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Ashtavinayak Temples are a group of eight holy temples situated in the state of Maharashtra. Each of these temples is associated with the legends of Lord Ganesha and is considered as a part of pilgrimage dedicated to Ganapathi.

The Ashtavinayak Temples should be visited in a pre-determined sequence. It should begin with Sri Moreshwar Temple followed by the Siddhivinayak Temple, Ballaleshwar Temple, Varadvinayak Temple, Chintamani Temple, Girijatmaj Temple, and the Vignahar Temple. The last temple in the list is the Mahaganapathi Temple at Ranjangaon, Pune. It is believed that the pilgrimage is complete only when the devotee visits the first time again after visiting all the other seven temples.

1.Morgaon Ganpati Temple

The primary temple that one must visit during the Ashtavinayak pilgrimage is the Mayureshwar Ashtavinayak Temple situated at Morgaon near Pune. This is the starting point as well as the ending of the journey. The temple is a black stone structure built during the reign of the Bahmani Sultanate (14th – 16th century).

The Temple has four gates built with a slight Islamic architectural influence. The four corners have minarets giving it an appearance of a mosque. Eight idols of Lord Ganesha grace the eight directions or corners of the Temple. They are of the form of Ekadanta, Mahodar, Gajanana, Lambodar, Vikata, Vignaraja, Dhumravarna and Vakratunda.

Legend of Morgaon Ganpati Temple

The King of Mithila, Chakrapani and his wife Ugra were childless for a long time. They prayed to Lord Surya for a child. He was appeased and blessed him with a child named Sindhu. He was blessed with the full bowl of Amrit as a boon and was reminded that he will remain immortal as long as the bowl remains unbroken.

Sindhu swallowed the bowl to protect it. He turned into a corrupt demon that terrorized and kept even the Gods as captives. The Gods approached Lord Ganesha for help. He descended to Earth on a peacock and slew the demon, took out the bowl from his stomach and broke it. Morgaon is believed to be the place where the head of the demon Sindhu fell on Earth.

Significance of Morgaon Ganpati Temple

• The Ganesha Purana mentions the legends and the significance of Morgaon in as much as 22 chapters. It is believed that Morgaon is one of the three highly sacred sites for Lord Ganesha, the other two being Mount Kailash in the Swargaloka and Adishesha’s abode in the Pataala Loka. It is also believed that at the time of Pralaya or the End of the World, Lord Ganesha will appear and take abode here.
• It is believed that the original idol of Lord Ganesha was consecrated here by Lord Brahma himself. The idol was small and made of sand, iron, and diamonds. Eventually, the Pandavas enclosed this idol in a copper sheet and placed it behind the currently worshiped idol for safekeeping.
• The idol of Lord Ganesha is unique. He is represented in a sitting posture with three eyes and the trunk facing the left side. The eyes and the navel are decorated with diamonds. The King of Snakes (Nagaraj) can be seen on top along with Buddhi and Siddhi on either side.

Morgaon Ganpati Temple Timings

The Temple is open to devotees from 5 AM till 10 PM. The Prakshal Pooja, Shodashopachar Pooja, Panchopachar Pooja, and the Shej Aarti are some of the rituals that are performed every day.

2. Siddhatek Ganpati Temple

The second temple in the Ashtavinayak series of Temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha is the Siddhivinayak Temple situated at Siddhatek in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. The Temple is located on a hillock beside River Bhima.

Legend of Siddhatek Ganpati Temple

According to the legend, the demons Madhu and Kaitabha originated from the ears of Lord Vishnu during his Yoga Nidra (a state of consciousness between waking up and sleeping). The two demons obtained a boon from Goddess Shakti as per which they cannot be killed by any Deva or Asura unless they want to die willingly.

At that time, Lord Brahma was contemplating the creation of the universe and for which he required the Vedas. The demons stole the Vedas from Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma requested Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu woke up from his deep sleep and took the form of a Hayagriva (a horse-faced creature).

The battle between the Hayagriva and the two demons lasted five thousand years. Lord Vishnu realized that these demons were invincible until they were relieved of the boon granted by Goddess Shakti. He was also advised by Lord Shiva to see the blessings of Lord Ganesha before slaying the demons.

It is believed that Siddhatek was the place where Lord Vishnu asked for Lord Ganesha’s blessings which the later granted happily.

Significance of Siddhatek Ganpati Temple

• It is believed that Lord Vishnu himself constructed the original unique four-door temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. However, due to natural reasons, the temple perished. Under the Peshwa rule, the temple was reconstructed and consecrated with the original idol.
• The idol of the deity is Swayambhu in nature, 3 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide. The trunk is turned towards right representing the fierce form of Lord Ganesha. The idols of Riddhi and Siddhi are placed on one lap. The idols of Jaya and Vijaya, who are the gatekeepers of Lord Vishnu’s abode Vaikuntam flank the Lord on both sides.
• This is the only temple among the eight Ashtavinayak Temples where the trunk of Lord Ganesha’s idol is turned towards the right. It is a belief that this Lord is difficult to please but grants Siddhi (Success) to the devotee.

Siddhatek Ganpati Temple  Timings

The Temple opens at 4:15 AM and closes at 9 PM daily.

