The 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva: The Complete List

A Jyotirlinga — literally “lingam of light” — is a shrine where Shiva is believed to have manifested himself as a radiant column of light, rather than being installed through ritual consecration alone. There are twelve of these sites recognized across India, and together they form one of the most significant pilgrimage circuits in Shaivism. Here’s the complete list, in the traditional order they’re usually recited.

1. Somnath (Gujarat)

On the western coast of Gujarat, Somnath is traditionally considered the first among the twelve and has been rebuilt multiple times after historical destruction, making it as much a symbol of resilience as of devotion.

2. Mallikarjuna (Andhra Pradesh)

Located at Srisailam on the banks of the Krishna River, this shrine is also one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, making it sacred to both Shiva and Devi worship simultaneously.

3. Mahakaleshwar (Madhya Pradesh)

In Ujjain, Mahakaleshwar is unique among the twelve for its Bhasma Aarti, a pre-dawn ritual using sacred ash, and for facing south — a direction associated with Shiva in his form as Kaal (time and death).

4. Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh)

Set on an island in the Narmada River shaped like the Om symbol, Omkareshwar’s very location is considered part of its sanctity.

5. Kedarnath (Uttarakhand)

High in the Himalayas and accessible only part of the year due to snow, Kedarnath is also one of the Char Dham and Panch Kedar pilgrimage sites, making it one of the most physically demanding of the twelve to reach.

6. Bhimashankar (Maharashtra)

Situated in the Sahyadri hills near Pune, Bhimashankar is associated with the river Bhima, said to originate from this site.

7. Kashi Vishwanath (Uttar Pradesh)

In Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges, Kashi Vishwanath is arguably the most famous of the twelve — Varanasi itself is considered Shiva’s own city, and the temple has been a center of pilgrimage for over a thousand years.

8. Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra)

Near Nashik, Trimbakeshwar sits at the source of the Godavari River and is notable for its three-faced lingam, representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva together.

9. Vaidyanath (Jharkhand)

Located in Deoghar, Vaidyanath is associated with Shiva in his form as the “Lord of Physicians,” worshipped particularly for healing.

10. Nageshwar (Gujarat)

Near Dwarka, Nageshwar’s name relates to “naga” (serpent) and it’s associated with protection from poison and venomous danger, both literal and symbolic.

11. Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu)

On the southeastern tip of India, Rameshwaram is tied directly to the Ramayana — tradition holds that Rama himself established a lingam here before the war with Ravana, connecting Vishnu’s avatar directly to Shiva worship at this site.

12. Grishneshwar (Maharashtra)

Near the Ellora Caves, Grishneshwar is the final Jyotirlinga in the traditional list and is sometimes considered the smallest but no less significant of the twelve shrines.

Why the Jyotirlingas matter

Visiting all twelve is considered one of the most significant pilgrimages a Shaiva devotee can undertake, spanning nearly the full geography of India from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu to the Himalayas. Even for those who won’t make the physical journey, the twelve sites represent something important about how Shiva is understood in Hindu tradition — not confined to one place or one form, but present, self-manifested, across the entire subcontinent.

If you’re building a Shiva-focused practice, the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra and Om Namah Shivaya are natural starting points regardless of which Jyotirlinga you may one day visit.