Jyotiba Temple, Kolhapur

Shri Jyotiba or Kedareshvar is incarnation of Bramha, Vishnu, Mahesh and part of sage Jamadgni’s anger; and shine of 12 sun. 

It is another story that Adishakti created another set of Tridev i.e. Bramha, Vishnu and Mahesh which was 100 times more powerful than original Tridev to down their ego; when her motive become successful she ordered her newly created trideva to come again when she will call for her help. 

When Kolhasura & his army was ruling at karvir kshetra with full of unjust mehods Mahalaxmi decided to go back karvir at this time she called the trideva & they appeared in hands of Mata Vimalambuja, in the form flame.

After knowing Mata’s wish that flame took form of eight years child bearing khadag (Sward), Damaru (Drum) Trishul (Trident) and Amrut Patra (Pot filled with nectar).

History of Temple : There was a small temple in the place of today’s Jyotiba’s big temple. The original temple is built by the devotee named Naavji from village kival near Karad. In 1730, Maharaja Ranoji Shinde of Gwalior renovated the original place in a grand place. This temple is simple and has been constructed with fine black basalt stone.

The other (second) Kedareshvar temple is particularly standing without pillars. This temple is build about 155 years ago means in 1808 by Doulatrao Shinde. There is Chopdai Temple present in between Kedarling and Kedareshvar temple which is built by Pritirao Chavan, Himmatbahadur in 1750. So particularly this is a group of three temples.

The 4th Temple of Goddess Rameshwari has built in 1780 by Malji Nikam, Panhalakar. In front of Kedareshvar, on a small square platform, there are two nandi’s in black stone. This is also installed by Daulatrao Shinde. On the east side of temple there is a Goddess Satvai facing towards east. On west side of temple Shree Ramling is situated facing towards east. At five to six places of temple wall, the veergal stones are fixed.

"Shri Kedarnath has established twelve Jyotirlingas around Jyotiba Mountain, so he is also called as Jyotirling. In order to establish the twelve Jyotirlingas, they first established Badrikedar ling in the remembrance of their original place in Himalaya so it is called as Kedarling too.

Mahakaleshwar darshan

 🔴 दि.15-12-2023 श्री महाकालेश्वर जी का भस्म आरती श्रृंगार दर्शन #mahakaal #mahakaleshwar  #ujjain

Mahakaleshwar Temple Ujjain

 🙏🌹जय श्री महाकाल 🌹🙏

श्री महाकालेश्वर ज्योतिर्लिंग उज्जैन आज के भस्मारती शृंगार दर्शन 

Shri Mahakaleshwar of Ujjayini is known among the twelve celebrated Jyotirlingas in India. 

The glory of Mahakaleshwar temple has been vividly described in various Purans. Starting with Kalidasa, many sanskrit poets have eulogized this temple in emotive terms. 

Ujjain used to be the central point for calculation of Indian time and Mahakala was considered as the distinctive presiding deity of Ujjain.The presiding deity of time, Shiva, in all his splendor, reigns eternal in Ujjain. 

The temple of Mahakaleshwar, its shikhara soaring into the skies, an imposing façade against the skyline, evokes primordial awe and reverence with its majesty. The Mahakal dominates the life of the city and its people, even in the midst of the busy routine of modern preoccupations, and provides an unbreakable link with past traditions. 

One of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India, the lingam at the Mahakal is believed to be swayambhu (born of itself), deriving currents of power (Shakti) from within itself as against the other images and lingams which are ritually established and invested with mantra-shakti. 

The idol of Mahakaleshwar is known to be dakshinamurti, facing the South. This is a unique feature, upheld by tantric tradition to be found only in Mahakaleshwar among the 12 jyotirlingas. The idol of Omkareshwar Shiva is consecrated in the sanctum above the Mahakal shrine. 

The images of Ganesh, Parvati and Karttikeya are installed in the west, north and east of the sanctum sanctorum. To the south is the image of Nandi. The idol of Nagchandreshwar on the third storey is open for darshan only on the day of Nagpanchami.On the day of Mahashivaratri, a huge fair is held near the temple, and worship goes on through the night.

Somnath temple

 श्री सोमनाथ महादेव मंदिर,

प्रथम ज्योतिर्लिंग - गुजरात (सौराष्ट्र)

दिनांकः 14 दिसंबर 2023, मार्गशीर्ष शुक्ल द्वितीया - गुरूवार 

प्रातः शृंगार

The Somnath temple

The intricately carved honey-coloured Somnath temple on the western edge of the state is believed to be the place where the first of the twelve holy jyotirlingas emerged in India – a spot where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. 

According to popular mythology, the Moon God erected Somnath Mahadev Temple to express appreciation to Lord Shiva. The temple is constructed in the Chalukya style, with several pillars, however Jain architectural features may be found in certain places.

The temples lies at the meeting of Kapila, Hiran and Sarasvati rivers and the waves of the Arabian Sea ebb and flow touching the shore on which it is constructed. 

The ancient temple’s timeline can be traced from 649 BC but is believed to be older than that. The present form was reconstructed in 1951. Colourful dioramas of the Shiva story line the north side of the temple garden, though it’s hard to see them through the hazy glass. A one-hour sound-and-light show in Amitabh Bachchan’s baritone highlights the temple nightly at 7.45pm.

Brief History: It’s said that Somraj (the moon god) first built a temple in Somnath, made of gold; this was rebuilt by Ravana in silver, by Krishna in wood and by Bhimdev in stone. The current serene, symmetrical structure was built to traditional designs on the original coastal site: it’s painted a creamy colour and boasts a little fine sculpture. The large, black Shiva lingam at its heart is one of the 12 most sacred Shiva shrines, known as jyotirlinga.

A description of the temple by Al-Biruni, an Arab traveller, was so glowing that it prompted a visit in 1024 by a most unwelcome tourist – the legendary looter Mahmud of Ghazni from Afghanistan. 

At that time, the temple was so wealthy that it had 300 musicians, 500 dancing girls and even 300 barbers. Mahmud of Ghazni took the town and temple after a two-day battle in which it’s said 70,000 defenders died. Having stripped the temple of its fabulous wealth, Mahmud destroyed it. 

So began a pattern of destruction and rebuilding that continued forcenturies. The temple was again razed in 1297, 1394 and finally in 1706 by Aurangzeb, the Mughal ruler. After that, the temple wasn’t rebuilt until 1950.

The present Somnath Temple was reconstructed in the Māru-Gurjara style of Hindu temple architecture.

Standing tall on the shores of the Arabian Sea, the temple is an architectural wonder, showcasing beautiful Māru-Gurjara style of architecture. It was on the orders of the first Deputy Prime Minister of India Vallabhbhai Patel that the reconstruction of the temple took place.

A hub of spirituality seekers
The place is a hub for spirituality seekers. Being one of the Jyotirlinga temples, it is visited by lakhs of devotees every year. It is believed that these 12 Jyotirlingas are self-manifested and are symbolic of Shiva’s eternal power.