3. Ballaleshwar Pali Ganpati Temple

The Ballaleshwar Temple situated at Pali Village in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. The Temple is the third in the sequence of which the Ashtavinayak Temples must be visited. The Temple was renovated and extended by Baburao Phadnavis and his son Morobo Dada Phadnavis in 1770.

The architecture of the Temple is exemplary. The Peshwas built the shrine in the shape of “Shri”. Two lakes are situated on the two sides of the Temple.

Legend of Ballaleshwar Pali Ganpati Temple

According to the legend, in the Treta Yuga,  a boy named Ballal was born to a businessman named Kalyan and his wife Indumati. The boy was an ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha and usually worshiped stones as the Lord along with his friends. One day, when he was roaming in the forests, he saw a huge stone. He decorated the stone and worshiped the stone after idolizing it as Lord Ganesha.

Ballal and his friends were so engrossed in the devotion that they forgot to return to their homes. The parents complained to Kalyan about Ballal. Kalyan in his anger caught hold of Ballal and tied him to a tree. He was also beaten up badly. However, Ballal continued his worship. Lord Ganesha was impressed and gave him darshan as a Brahmin. Since then, the Lord came to be known as Ballal Vinayak or the Eeshwar (Lord) of Ballal.

Significance of Ballaleshwar Pali Ganpati Temple

• The idol of the main deity, Lord Ballaleshwar is believed to be Swayambhu in nature. The idol sits on a stone platform. The trunk is turned towards left. The eyes and the navel of the deity are studded with diamonds.
• The idol is dressed up as a Brahmin. This is the only idol of Lord Ganesha to be dressed up in such a way in the world.
• The Dhundi Vinayak Temple situated just behind the Temple is extremely unique as it is believed that this is the stone that was broken partially by Kalyan in his anger.
• The Temple is built in such a way that on the day of Winter Solstice (December 21), the rising sun’s rays fall directly on the idol illuminating it.

Ballaleshwar Pali Ganpati Temple Timings

The Temple is opened daily from 5:30 AM to 10 PM.

4. Mahad Ganpati Temple

The temple of Varadvinayak is one of the sacred Ashtavinayak Temples situated in the village of Mahad belonging to the Raigarh district of Maharashtra. Lord Ganesha is worshiped here as Varadvinayaka, meaning the giver of success and wealth.

The Temple is small, 8 feet by 8 feet long with a gold plated dome. The temple is surrounded by intricately carved statues of Elephants on four sides. A Gomukh ar a Cow’s mouth can be seen emanating water on the Northern side of the Temple.

The original temple is believed to have been constructed by Gritsamada in the Treta Yuga. However, the Ganesha idol was found submerged in a lake near the Temple by Dhondu Paudkar in 1690 AD. In 1725, Subedar of Kalyan, Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar built the Temple again.

Legend of Mahad Ganpati Temple

According to the legend, Prince Rukmangada of Kaudinya was a handsome and virtuous Prince, loved by all. Once during hunting, he stopped to rest at Sage Vachaknavi’s home. The Sage’s wife Mukunda fell in love with him and made physical advances to him, which he deftly refused. Mukunda became sad and Lord Indra, taking pity on her came to her home disguised as Rukmangada and fulfilled her wishes.

A son named Gritsamada was born to them. When the son grew up, he came to know about the truth of him being an illegitimate son of his parents. He grew sad and wandered into the forests praying all the time to Lord Ganesha to grant him inner solace and peace. Lord Ganesha appeared to him and granted him his wish. Gritsamada requested the Lord to make the forest as his abode and bless the people who visit him. Lord Ganesha agreed and took form as Varadvinayak.

Significance of Mahad Ganpati Temple

• The idol of Sri Varadvinayak is believed to be Swayambhu in nature. The deity appears in a seated position with the trunk turned left. The Temple worships two idols, the old and the original one covered with Sindur and the new one made of Marble.
• The Varadvinayak Temple is the only Ganesh Temple where the devotees are allowed to enter the Sanctum and pay respects to the Lord himself at proximity.
• According to the local belief, devotees who eat the Coconut Prasad during the Maghi Chaturthi are blessed with a son.
• The Nandadeep that burns at the Temple has been continuously burning since 1892.

Mahad Ganpati Temple Timings

The Temple opens at 6 AM and closes at 9 PM every day.

5. Chintamani Ganpati Temple

The Chintamani Temple is situated in the village of Theur, also known as Kadambapur in Maharashtra. Theur is situated at the confluence of three small rivers named Bhima, Mula, and Mutha. The exact date of construction of the Temple is unknown but it is suspected that Sri Daharnidhar Maharaj Devji, a descendant of Saint Morya Gosavji built the Temple. Madhavrao Peshwa erected a Sabhamandap during his reign.

Legend of Chintamani Ganpati Temple

As per the legend, King Abhijeet and his wife Gunavati had a son named Ganasura. He was a strong but greedy prince. Once, Ganasura visited the Ashram of Sage Kapila. The Sage showed great hospitality with the help of the Chintamani stone that he possessed. Ganasura came to know about the stone and wanted to acquire it. However, Sage Kapila refused his offer.

