Thondai Nadu Paadal Petra Shiva Stalangal - OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=z54HFu7mukQs.k-fkWJP6cBxM

JYOTHIR LINGA DHARISANAM

SHIVA LINGAM:

The Sanskrit word ‘Lingam’ means symbol. Thus the literal meaning of Shiva Lingam is the symbol of Shiva. The Supreme Shiva doesn’t have a form and every form is his form. The Shiva Lingam represents him, the Supreme Shiva¸ who is formless. The way when we see a smoke, we infer the presence of fire, the moment we see Shiva Lingam we immediately visualize the existence of the Supreme Shiva. 

Shiva Lingam worship is one of the most popular forms of worship offered by Hindus. Every town, cities, villages, blocks will have at least on temple with Shiva Lingam. However, of all the Shiva Lingams, few carry special importance with them and have been referred in Vedas and Puranas. The important of them are:

JYOTHIR LINGAMS

PANCHA BHUTHA LINGAMS

JYOTHIR LINGAM:

India is a country with thousand race, the land of thousands beliefs and the abode of a million Gods.  The most important pilgrim centers particularly for the Shaivities are 12 Jyotirlingas which are situated in different parts of India. 

Reference of these Jyotirlingas are also found in the Shiv Purana. They are called Jyotirlingas because Lord Shiva is said to have revealed himself to his devotees in the form of Jyothi [light]. 

Even today devotees are said to have got his darshan in the form of jyothi at these places. The 12 Jyotirlinga shrines, popularly known as the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga shrines are considered to be very holy by the Hindus. The Jyotirlingas have held an important position in the Indian belief system. The Jyotirlinga temples have a rich tradition and each temple has a legend attached to it. They are situated in different parts of India. 

The northernmost Jyotirlinga is located in the snow clad Himalayas at Kedarnath. 

The southernmost Jyotirlinga is situated at Rameswaram. 

These temples provide a fine view of Indian architecture and definitely add to the rich glory and tradition of Indian history. These places are a must visit both in terms of pilgrimage and as tourist destinations. 

The 12 Jyothirlinga temples are the following :-

• Lord Somnath - Somnath - Gujarat.
• Lord Mallikarjuna - Srisailam - Andhra Pradesh
• Lord Mahakaleswar - Ujjain - Madhya Pradesh
• Lord Omkareswar/Amaleswar - Omkareshwar - Madhya Pradesh
• Lord Vaidyanath - Parli - Maharashtra /                                                                         Lord Baidyanath - Deogarh - Jharkhand
• Lord Bhimshankar - Bhimshankar - Pune - Maharashtra
• Lord Ramanathaswamy - Rameshwaram - Tamilnadu
• Lord Nageswar - Darukavanam - Dwarka _ Gujarat /                                                  Lord Nagnath - Aundha - Maharashtra.
• Lord Vishwanath - Varanasi - Uttara Pradesh
• Lord Trimbakeshwar - Trimbak - Maharashtra
• Lord Kedarnath - Himalaya range - Uttarakhand
• Lord Grishneswar - Ellora caves - Aurangabad - Maharastra