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• Nearest City: Veraval
• Highlight: First among the 12, located by the Arabian Sea
• ✈️ Airport: Diu (90 km)

✅ Uniqueness:

• Known as the protector from all poisons.

• Giant 80-ft Shiva statue attracts global attention.

📜 Historical Facts:

• Mentioned in the Shiv Purana as Darukavana.

• Nageshwar means "Lord of the Serpents".

🧠 People’s Beliefs:

• Devotees visit for relief from toxic relationships, health issues, and mental stress.

🔱 Backstory:

• Shiva manifested here to protect a devotee named Supriya from the demon Daruka who imprisoned him in a forest of snakes.

✅ Uniqueness:

• Only Jyotirlinga with three lingams symbolizing Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh.

📜 Historical Facts:

• Temple built in 18th century by Peshwa Balaji Bajirao.

• Source of the Godavari River — one of India's holiest rivers.

🧠 People’s Beliefs:

• Best place to perform Kaal Sarp Dosh and Narayan Nagbali puja.

• Ideal for ancestral liberation (Pitru dosh).

🔱 Backstory:

• Sage Gautama was cursed for killing a cow. To seek forgiveness, he prayed to Shiva who created River Godavari to cleanse his sins.

✅ Uniqueness:

• Located in the dense forests of the Sahyadris, offering peace and wildlife sightings.

• Source of Bhima River.

📜 Historical Facts:

• Temple built in 13th century, a mix of Nagara and Hemadpanthi architecture.

• Declared a wildlife sanctuary and part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.

🧠 People’s Beliefs:

• Protects devotees from evil energies and ensures mental peace.

🔱 Backstory:

• Shiva appeared to slay demon Tripurasura who was terrorizing heaven and earth. His sweat formed the Bhima river.

✅ Uniqueness:

• The smallest Jyotirlinga temple, yet deeply spiritual.

• Only temple where devotees can touch the Shivling directly.

📜 Historical Facts:

• Rebuilt by Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century.

• Near the UNESCO Ellora Caves, making it archaeologically significant.

🧠 People’s Beliefs:

• Worshipped by couples for marital harmony and fertility.

🔱 Backstory:

• Devotee Kusuma’s son was killed by co-wives. She continued her worship, and Shiva resurrected her child and appeared as Grishneshwar.

✅ Uniqueness:

• Located on an island shaped like ‘ॐ’ (Om) in River Narmada.

📜 Historical Facts:

• Temple features classical Nagara-style architecture.

• Mentions in Skanda Purana and Shiva Purana.

🧠 People’s Beliefs:

• Enhances mental clarity, peace, and yogic energy.

🔱 Backstory:

• Shiva appeared here to bless King Mandhata and to defeat demons threatening sages. Hence called Omkareshwar (Om + Ishwar = Lord of Om).

✅ Uniqueness:

• Only south-facing Jyotirlinga; associated with Tantra practices.

• Famous for Bhasma Aarti performed daily using fresh cremation ash.

📜 Historical Facts:

• Mentioned by Kalidasa and revered in Mahabharata.

• One of the seven Moksha Puris (cities of salvation).

🧠 People’s Beliefs:

• Offers protection from untimely death (Mahakaal = conqueror of time).

🔱 Backstory:

• A demon Dushana disturbed sages. Shiva appeared as Mahakaleshwar and destroyed him, choosing to stay in Ujjain forever.

✅ Uniqueness:

• Located in the world’s oldest living city—Varanasi.

• Shiva is believed to whisper salvation mantras into the ears of the dying here.

📜 Historical Facts:

• Rebuilt many times; current structure by Ahilyabai Holkar in 1780.

• Recently restored through Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project.

🧠 People’s Beliefs:

• Moksha is guaranteed by dying or being cremated here.

🔱 Backstory:

• Shiva refused to leave this city, saying “Kashi is my eternal abode.”

• Goddess Parvati once asked what place Shiva loved most — he replied “Kashi.”

✅ Uniqueness:

• Shiva here is known as the “Healer of the Gods” (Vaidya = physician).

📜 Historical Facts:

• One of the few Jyotirlingas also considered a Shakti Peetha (Sati’s heart fell here).

• Structure influenced by Nagara architecture.

🧠 People’s Beliefs:

• Ideal for those seeking healing from disease or addiction.

🔱 Backstory:

• Ravana offered 10 heads here to appease Shiva. Shiva came to heal him and earned the name Vaidyanath.

✅ Uniqueness:

• Highest Jyotirlinga at 11,750 feet, surrounded by snow-clad Himalayas.

• Accessible only 6 months a year.

📜 Historical Facts:

• Said to be built by Pandavas, renovated by Adi Shankaracharya.

• Survived the deadly 2013 flash floods miraculously.

🧠 People’s Beliefs:

• A must-visit for those seeking absolution of karmic sins.

🔱 Backstory:

• Shiva turned into a bull to avoid the Pandavas. They chased him, and he vanished into the earth—his hump reappeared here.

✅ Uniqueness:

• Symbol of unity between Shaivism and Vaishnavism.

• Temple has the longest corridor in any Hindu temple (over 1200 pillars).

📜 Historical Facts:

• Built by the Pandya dynasty, enhanced by Rama devotees.

• Near the starting point of the mythical Ram Setu.

🧠 People’s Beliefs:

• Performing ritual baths in 22 theerthams cleanses past life karma.

🔱 Backstory:

• Lord Rama worshipped Shiva here to absolve sin of killing Ravana (a Brahmin). He built a lingam from sand.

✅ Uniqueness:

• Both a Jyotirlinga and Shakti Peetha (Bhramaramba).

• Situated on a scenic hill in Nallamala Forest.

📜 Historical Facts:

• Temple inscriptions date back to Satavahana and Chalukya periods.

🧠 People’s Beliefs:

• Brings blessings of health, marital harmony, and divine grace.

🔱 Backstory:

• Shiva and Parvati came to Srisailam after their son Kartikeya left Mount Kailash. They stayed here to console him.