Enraged, Ganasura forcibly took away the stone. Sage Kapila took advice from Goddess Durga and requested Lord Ganesha’s help. The Lord fought a battle with Ganasura under a Kadamba tree and defeated him. He took back the Chintamani to the Sage, who gifted the stone back to Lord Ganesha as an honor. The precious stone was hung around the neck of Ganesha and hence, he came to be known as Lord Chintamani.

Significance of Chintamani Ganpati Temple

• The idol of the presiding deity, Lord Chintamani is Swayambhu in nature. The idol faces east and has a Mani or precious stone in the neck region of the Lord. The eyes of the deity are studded with diamonds.
• It is believed that by obtaining a darshan of Lord Chintamani, one can get peace of mind and spiritual satisfaction in his or her life.
• Historically, the idol is the family deity of Shri Madhavrao Peshwa. The famous ruler is believed to have spent his last days at the Temple.
• The village of Theur is also believed to be the place where Saint Morya Gosavji performed penance and was given darshan by Lord Ganesha appearing as two tigers.

Chintamani Ganpati Temple Timings

The Temple opens at 6 AM and closes at 10 PM daily.

6. Lenyadri Girijatmaj Ganpati Temple

The Temple of Lord Ganesha, known as Girijatmaj is situated at Lenyadri hills in the Pune district of Maharashtra. The Lord Girijatmaj shrine is dated back to 1st century AD. One has to climb 283 steps to reach the entrance of the cave. During the conversion of the cave from a Buddhist shrine to a Hindu shrine, several paintings depicting Ganesha’s childhood, Marriage and battles were done on the stone walls.

The name of Girijatmaj is unique and can be interpreted in two ways. Girija is the other name of Goddess Parvati whereas Atmaja means Son. So the word Girijatmaj would mean “The Son of Parvati” referring to Lord Ganesha. Alternatively, it can also mean “Mountain born”.

Legend of Lenyadri Girijatmaj Ganpati Temple

The Temple’s legend is controversial and based on the belief that Lord Ganesha is the supreme power. According to it, Goddess Parvati performed penance here to become the mother of Lord Ganesha.

Appeased, Lord Ganesha grants her wish and states that he will be born as her son. Eventually, on the day of Bhadrapada Shuddha Chaturthi, the Goddess created an idol of Lord Ganesha with dirt from her body. Lord Ganesha fused his life into the idol and came to be known as Girijatmaj.

Significance of Lenyadri Girijatmaj Ganpati Temple

• The Temple is only one among the Ashtavinayak Temples to be located on a hillock and inside an earlier Buddhist shrine.
• The Temple is carved out of a single stone and has no pillars supporting the entire structure. The Temple faces south which is rare. The shrine was built in such a way that no room remains dark throughout the day even though it is a closed cave complex.
• The idol of Lord Ganesha is believed to be in an infant form and is carved in a simple manner on a rock. One cannot circumambulate the deity.

Lenyadri Girijatmaj Ganpati Temple Timings

The Temple is a part of the site that is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Hence, the devotees are allowed to visit the shrine only from sunrise till sunset.

7. Ozar Ganpati Temple

The Vigneshwara Temple is situated in the village of Ozar in the Pune district of Maharashtra. The form of Ganesh worshiped here is Vigneshwara, meaning “Remover of Obstacles”. The Temple is seventh in the pre-determined sequence in visiting the Ashtavinayak Temples.

The temple faces east and has a spacious courtyard. The entrance of the temple is flanked by sculptures of two Dvarapalakas (Gatekeepers). The central Temple structure has three entrances, the eastern entrance being the main one. It is believed by historians and the locals that the Temple was built by the Peshwa ruler Chimaji Appa after defeating the Portuguese in the late 1700s. The spire or Shikhar of the Temple is covered with Gold.

Legend of Ozar Ganpati Temple

According to the legend associated with the Temple, King Abhinandan conducted a Yagna with the objective of overthrowing the kingdom of heaven. Alarmed Lord Indra sent the demon Kalapurush to destroy the Yagna. Kalapurush successfully destroyed the Yagna. However, he got carried away with his power and assumed the title of Vignasura, meaning the Creator of Obstacles.

He systematically destroyed all Vedic rituals and Poojas that were performed by several sages and created havoc. The Gods approached Lord Ganesha for help, who defeated Vignasura. The demon realized his arrogance and surrendered to Lord Ganesha asking for mercy. Lord Ganesha promised retribution on the condition that he will not interrupt whenever Lord Ganesha is worshiped. Thus, Lord Ganesha came to be known as Vigneshwara.

Significance of Ozar Ganpati Temple

• The idol of the deity is believed to be Swayambhu in nature. The Lord faces east with his trunk towards left. The deity is flanked by Riddhi and Siddhi on either side.
• The idol of the deity possesses precious stones. The eyes are studded with Rubies, the forehead is embellished with diamonds and navel is studded with semi-precious stones.

Ozar Ganpati Temple Timings

The Temple is open to devotees from 5 AM to 11 PM. However, darshan is closed between 11 AM to 4 PM in the afternoon.

8. Ranjangaon Ganpati Temple

The Temple dedicated to Lord Mahaganapathi is situated at Ranjangaon, 50 km from Pune. The Temple is the last in the sequence of the Ashtavinayak Temples to be visited. The representation of Lord Ganesh as Mahaganapathi is believed to be the most powerful and fierce form of the Lord.

