Top 10 Lord Shiva Temples in India | Famous Jyotirlingas

India is a country with the most different and yet interesting and amazing religious practices. Here one can find the tallest mountain peaks reaching the skies having temples on top with a background of myths and scientific, and great knowledge. Lord Shiva, one of the gods of trinity is the most loved and worshiped one....

Hinduism is quite a mystical religion, which has many gods and goddesses. Among them all only one deity is famous for being the almighty but at the same time most lovable and that is Lord Shiva...

It is the Shiva shrines in India that are the most marvelous and spectacular temples of the country. Some of them became popular due to their uniqueness and style, others - due to their history - are for a long time and make many people curious....

Spiritual Importance of Lord Shiva Temples

Shiva temples in India are not only the places where Hindus go to do their worship. Each Shiva shrine is a puroksha (temple) - a place of Shiva's cosmic dance, representing the most powerful practices of the world!

• Some of the most famous Lord Shiva temples are such as Kedarnath and Somnath, which are considered very important places for pilgrimage in India.
• Each one of the Jyotirlinga temples is a manifestation of the Shiva's infinite light. It is said that the visit to all 12 Jyotirlingas brings moksha (liberation).
• On the night of the Maha Shivaratri Tridandi and other Brahmachari perform severe penance fasting. The whole night they chant the sacred mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" and visit the most powerful Shiva temples to get blessings.
• Architecturally, these temples are the most elegant examples in India of ancient and traditional designs coming together with art and spirituality.

Top 10 Lord Shiva Temples in India

1. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is a main Shiva abode of India. It is hovering the life of the universe under the blessing of the Holy Ganges Basin. Shiva Vishwanath is known as the One Who Rules the Universe besides being the absolute God of Kashi and therefore the city of salvation got its name from.

• Myth: The cause of release from the cycle of rebirths and deaths is the experience of seeing Lord Vishwanath at Kashi with one's own eyes.
• Style: The temple's gold-plated shikhara is almost absolutely covered with more than 800 kgs of gold that is used for more than 800 kgs of gold and thus a very attractive and striking view of the city from the air can be seen is there.
• Religious Aspect: Kashi Vishwanath is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples that are the most sacred.
• Time to Visit: At the time of Maha Shivaratri or the divine month of Shravan.

2. Somnath Temple, Gujarat

The Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple is the eldest of the twelve Jyotirlingas and is one of the top ten western Shiva temples of India.

• Myth: It is believed that the Moon god (Chandra) requested Shva at this very place for the return of his lost brilliance.
• Historical Insight: Somnath was destroyed and rebuilt various times and accordingly its history speaks of the past wars and the power of the Creator.
• Architectural Aspect: The temple showing the Chalukya-style architecture is an amazing one that is situated at the Arabian Sea and is a great attraction that complements the stunning.
• Time to Visit: October to March and especially on Maha Shivaratri.

3. Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand

Kedarnath in the Himalayas at an elevation of 3,583 meters is the first holy Shiva temple of North India and is also one of the Char Dham Yatra.

• Myth: The story is that the Pandavas went to Shiva to seek forgiveness after the Kurukshetra war. Shiva changed into a bull and made his way into Kedarnath but he only released his back that being the place worshipped now.
• Religious Power: It is one of the most sacred Shiva temples during the time of Maha Shivaratri and the month of Shravan.
• Time to Visit: May to October (the temple is closed in the winter due to snow).

4. Brihadeeswarar Temple, Tamil Nadu

Brihadeeswarar or Thanjavur Big Temple is also one of the stunning South Indian Shiva temples.

• Architecture: The temple of the 11-century-old made by Raja Raja Chola I is at present one of the World Heritage Sites of UNESCO.
• Significance: The gigantic Shiva Lingam and the tallest vimana (temple tower) are the most impressive features of the Dravidian temple architecture.
• Time to Visit: The temple festival and cultural festivals of Tamil Nadu.

5. Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)

Mahakaleshwar, one of the most sacred Jyotirlinga temples - is located on the bank of the Kshipra River.

• Special Characteristic: The Bhasma Aarti is the most important event of the temple when the ritual of the holy ash making is done to the god by the priest.
• Folklore: It is claimed that the Mahakaleshwar helps the devotees by freeing them from premature death.
• Time to Visit: The temple and celebrations happen only during Maha Shivaratri.

6. Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu)

The temple of Pamban Island is among the top 10 most famous Shiva temples in the southern part of India and one of the several Jyotirlinga.

• Myth: The Ramayana tells a story that Lord Rama created a lingam at this place to get Shiva's blessings before crossing the sea to Lanka.
• Decor: The temple is famous for having the longest temple corridors in the entire world.

The most wonderful period to go to the place: Great weather from November to March.

7. Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneswar (Odisha)

Lingaraja Temple is a marvellous architecture of Kalinga and, despite this, it is relatively unknown, historically, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

• Root: It was originally constructed in the 11th century and combined the rituals and beliefs of Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
• Power: The big lingam at the temple is reported to have come into existence all by itself.

The most wonderful period to go to the place: The days of Shivaratri and the Ratha Yatra festival.

8. Amarnath Cave Temple, Jammu & Kashmir

Amarnath Cave is the number one on the list of the most powerful Shiva temples and is famous for the Shiva Lingam of ice that is formed naturally in the cave.

• Myth: In this very place, it is believed that Shiva was imparting the secret of immortality to Parvati.
• The Place of Power: The miraculous Amarnath Yatra is the holy pilgrimage when millions of devotees attend and trek the Himalayan trail to get divine blessings.

The most wonderful period to go to the place: The yatra season July–August.

9. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Dwarka (Gujarat)

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, along with the other Jyotirlingas, is merely a short distance from Dwarka, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites.

• Legend: It is mentioned that Lord Shiva killed the demon Daruka at this place and as a result, he protected his devotee.
• The Great Thing Most People Do Not Know: At the fabulous 25-metre height Shiva statue of the temple that is right in front of the temple, worshippers eye it immediately and they get attracted to it without much effort.

The most wonderful period to go to the place: At the time of Maha Shivaratri or during the winters.

10. Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, Tamil Nadu

Chidambaram Nataraja Temple in South India, the most famous temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is the one where Shiva is worshipped as a cosmic dancer (Nataraja).

• Interesting Point: The temple is the first one to reveal the concept of Chidambaram Rahasya—the secret of the universe.
• The Sanctum Sanctorum: The temple has Shivalinga, His holy wives Parvati and Kali, and the five natural elements — earth, water, fire, air, and ether.

The most wonderful period to go to the place: The time of the Natyanjali Dance Festival is December–January.

Best Time to Visit Lord Shiva Temples in India

• Maha Shivaratri: The most auspicious time, the celebration being common among all famous Lord Shiva temples.

Shravan Month (July–August): Considered very holy for worship.

Winter Season (October–March): Most parts of the country allow comfortable traveling, thus this season is great for traveling.

The best time to visit the Himalayan shrines like Kedarnath and Amarnath is during the summer months (May–October).

Cultural & Architectural Diversity of Shiva Temples

Shiva temples in North India: Generally, the temples are constructed in Nagara style and have spires (shikharas). For instance, Kedarnath.

• Shiva temples in South India: In the Dravidian style temples are characterized by towering gopurams. For example, Brihadeeswarar.
• Western temples: Mostly a mix of Shaivism and local worship traditions.
• Example: Lingaraja.

This contrast is Indian temple's widespread Hindu heritage.

Hidden & Lesser-Known Shiva Temples

Despite the top ten most visited being the most popular, there are Lord Shiva temples that are hidden and have a long and rich history:

• Tarakeshwar Temple, West Bengal.
• Bhavnath Temple, Gujarat.
• Baidyanath Dham (Deoghar, Jharkhand) - a Jyotirlinga as well, but usually overlooked by casual travelers.

There might be times when these shrines do not show up on tourist lists, they are still filled with spiritual energy.

Travel Tips for Visiting Lord Shiva Temples

• Dress Code: Traditional dressing is always the preferred choice for South Indian temples.
• Etiquette: Take off your shoes, keep quiet and obey the local customs.
• Timing: The best time you can go for darshan is when the early morning and evening aarti are going on.
• Pilgrimage Essentials: Make sure you have water, prasad, and the necessary permits (for Amarnath Yatra).
• Connectivity: Temples by and large can be accessed through road and rail; most big cities have airports not far away.

Conclusion

Visiting the Top 10 Lord Shiva Temples in India is nothing less than a spiritual journey. It doesn’t matter if it is the holiness of Jyotirlingas of Somnath, Kashi, and Kedarnath or the breathtaking architecture of Chidambaram and Brihadeeswarar, every temple echoes the divinity of Mahadev.

If to pinpoint the exact time for going to Shiva temples in India, it would have to definitely be the nights of Maha Shivaratri or the month of Shravan when the cosmic powers are said to reach their zenith. Such a tour is filled with scenes of soul-moving devotion whether you opt to free yourself of the cycle of birth and death, mop off the divine grace, or simply become the witness of the Hindu temples’ architectural grandeur in India.

Ultimately, Shiva is omnipresent - “Bholenath”, the lord of simplicity, is not only in majestic temples but also in the hearts of the devotees. Visiting these temples keeps us connected to his cosmic energy and reminds us of the eternal truth: “Om Namah Shivaya.”

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