Maha Shivratri falls during the Hindu month of Magha. Maha Shivratri is celebrated this year on Saturday, February 18. On this day, Lord Shiva, one of the holy trinities in Hindu mythology, is worshipped across the country. To commemorate the day, devotees chant prayers, fast, and pay homage to the god of destruction. A pilgrimage to the 12 Jyotirlingas, the holiest Shiva shrines, is considered auspicious. The Jyotirlingas are located throughout the country.
- Somnath
Devotees flock to the Somnath temple, which is located on the western coast of Gujarat in Prabhas Patan, Saurashtra. Lord Shiva is said to have appeared here as a fiery column of light.
- Nageshwar
. This jyotirlinga can also be found in Gujarat. This Mahadev shrine is housed in an underground sanctum. The Nageshwar Jyotirlinga represents protection from all poisons.
- Bhimashankar
The Jyotirlinga is said to have been built by Kumbhakarna’s son Bheema on the banks of the River Bhima in Pune. However, there is some disagreement about where the jyotirlinga should be located. The Shiva Purana considers the Bhimshankar temple near Guwahati to be one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, while the Linga Puran considers the Bhim Shankar temple in Bhimpur, Orissa, to be one of the 12 shrines.
- Trimbakeshwar
Trimbakeshwar, one of the jyotirlingas, is located in the holy city of Nashik. This shrine is well-known for its three-headed linga, which represents the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh (Shiva).
- Grishneshwar
Another jyotirlinga in Maharashtra can be found in Aurangabad. The Grishneshwar linga is associated with a legend in which Lord Shiva assisted a mother in reclaiming her deceased son.
- Vaidyanath
The precise location of the Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga is also disputed. It is thought that the main shrine is in Deoghar, Jharkhand. Ravana is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva for years before convincing him to go to Sri Lanka. On the way, Lord Vishnu asked Ravana to rest the Shiva linga in Deoghar for a while, thus making it one of the jyotirlingas.
- Mahakaleshwar
The Mahakaleshwar temple is located in Ujjain’s Mahakal forest. According to legend, the shrine was built by Srikar, a five-year-old boy. The jyotirlinga is also one of India’s seven mukti-sthals (places of human soul liberation).
- Omkareshwar
Omkareshwar is a shrine in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. According to Hindu scriptures, when Gods were defeated by Demons in the great war, they worshipped Lord Shiva, who later became known as the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga.
- Kashi Vishwanath
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is one of India’s most famous jyotirlingas. The shrine is also significant due to its location on the banks of the holy river Ganga.
- Kedarnath
The temple in Uttarakhand is only open for six months of the year. According to legend, Lord Shiva settled here as a jyotirlinga at the request of Vishnu Nara and Narayana’s twin avatars.
- Rameshwaram
The jyotirlinga, which is located on Rameswaram Island in Tamil Nadu, is also associated with Lord Rama. Lord Rama is said to have built a linga out of sand and worshipped Lord Shiva, who has since resided here.
- Mallikarjuna
The temple in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, known as the “Kailash of the South,” is home to Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and Bhramaramba (Devi).