The temple is believed to have been constructed during the 9th century AD. The idol that is worshiped currently has been donated by the Khollam family in Ranjangaon. The idol faces east in a cross-legged position with the trunk pointing left. Both Riddhi and Siddhi flank the deity on either side.

Legend of Ranjangaon Ganpati Temple

• The legend associated with the Temple has two distinct versions. According to one version, Sage Gritsamad’s son Tripurasur was a well-learned young boy and a devotee of Lord Ganesha. Pleased by his devotion and prayers, Lord Ganesha blessed the boy and presented him with three pura’s made of precious metals, which can be destroyed only by Lord Shiva.
• Over a period of time, Tripurasur grew to be vain and created chaos in the world. Even Lord Brahma and Vishnu were disturbed by his atrocities and were forced to go into hiding. Sage Narada advised the frightened gods that they should take the help of Lord Ganesh. The Gods decided to invoke Lord Ganesh, who appeared and accepted to help them.
• Lord Ganesh disguised as a Brahmin and met Tripurasur under the pretext of creating three flying planes. In return, he ordered Tripurasur to bring the Chintamani idol from Mount Kailash. The greedy Tripurasur went to Mount Kailash and fought with Lord Shiva for the idol. Lord Shiva realized that he had not offered his prayers to Lord Ganesh first, and hence was unable to destroy the pura’s or defeat him. He recited the Sadaakshar Mantra and invoked Lord Ganesh, who emerged and gave him the instructions for defeating Tripurasur. Lord Shiva followed the directions and defeated the greedy Tripurasur at also created a temple for Lord Ganesh at that spot.
• As per another legend, when proceeding to the war against the demon Tripurasur, Lord Shiva fails to seek the blessing of Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha breaks the axle of the chariot that Lord Shiva was traveling in. Realizing his mistake, Lord Shiva pays respect to Lord Shiva and then proceeds to a victorious battle against the demon. In honor of his son, he is supposed to have consecrated the idol at the site.

Significance of Ranjangaon Ganpati Temple

• The idol of the deity is Swayambhu in nature that is Lord Ganesha is believed to have appeared himself in the form of Mahaganapathi at Ranjangaon.
• The architecture of the Temple is such that at sunset, the sun rays fall on the idol of the deity directly illuminating him.
• It is a belief that the original idol of the Lord is hidden in the basement of the Temple. The idol is supposed to have 10 trunks and 20 hands. The idol is called Mahotkat. However, the Temple priests deny the existence of the Idol.

Ranjangaon Ganpati Temple Timings

The Temple opens at 5:30 AM and closes at 10 PM.

12 Jyotirlinga Names in India with Names, Places, Map, Significance, Tour Packages. Comprehensive Jyotirlinga Guide.

What are the 12 Jyotirlingas?

The 12 Jyotirlingas in India are Kashi Vishwanath, Kedarnath, Somnath, Grishneshwar, Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar, Rameshwaram, Srisailam, Baijnath, Nageshwar, Mahakaleshwar, and Omkareshwar.

If you are planning to visit these places, call us on 7977184437 or e-mail us on info@myoksha.com for best tour packages.

What is a Jyotirlinga?

Jyotirlinga is a holy shrine dedicated to worship Lord Shiva. These shrines worship Lord Shiva in the form of a Light or Jyotirlingam. ‘Jyoti’ meaning ‘radiance or light’ and ‘Lingam’ meaning ‘a sign or a symbol of Lord Shiva’, Jyotirlinga (ज्योतिर्लिंग) means ‘The Radiance of Lord Shiva’.  It is believed that these 12 jyotirlingas are ‘Swayambhu’ or self-manifested. Lord Shiva manifested himself in these places just for his devotees.

There are also 5 Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra which are included in the 12 Jyotirlingas.

Jyotirlinga is also called ‘Dwadash Jyotirlingas’. These Jyotirlingas are considered to be the purest and holiest shrines of Lord Shiva. It is said that if a person visits all the holy shrines, he attains moksha.

How many Jyotirlingas are there in India?

It is believed that there were originally 64 Jyotirlingas. Out of these 12 ज्योतिर्लिंग are considered to be very holy and auspicious. Each of these twelve Jyotirlingas are different manifestations of Lord Shiva. These Jyotirlingas take the name of the presiding deity.

12 Jyotirlinga List with Locations

The list of 12 jyotirlingas in India are:

1. Somnath Jyotirlinga in Gujarat
2. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Madhya Pradesh
3. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga in Madhya Pradesh
4. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga in Andhra Pradesh
5. Vaijnath Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra
6. Kedarnath Jyotirlinga in Uttarakhand
7. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga in Gujarat
8. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra
9. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra
10. Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga in Tamil Nadu
11. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra
12. Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga in Uttar Pradesh

12 Jyotirlinga Map

What are the 12 jyotirlinga in India?

The 12 jyotirlinga in India are:

1. Somnath Jyotirlinga – Saurashtra, Gujarat

Somnath is considered to be the first Jyotirlinga. It is located on the western coast of Gujarat, in Prabhas Patan in Kathiawad District.  This shrine is one of the oldest and most visited pilgrimage sites in India. ‘Soma’ means ‘The Moon God’ and Somnath means ‘Lord of Soma’.

