Why is shiva linga worshipped

In this way, by establishing sacred shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in different parts of the country, the holy sages and saints of those days built a unified nation. Now that you know about the significance of the jyotirlingas and the story behind each one of them, are you planning to go on a pilgrimage of the jyotirlingas? Are you a little confused on how to plan your journey? No worries, as we have a sequence for you based on where you are situated.

If you are living in the North, Kedarnath in Uttarakhand will be your first destination. Subsequently, you move eastwards to Omkareshwar and Mahakaleshwar in Uttar Pradesh. Now, travel to Nageshwar and Somnath in Gujarat. From thereon, move on to Maharashtra where you visit Grishneshwar, Bhimashankar, and Trimbakeshwar in that order.

After this, make your way to Mallikarjuna in Andhra Pradesh and finally to Rameshwarm in Tamil Nadu, where your pilgrimage ends. For those living in the South, Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu will be your first destination. From here, you move on to Mallikarujuna in Andhra Pradesh. Now, move westwards to Maharashtra, which has three jyotirlingas. Bhimashankar will be your first destination here, followed by Grishneshwar and Trimbakeshwar. Subsequently, you travel to Madhya Pradesh, which is home to Omkareshwar and Mahakaleshwar.

From here, Gujarat is very close by, where you visit Nageshwar and Somnath. From Gujarat, your trip takes you right up into the Himalayas to Kedarnath in Uttarakhand. Kashi Vishwanath in Uttar Pradesh and Vaidhyanath in Jharkhand will be your final destinations in that order, before heading back home. If you are situated in the West, then visit all the three jyotirlingas in Maharashtra, namely, Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar, and Grishneshwar in that order. Now, make your way to Nageshwar and Somnath in Gujarat.

From here, you travel to Omkareshwar and Mahakaleshwar in Madhya Pradesh. After this, visit Kedarnath in Uttarakhand.

Your journey will now take you southwards to Mallikarjuna in Andhra Pradesh and finally to Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, before making your way back home. For those starting from the East, Vaidyanath in Jharkhand will be your first stopover.

Your next destination is Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh. From here, you move on to Nageshwar and Somnath in Gujarat. Subsequently, travel to Maharashtra to cover Grishneshwar, Bhimashankar, and Trimbakeshwar in that order. From here, the last leg of your pilgrimage will be Mallikarjuna in Andhra Pradesh, and finally Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, before making your journey back home.

Of the 12 jyotirlingas, seven are situated very close to each other in the neighboring states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, and which include:. These jyotirlingas can be covered very easily due to their proximity to each other. Similarly, Kedarnath, Kashi Vishwanath, and Vaidyanath are comparatively closer to each other and can be covered together. The South has two jyotirlingas , namely Mallikarjuna and Rameshwaram. Shiva is a unique principle. These jyotirlingas represent different aspects of this sacred principle.

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National Website Menu. Home About Programs Blog Chants. Jyotirlinga - The radiant sign of Lord Shiva. Legend behind jyotirlingas Once, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu had an argument as to who was the supreme creator.

Mahakaleshwar - Madhya Pradesh Mahakaleshwar jyotirlinga is situated in the historical city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. He is the Lord of Omkar Om vibration 5. Kedarnath - Uttarakhand Kedarnath jyotirlinga is located high up in the Himalayas in Uttarakhand.

Bhimashankar - Maharashtra Bhimashankar jyotirlinga is located at Bhorgiri village, near Pune,in Maharashtra. Trimbakeshwar - Maharashtra Trimbakeshwar jyotirlinga is situated near Nasik in Maharashtra.

Vaidyanath - Jharkhand Vaidyanath jyotirlinga is located at Deoghar district in Jharkhand. Nageshwar - Gujarat Nageshwar jyotirlinga is located in Dwarka district of Gujarat.

Ghrishneshwar - Maharashtra Grishneshwar jyotirlinga is situated in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. Aim of establishing the jyotirlingas in different parts of the country The people of India speak different languages. The linga form of Siva had appeared before the beginning of creation at the time when Vishnu and Brahma were engaged in arguments:.

That linga was surrounded by thousands of flames and hot like fire of death. Without any beginning and end, that was free from decay and growth.

Also known as Lingodbhava, the Linga Purana also supports this interpretation of lingam as a cosmic pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva. According to Linga Purana, the lingam is a complete symbolic representation of the formless Universe Bearer — the oval shaped stone is resembling mark of the Universe and bottom base as the Supreme Power holding the entire Universe in it.

Linga is worshipped because Linga contains everything of this world. In the Linga Purana [part 2 chapter 46], once sages have debate regarding why Linga form is worshipped. Goddess Saraswati vist the sages and states. May the questions of the sages stop. The whole world is identical with the Linga. Everything is founded on the Linga. Hence, one shall eschew everything, install the Linga and worship it.

Hence, one shall eschew everything and install the unchanging Linga. If one worships it, it is as good as worshipping everything installed assiduously. Thus as every God is present in the Linga, it is highly auspicious to worship Linga. Trinities are situated in Linga and it is also stated in the next chapter ie. Lord Brahma resides at the root, Lord Vishnu in the middle. The lord of all unborn Pasupati in the form of Rudra resides at the top.

At the end of time the entire universe and all the Gods finally merge in the Linga itself. It is therefore seen as an access to Shiva or that which lies beyond physical creation. It is related with the inseparable relation of Shiva and Shakti and linga form represents it. The relationship of Uma and Maheswara is like that of word and meaning.

The beloved of Shiva Uma is in the form of words. The moon crested Lord Maheswara is in the form of meaning of those words. So, just as meaning is formless and it gets manifested through words. In the similar way formless Shiva gets manifested through Shakti. The same chapter also states:. There is mutual dependence between Shakti and Shaktiman. There is no Shakti without Shiva and no Shiva without Shakti.

The inseparable relationship of Shiva and Shakti is also shown by image or idol form of ArdhaNarishwara. However Linga form is the only form which establishes the word-meaning relationship. It is because formless Shiva gets manifested in Linga form through the base of Shakti.

The Shiva Linga is a symbol of the Universe, which means a doorway to the beyond. The two parts of the Shiva Linga, which are the ling and the Panapattam, represents the Universal self Lord Shiva in his awakened aspect, being in union with his dynamic energy the Shakti, Parvathi. This combination is also interpreted as worship of reproduction function stating Ling as Phallus and Panapattam or Yoni as Vagina of the Universal Parents. Shiva Linga is also a representation of pineal gland present in Epithalamus, near to the center of the brain.

It is also the cosmic form of fire. According to Hindu Mythology, initially, when the creation is yet to begin, there goes an argument between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu for who is the best.