar.
शिवालये	Śivālaye
Literally means ‘in a Shiva temple’ or ‘abode of Shiva’. In the context of this shloka, it specifically refers to the temple where Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga is enshrined.

Sentence - 7¶

———

एतानि ज्योतिर्लिङ्गानि सायं प्रातः पठेन्नरः ।

———

Meaning¶

The person who recites these Jyotirlingas in the evening and morning.

Meaning of Words¶

एतानि	Etāni	These
ज्योतिर्लिङ्गानि	Jyotirliṅgāni
Jyotirlingas Divine phallic representations of Lord Shiva, considered to be self-manifested pillars of light. These are the twelve sacred shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva.
सायं	sāyaṃ	in the evening
प्रातः	prātaḥ	in the morning
पठेत्	paṭhet	should recite/read/chant
नरः	naraḥ	a person/man

Sentence - 8¶

———

सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति ॥

———

Meaning¶

Sins committed in seven births are destroyed by merely remembering them.

Meaning of Words¶

सप्तजन्मकृतं	Saptajanmakṛtaṃ
committed in seven births/lifetimes Refers to the accumulated negative karma or wrongdoings from not just the current life but also from the past seven incarnations, emphasizing the profound purifying effect.
पापं	pāpaṃ
sin/demerit Refers to negative actions, misdeeds, or demerits that accrue karmic debt, leading to adverse consequences.
स्मरणेन	smaraṇena
by remembrance/by recalling Signifies the power of devout recollection or contemplation. It suggests that even the mental act of remembering these sacred names can bring profound spiritual benefits.
विनश्यति	vinaśyati
is destroyed/vanishes Implies complete eradication or dissolution. In this context, it refers to the removal of karmic impurities and the liberation from their adverse effects.