This mandir is known to have ‘Eternal Shrine‘. It was destroyed for almost 16 times by invaders but was always rebuilt and never lost its beauty. The present jyotirlinga has the Chalukya style architecture and the skills of Sompura Salats.

Somnath Travel Guide

Somnath Tour Package

What are the Somnath Jyotirlinga Timings?

The Somnath darshan timings are from 6 in the morning to 10 in the night.

What is the best time to visit the Somnath Jyotirlinga?

The best time for visiting the Somnath Jyotirlinga is:

Winter Season: The winters season in Gujarat covers the month of October to February. The climate in this season stays cool and is mostly recommended for sight-seeing. The temperature remains between 10 to 32-degree centigrades. The climate remains pleasant and is never bitter.

How to reach Somnath?

• Road – Somnath connects well to major cities in Gujarat like Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Dwarka and Chorwad by state roadways.
• Train – The nearest railway station is Somnath (0.5 km). Regular train service is available from all major cities in Gujarat.
• Air – There are no direct air routes to Somnath. The nearest airport is Diu, which is 85 km away.

2. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga – Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is located on the banks of Kshipra River, beside Rudra Sagar Lake in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. This shrine is one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peetham.

A tale from the Shiv Puranas states that the King of Ujjain, Chandrasena was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Once a five-year-old boy Shrikar overheard him while he was praying to the Lord. When he wanted to pray along with the King, he was forced by the guards to go to the river Kshipra and pray. Shrikar learned that the rivals of Ujjain, King Ripudamana and King Shinghaditya decided to attack Ujjain. Shrikar immediately started praying. The news soon spread and was heard by a priest called Vridhi who then started to pray as well. The Kings with the help of a Demon called Dushan were successful in attacking Ujjain. Dushan was blessed by Lord Brahma to be invisible. Lord Shiva on hearing the pleads of his devotees appeared in his Mahakaal form and defeated all the enemies. On the request of Shrikhar and Vridhi, he decided to reside in Ujjain as a form of light to protect the city and its people.

The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is also one of the ‘Mukti-Sthal’. It is believed that this place can liberate a human. One who worships the lingam is blessed by the Lord and is freed of diseases.

Mahakaleshwar Travel Guide

Mahakaleshwar Tour Package

What are the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Timings?

The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga timings are from 4 in the morning to 11 in the night.

What is the best season to visit the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit the Mahakaleshwar is:

Winter Season: The months of October to March cover this season. The temperature stays at 20 degrees. The weather remains pleasant and is good for the pilgrims. It is recommended to avoid summers as the temperature can rise up to 45 degrees centigrade.

How to reach Mahakaleshwar?

• Air – There are no direct air routes. The nearest airport is Indore, 53 km away from Ujjain.
• Train – Direct trains are available to Ujjain from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Benaras, Kochi as well as Jaipur.
• Road – Bus services are available from cities like Indore, Surat, Mumbai, Pune, Udaipur, Nasik and Mathura.

3. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga – Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh

Omkareshwar means ‘Lord of the sound Om’ or ‘Lord of Omkara’. The Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is situated in the Khandwa District of Madhya Pradesh. It is situated on an island called Shivpuri on the Narmada River. There are various legends related to this place. One of the stories from the Hindu Puranas states that once there happened a great war between the Gods and the Demons. The Devas or Goda started praying to Lord Shiva when they started to lose against the Demons. Pleased with the prayers, Lord Shiva emerged in the form of Omkareshwar and defeated the Demons. Another legend states that Vindya, who controlled the Vindhyachal Mountain range was once worshipping the Lord. He created a sacred diagram and Lingam of sand and clay. Pleased, Lord Shiva appeared in two forms, Omkareshwar and Amaleshwar.

Amareshar means ‘Immortal Lord’ or ‘Lord of the devas or Immortals’. Amareshwar Temple is situated on the south bank of the River Narmada.

Omkareshwar Travel Guide

Omkareshwar Tour Package

What are the Omkareshwar Temple timings?

The timings of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga are from 5 in the morning to 9 in the night.

What is the best season to visit the Omkareshwar?

The best time to visit the Omkareshwar is:

Winter Season: The months of October to March covers this season. The climate remains pleasant that helps tourists to see the sights with ease. The temperature keeps between 15 to 30-degree centigrade. It is recommended to avoid summers as it gets really hot and uncomfortable.

How to reach Omkareshwar?

• Air: The nearest airport is at Indore and Ujjain. You can drive from there to Omkareshwar.
• Road: There are well-connected roads to Omkareshwar from all major cities.
• Rail: Omkareshwar has its own railway station called Omkareshwar Railway Station which is connected to all major cities.

4. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga – Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

Mallikarjuna Temple is popularly called ‘The Kailash of the South’. This temple is located at Srisailam on the banks of Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh. The name Mallikarjauna comes from ‘Mallika’ meaning ‘Goddess Parvati’ and ‘Arjuna’ meaning ‘Lord Shiva’. A tale from the Shiv Puranas says that when Kartikeya returned to Kailash, after taking around of the earth, Narada Muni informed him about Ganesha’s marriage before him. A furious Kartikeya went away to the Kraunch Mountain. All the Gods, including Shiv Parvati, tried consoling him but he turned them all. Witnessing their son in a state like this, Shiv and Parvati assumed the form of a Jyotirlinga and resided on the mountain.

