Jyotirlinga :The Story of Light
There is a holy place called “Jwala Mukhi” in the valleys of the Himalayas. A fire, emerging from the very core of earth, burns constantly, lighting up the entire area. The Lord Parameshwara Himself, Shubhankar Shankar, has taken an incarnation of the Eternal Light. The place is always bustling with large numbers of devotees wanting to get a Darshan or glimpse of this Light or Jyoti.
This miraculous light can be seen in the following places. At all these places, fairs or Melas are held for devotees. These are:
“Saurashtre Somanathamcha Srisaile Malliarjunam ||
Ujjayinyam Mahakalam Omkaramamaleswaram ||
Prajwalyam Vaidyanathancha Dakinyam Bheema Shankaram ||
Setu Bandhethu Ramesam, Nagesam Darukavane ||
Varanasyantu Vishwesam Tryambakam Gautameethate ||
Himalayetu Kedarm, Ghrishnesamcha vishalake ||”
Mahadev means, the Lord who incorporates in Himself, the aura and the holiness of all the twelve JyotirLingas. The grandeur of these places is unique. Devotees line up in great numbers to take a look and get a Darshan of all the JyotirLingas. It is possible that once all the twelve JyotirLingas might have been like the “Jwalamukhi” or the Fire-face but now wonderful Siva temples have bean constructed at these places.
Two on the sea shore, three on river banks, four in the heights of the mountains and three in villages located in meadows; the twelve JyotirLingas are spread out like this. Every place has been described in glorious words by many detailing the surroundings etc.
Those of us who go to these temples of Shubhankar Shankar-JyotiSivasthan, receive the holy blessings of the Lord, and come back happy, peaceful and blessed. This in indeed depends on one’s devotion and experience too.
There are innumerable Lingas with a great aura and presence. But the main ones are just twelve: Somnath in Sourashtra, Mallikarjuna in Srirailam, Mahakal in Ujjain, Omkareshwar in Vindhaypradesh, Kedar in the mountain range of Himalayas, Bhimashamar in Dakini, Visweswar in Varanasi, Tryambakamm on the banks of Gomti, Vaidyanath in Chintabhoomi, Nagesh in Darukavan in Ayodhya, Rameshwar in Setubandh Rameshwaram, and Ghrishneswar in Devsarovar. Those who chant the Dwadasa JyotirLinga Stotram or prayer will attain salvation and enlightenment and be released from this cycle of human existence with all its travails. By worshipping the Lingas, people of all castes, creeds and colour would be freed from all difficulties. By eating the holy offering made to these Lingas (Naive yam) one would be rid of all the sins instantly.
As a matter of fact, we do the Darshan of the JyotirLingas as a part of our daily life. Sun, Fire and Light etc, are indeed a part of that great Light. We experience the great joy of reading these everyday.
“Om tatsarviturvarenye” these magical words of the Gayatri mantra or chant invoke Lord Surya or Sun, who awakens the human intellect. By chanting this powerful Mantra, humans can obtain divine Power to their life-light or Atmajyothi.
The aura of the Sunrays and the various benefits that can be derived there from is indeed a difficult task to describe. This gorgeous life-light is the only thing that is responsible for the activity in the universe. We salute this life force. We hereby worship Sun God. We offer holy water. Oh, Sun Light is the only reality. It is the only constant thing. Everything else is a myth.
“Agni” or fire is a great light. For all the activities on the earth, “Fire” is the pivot. We bow our heads in respect. We pray to thee always. Here is a small description of Sun or Surya and Fire or Agni: “Saa ajmen varti samyuktam, Vamihinayojitam-maya. Deepam grishna devesha, tri-lokya timirapaha” we salute this great light.
Deepajyoti or light and its greatness, is known to all of us, and we offer our prayers. Let us celebrate the glory of light. Light is offered a place of pride at welcome celebrations and on all auspicious occasions.
“Shubham karoti kalyanam Arogyam Dhanasampada |
Shatru buddhi vinashaya Deepa Jyoti namostute ||
”This light removes the darkness from the lives of one and all. Darkness means ignorance and it is destroyed by this light. The natured light of sun God makes all our wishes come true, when we take a Darshan of it.
Thus, by taking a Darshan of the twelve JyotirLingas, the auspicious air surrounding it and the holy pilgrimage, will bring happiness, peace and satisfaction to all.