12
Jyotirlinga of Lord Shankar
According to Linga Purana once Brahma and
Vishnu started fighting over who was the supreme being. Suddenly, there
appeared a Sivalinga before them as a huge column of fire. Both of them
decided to find one end each. Whoever returned first would be acknowledged
as supreme. Vishnu assumed the form of a boar and went down. Brahma, in the
form of a swan, flew upwards. They searched for days but in vain. Then Shiva
appeared in the fiery column. Brahma and Vishnu realised their mistake and
acknowledged Shiva as the Supreme Being. The Shivalinga represents that
column of fire as 12 Jyotirlingas.
There are 12 famous Jyotirlingas where Lord
Shiva appeared in the form of light (Jyothi) lingam. These have been
worshipped from time immemorial. They are mentioned in the Dwadasa
Jyotirlinga Stotra given here.
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