This temple is also amongst the 275 Paadal Petra Shiva Sthangal. This temple is also one of the 18 Shakti Peethas of Goddess Parvati. It is the only temple in India which is both a Shakti Peetha and a Jyotirlinga. It is believed that the person who visits this temple attains moksha and all their desires are fulfilled.

Srisailam Travel Guide

Srisailam Tour Package

What are the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga timings?

The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga timings are from 4:30 to 10.

What is the best time to visit the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga?

The best time to visit the Malikarjuna is:

Winter Season: The weather in this season stays pleasant. The month of October to February covers the winter season. The temperature remains between 15-20 degree centigrade. The climate remains pleasant which helps the pilgrims to have a nice visit.

How to reach Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga?

• Air – There are no direct air routes to Srisailam. The nearest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International airport at Hyderabad. It is 202 km away from Srisailam.
• Road – The Srisailam Temple is present just 1 km away from the Srisailam Bus Stand.
• Train – There are no direct rail routes to Srisailam. The nearest Railway Station is Markapur which is 80 km away followed by Nandyal and Kurnool.

5. Vaijnath Jyotirlinga – Parli, Maharashtra

Vaijnath also known as Vaijnath/Baijnath is located at Parli in Beed District of Maharashtra. Some also refer to it as ‘Baba Dham’. It is believed that the person who visits this shrine attain moksha and gets rid of all miseries.

According to a legend, Ravana, the demon king wanted Lord Shiva to come with him to Srilanka. Shiva permitted him to carry his Atmalinga but on one condition. Ravan was asked not to take a break in his journey and transfer his Lingam to anyone else. If he does so, his lingam would be rooted at that place forever. The Gods knew that if Ravan carried Shiva’s Lingam with him, he would become invincible and destroy the world. They came up with a plan to outwit Ravan. They asked Varuna to enter the belly of Ravan following which he had an urgent urge to release water.  Meanwhile, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a Brahmin in front of Ravan. Ravan handed over the Lingam to the Brahmin, unaware of the mystery. Following this, the Lingam got rooted there forever.

Vaijnath Travel Guide

Vaijnath Tour Package

What are the Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga Timings?

The timings of Vaijnath are from 5 to 9.

What is the best season to visit Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga?

Winter Season: The months of October to February covers winters in Maharashtra. The weather during this time remains pleasant. He temperature remain around 25 degrees centigrade. The tourist can visit the temple and the other sights in ease.

How to reach Parli?

• Road: There are direct road routes that connects the temple to the major cities. Several buses connect from Aurangabad, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and other nearby cities.
• Train: The nearest train station is Parli. It is 2 km from the Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga. Here are direct trains that operate from Secunderabad, Kakinada, Manmad, Vishakapatnam and Bangalore.
• Air: There are no direct air routes to Parli Vaijnath. The nearest airport is in Nanded, 105 km from the Parli Vaijnath temple. You can also take a flight to Chikkalthana Airport which is 174kms away.

6. Kedarnath Jyotirlinga – Kedarnath, Uttarakhand

Kedarnath is situated at the Rudra Himalayan Range on a mountain named Kedar, at a height of 12,000 feet. It is one of the 4 Dhams along with Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Badrinath. According to the legends, Lord Shiva dwelled here on Nara and Narayana’s request. Due to weather conditions and snowfalls, the shrine remains open to the pilgrims only for a period of 6 months.

One believes that by visiting the shrine and bathing the Jyotirlinga, it can free them of all unhappiness, misfortunes and fulfill their desires.

Kedarnath Travel Guide

Kedarnath Tour Package

What are the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga timings?

The timings of Kedarnath are from 4 in the morning to 9 in the night.

What is the best season to visit Kedarnath Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit Kedarnath is:

The Kedarnath is open to the pilgrims for only a period of 6months. This is due to the harsh weather conditions that the place withstands. The best time to visit the Kedarnath is during Summer Season. The months of May and June covers this season. The temperature remains around 5-degree to 18-degree centigrade. One can also visit the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga in the months of September and October. During these time, the weather remains comparatively pleasant.

How to visit Kedarnath Jyotirlinga?

• Air –There are no direct flight routes to Kedarnath. There is no airport at Kedarnath. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. It is 238 km away from the Temple town.
• Train – There are no direct rail routes to Kedarnath. The nearest railway station is Rishikesh, situated at a distance of 216 km from Kedarnath.
• Road – One can board buses from Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Srinagar and Chamoli.

7. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga – Darukavanam, Gujarat

Nageshwar temple is also known as Nagnath Temple. It is located in Saurashtra, Gujarat, between Gomti Dwarka and Bait Dwarka Island. According to a legend in the Shiv Puranas, there was once a Demon called Daaruka who imprisoned Supriya, a Lord Shiva devotee. Daaruka took Supriya along with many other to his city called Darukavana. It was a city under the sea which had many demons and sea snakes. Supriya along with others started praying to Lord Shiva who appeared before them and vanquished the Demon. Since then, he resided there in the form of a Jyotirlinga.

Nageshwar Travel Guide

Nageshwar Tour Package

What are the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga timings?

The temple timings of Nageshwar are from morning 6 to night 9.

What is the best season to visit Nageshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit Nageshwar is:

Winter Season: The months of October to February faces winters in Gujarat. The weather is pleasant with cool breezes blowing. The temperature remains between 12-degree to 25-degree centigrade.

How to reach Nageshwar Jyotirlinga?

• Air- There are no direct air routes to Nageshwar. The nearest airport is that of Jamnagar which is 137 km.
• Rail- There are trains which even connect the way down to south through Vadodara, Surat, Mumbai, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala.
• Road- There are direct buses available from Jamnagar and Ahmedabad.

8. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga – Nasik, Maharashtra

Trimbakeshwar Temple is located near Nasik, in the town of Trimbak near Brahmagiri Mountain. The sacred river, Godavari originates near Trimbak. The unique feature about the temple is that the Jyotirlinga in this temple has three faces. These faces represent the three supreme Gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar.

A legend from the Shiv Puranas narrates that Gautam Rishi received a boon from Varuna where he got a free supply of grain. He thus used to call many sages to eat at his house. However, one day he killed a cow for grazing his field.  In order to wash away his sin, he started praying to Lord Shiva, who asked River Ganga to flow from here washing away all his sin.

On the earnest request of Gautam Rishi, River Godavari, and the other Gods, Shiva resided here in the name of Trimbakeshwar.

Trimbakeshwar Travel Guide

Trimbakeshwar Tour Package

What are the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga timings?

The temple timings of Trimbakeshwar are from 5:30 am to 9 pm.

What is the best season to visit the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is:

Winter Season: The months of October to March covers the winters in Trimbakeshwar. It is recommended to visit during these months as the weather remain comparatively pleasant. However, Trimbakeshwar faces extremity in all climatic seasons. The temperature remains between 7-degrees to 34-degrees centigrade.

How to reach Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga?

• Air: There is no direct flight route to Trimbakeshwar. The nearest flight route is at Mumbai, which is 200kms away from Trimbakeshwar.
• Rail: There is no direct rail route to Trimbakeshwar. The nearest rail station is at Nasik. It is also well connected with the Mumbai train station.
• Road: Trimbakeshwar is well-connected with the major cities via road route.

9. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga – Pune, Maharashtra

The Bhimashankar Temple is located in the Ghat Region of the Sahyadri Hills in Pune, Maharashtra. It is also the source of the Bhima River. According to the Legends, Bhima, the son of Karkati and Kumbhkaran lived in the dense forest with his mother. When he learned how his father was killed in the great war between Rama and Ravana he became furious. He started praying to Lord Bramha who blessed him with immense powers. With his powers, he started destroying everything and defeated almost every God. Witnessing this all the Gods along with Lord Bramha started praying to Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva came to the rescue and defeated the demon. Since then, on everyone’s request, he manifested himself in the form of Bhimashankar.

Bhimashankar Travel Guide

Bhimashankar Tour Package

What are the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Timings?

The mandir is open from 4:30 am to 10 pm.

What is the best season to visit the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit the Bhimashankar is:

Winter Season: Although the temple could be visited at any time, it is the best to pay a visit to the temple during winters. The month of October to February covers the winter season. The temperature stays between 13-degrees to 30-degree centigrade. Trekkers would find it very attractive to trek during the winters here.

How to reach Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga?

• Air– There are no direct air routes to Bhimashankar. The nearest airport is Pune Airport.
• Train – There are no direct rail routes to Bhimashankar Temple. The nearest railway station is Pune, 120 km away from the Temple.
• Road – Regular buses are available from Pune from 5:30 AM to 4 PM. A bus also from Kalyan starts at 9 AM and one from Ghatkopar or Kurla at 11 AM.

10. Rameshwar Jyotirlinga – Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu

Rameshwaram Temple is located in Rameshwaram island on Tamil Nadu. This is the southernmost Jyotirlinga. A legend in Ramayana narrates that, Rama committed a sin of killing a Brahmin during his war against the Demon King Ravana. He prayed to Lord Shiva to absolve him of his sin. He asked Hanuman to bring a lingam from the Himalayas. Sita made a small lingam out of the sand and started praying when Hanumana was late. This is believed to be the lingam in the sanctum.

This Jyotirlinga is popularly called ‘Varanasi of the South’. Beside the temple is the Dhanushkodi beach. It is here that Rama built the Ram Setu to save his wife, Sita from the Demon, Ravana. This shrine is also amongst the holy Char Dhams.

Rameshwaram Travel Guide

Rameshwaram Tour Package

What are the Rameshwaram Temple timings?

The mandir is open from 6 in the morning to 8:30 in the night.

What is the best season to visit the Rameshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit the Rameshwaram is:

Winter Season: The month of October to March faces the winters. The temperature stays around 20-degrees to 30-degrees centigrade. It is the peak tourist season. It is best for exploring the various places.

How to reach Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga?

• Air: The nearest airport is in Madurai, which is 174 km from Rameshwaram.
• Road: This major pilgrim site is connected to all cities and towns in Tamil Nadu. Several state-run and private buses are available.
• Train: Rameshwaram Railway station is the nearest railhead, 1 km away from the temple.

11. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga – Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Grishneshwar means ‘Lord of Compassion’. This temple is located in Verul, which is less than a kilometer from Ellora. This temple is also called Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga and Dhushmeshwar Jyotirlinga.

According to a legend in the Shiv Puranas, there lived a childless couple in the called Sudeha and Sudharm in Devagiri Mountain. Sudeha got his husband married to her sister, Ghushma. Soon, Ghushma and Sudharm were blessed with a boy. This left Sudeha jealous. She threw the boy in a lake where Ghushma used to discharge 101 Lingams. On repeated prayers by Ghushma, Lord Shiva returned her son back to her. On the request of Sudharm, Lord Shiva manifested himself here in the name of Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga.

Grishneshwar Travel Guide

Grishneshwar Tour Package

What are the Grishneshwar Jytirlinga timings?

The temple is open from 5:30 am to 11 pm.

TIMINGS	FROM	TO
Darshan	5:30 AM	9:30 PM
Darshan (In Shravan)	3:00 PM	11:00 PM

What the best season to visit the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit the Grishneshwar is:

Winter Season: The months of October to March cover the winters here. This temperature is recommended as the weather stays pleasant. Tourist can freely visit the sights. The temperature remains between 12-degree centigrade to 30-degree centigrade.

How to reach the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga?

• Road: Grishneshwar Temple is well-connected with all major cities via road. From Pune: 256 km/4.5 hours. From Nasik: 187 km/3 hours. From Shirdi: 122 km/2.5 hours
• Train: There are no rail stations at Grisheshwar Temple. Aurangabad is the nearest railway station. Manmad is also closer and better connected.
• Flight: The nearest airport is in Aurangabad, and there are regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Udaipur.

12. Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga – Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Kashi Viswanath Jyotirlinga stands on the western bank of River Ganga, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The name ‘Kashi’ comes from the other name of Varanasi, Kashi. ‘Viswanath’ or ‘Vishveshwar’ means the ‘Ruler of the Universe’. The main deity here is called Vishwanath or Vishveshwar. This jyotirlinga is popularly referred to as ‘The Golden Temple of Varanasi’. It is believed that a dip in the holy Ganges followed by a visit to the jyotirlinga help one attain Moksha. It is also believed that a true devotee of Shiva achieves freedom from death. They are taken directly to Mout Kailash by messengers of Lord Shiva and not Yama after their death. It is also believed that Shiva himself says the mantra of salvation in the ears of the people who die naturally here.

Kashi Travel Guide

Kashi Tour Package

What are the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga timings?

• The Kashi Vishwanath Temple opens daily at 2:30 AM and closes at 11 PM.
• The Mangala Aarti is performed between 3 AM to 4 AM.
• The mid-day Bhog Aarti is performed between 11:30 AM to 12 PM.
• The Sapta Rishi Aarti is performed between 7 PM to 8:30 PM.
• The Shringar Bhog and Aarti are performed at 9 PM.
• The Shayan Aarti starts at 10:30 PM.
• The general darshan timings are 4 AM to 11 AM, 12 PM to 7 PM, and from 8:30 PM to 9 PM.
• After 9 PM, pilgrims are allowed to view the Lord from outside the sanctum.

What the best season to visit the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit the Kashi Vishwanath is:

Winter Season: The months of November to February covers the winters in Varanasi.  The temperature stays between 5-degrees to 15-degrees centigrade. The weather stays pleasant during this time which makes it comfortable for the visitors.

How to reach the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga?

• Air – The nearest airport to the city is Babatpur which is 22 km from Varanasi. Direct flights are operated by Air India as well as other private airlines from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Agra, Bhubaneswar and Lucknow.
• Train – The nearest Railway Station is Varanasi Junction or the Mughal Sarai Junction. Several trains connect the city to almost all major parts of the country like Delhi, Chennai, Howrah, Jammu, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Guwahati.
• Road – The city is located on NH2 highway linking Kolkata to New Delhi. Several buses are available from places like Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad, Patna, Nagpur, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, and Gaya.

12 Jyotirlinga Mantra

12 Jyotirlinga Tour Packages

It is not possible to cover all 12 Jyotirlinga in a single trip because of time constraints and long diatances. It is advisable to cover state by state. For instance you can cover all 5 jyotrilingas in maharashtra and then move on to cover two jyotirlingas in MP and then 2 jyotirlingas in Gujarat and so on.

How many Jyotirling in Maharashtra?

There are five Jyotirlinga present in Maharashtra. These are Bhimshankar, Grishneshwar, and Trimbakeshwar. The other Jyotirlingas are Aundha Nagnath and Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga.

How many Jyotirling in Gujarat?

There are two Jyotirlinga present in Gujarat. These are Somnath and Nageshwar Jyotirlinga. Somnath Jyotirlinga is located in Somnath. Nageshwar is located in Daarukavanam.

How many Jyotirling in MP?

There are two Jyotirlinga present in Madhya Pradesh. These are Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga and Omkareshwar. Mahakaleshwar is situated in Ujjain. Omkareshwar is in Khandwa.