Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram: Adi Shankaracharya's Sacred Verse on the 12 Jyotirlingas
The Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram, attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, names all twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in a single verse. Daily recitation is said to grant the merit of visiting all twelve shrines.
The Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram, attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, names all twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in a single verse. Daily recitation is said to grant the merit of visiting all twelve shrines.
Quick answer: The Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram is a devotional hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya that names all twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in verse. Its most famous line begins 'Saurashtre Somanatham cha Sri Shaile Mallikarjunam.' According to its phalashruti, reciting the stotram daily grants the devotee the spiritual merit of visiting all twelve Jyotirlinga shrines.
Among the countless hymns dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. In a handful of compact verses, it garlands together all twelve of the most sacred Shiva shrines of Bharat, allowing a devotee to invoke each of them from wherever they stand.
Attributed to the great sage and philosopher Adi Shankaracharya, this stotram is chanted daily in homes and temples across India. Its beauty lies in its simplicity: by naming the twelve Jyotirlingas together, it makes the merit of a nationwide pilgrimage accessible through a few minutes of heartfelt recitation.
What is a Jyotirlinga?
The word 'Jyotirlinga' combines 'jyoti' (light or radiance) and 'linga' (the aniconic form of Shiva). A Jyotirlinga is therefore a 'pillar of light' — a place where Lord Shiva is believed to have manifested as an infinite, blazing column of luminous energy.
According to the Shiva Purana, the origin of the Jyotirlingas is tied to a dispute between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu over supremacy. To settle it, Shiva appeared as an endless pillar of light whose beginning and end neither deity could find. From this cosmic manifestation arose the tradition of the Jyotirlingas — self-manifested (svayambhu) shrines of the highest sanctity.
Of the many lingas worshipped across the land, twelve are revered as the Dwadasa (twelve) Jyotirlingas. Each is a powerful centre of pilgrimage, and together they span the length and breadth of India, from Gujarat in the west to Tamil Nadu in the south and Uttarakhand in the north.
The Famous Verse
The best-known portion of the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram is the enumerating verse that names all twelve shrines in order. It is memorised and recited by devotees of every generation:
Saurashtre Somanatham cha Sri Shaile Mallikarjunam | Ujjayinyam Mahakalam Omkaram Amaleshwaram ||
Paralyam Vaidyanatham cha Dakinyam Bhimashankaram | Setubandhe tu Ramesham Nagesham Darukavane ||
Varanasyam tu Vishwesham Trimbakam Gautamitate | Himalaye tu Kedaram Ghushmesham cha Shivalaye ||
Etani jyotirlingani sayam pratah pathennarah | Sapta janma kritam papam smaranena vinashyati ||
In these verses, each name is paired with the region or holy site where that Jyotirlinga resides — a mnemonic map of Shiva's twelve luminous abodes.
The Twelve Jyotirlingas and Their Locations
The stotram names the twelve Jyotirlingas in the following order. Below is a clear reference of each shrine and the place where it stands:
| Jyotirlinga | Location (State) |
|---|---|
| Somnath | Prabhas Patan, Saurashtra (Gujarat) |
| Mallikarjuna | Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh) |
| Mahakaleshwar | Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) |
| Omkareshwar | Khandwa, on the Narmada (Madhya Pradesh) |
| Kedarnath | Himalayas (Uttarakhand) |
| Bhimashankar | Pune district (Maharashtra) |
| Kashi Vishwanath | Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) |
| Trimbakeshwar | Nashik, source of the Godavari (Maharashtra) |
| Vaidyanath | Deoghar (Jharkhand) |
| Nageshwar | Near Dwarka (Gujarat) |
| Rameshwaram | Rameswaram island (Tamil Nadu) |
| Grishneshwar | Near Ellora, Aurangabad (Maharashtra) |
Together, these twelve shrines form the supreme circuit of Shiva pilgrimage in Sanatana Dharma. Completing all twelve in a single lifetime is considered one of the most meritorious journeys a devotee can undertake.
Meaning of the Phalashruti
Every stotram concludes with a phalashruti — a statement of the fruit or benefit of recitation. The phalashruti of the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram declares that one who recites these verses naming the Jyotirlingas, both morning and evening (sayam pratah), is freed from the sins accumulated over seven lifetimes.
More than this, tradition holds that daily recitation of the stotram grants the devotee the same spiritual merit as physically visiting and darshaning all twelve Jyotirlinga shrines. For those unable to travel the vast distances between Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu and beyond, the stotram becomes a portable pilgrimage — the whole sacred geography of Shiva held within a few sacred lines.
Benefits of Reciting the Stotram
- Grants the spiritual merit of visiting all twelve Jyotirlinga shrines from wherever one is.
- Believed to cleanse sins accumulated across several lifetimes when recited with devotion.
- Invokes the blessings, protection and grace of Lord Shiva.
- Steadies and focuses the mind, cultivating bhakti and inner peace.
- A simple daily practice suitable for devotees of all ages, requiring only sincerity.
When and How to Chant
The stotram can be recited on any day, but certain occasions are considered especially auspicious for the worship of Lord Shiva:
- Mondays (Somvar): The day of the week dedicated to Lord Shiva, ideal for daily Shiva stotram recitation.
- Maha Shivaratri: The great night of Shiva, when devotees stay awake in worship — a most powerful time to chant.
- Sawan / Shravan month: The holy month beloved of Shiva devotees, when temple worship and stotra-paath multiply in merit.
- Morning and evening (sayam pratah): The stotram itself recommends twice-daily recitation for the fullest benefit.
To chant, sit facing a clean space or a Shiva image or linga after a bath. Light a lamp or incense if possible, calm the mind, and recite the verses slowly with attention to each Jyotirlinga's name. Beginners may keep the transliterated text in front of them; with regular practice, the famous verse is easily committed to memory.
It is the sincerity and steadiness of the devotion, rather than perfect pronunciation, that matters most. Chanting even once daily with a loving heart is said to draw the grace of Mahadeva.
A Pilgrimage in a Few Verses
The genius of Adi Shankaracharya's Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram is that it unites the whole of Shaiva India in a single breath of devotion. From Somnath on the Arabian sea to Rameshwaram in the deep south, from Kedarnath in the snow-clad Himalayas to Kashi Vishwanath on the banks of the Ganga, the twelve luminous abodes of Shiva are gathered into the devotee's own home.
Whether or not one ever undertakes the long physical journey, this stotram lets every devotee stand daily before all twelve Jyotirlingas in spirit — and in that remembrance, receive the boundless grace of Lord Shiva.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram?
The Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, the great 8th-century philosopher-saint who composed many devotional hymns to Lord Shiva and other deities.
What does the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram contain?
It is a short devotional hymn that names all twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in verse, pairing each shrine with its sacred location, and concludes with a phalashruti describing the benefits of recitation.
What is the famous verse of this stotram?
The best-known verse begins 'Saurashtre Somanatham cha Sri Shaile Mallikarjunam, Ujjayinyam Mahakalam Omkaram Amaleshwaram,' which lists the Jyotirlingas one after another along with their locations.
What is a Jyotirlinga?
A Jyotirlinga is a 'pillar of light' — a shrine where Lord Shiva is believed to have manifested as an infinite radiant column of light. There are twelve principal Jyotirlingas spread across India, revered as the holiest Shiva shrines.
What is the benefit of reciting the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram daily?
According to its phalashruti, reciting it morning and evening frees a devotee from sins of seven lifetimes and grants the spiritual merit of visiting all twelve Jyotirlinga shrines, even without physically travelling to them.
Which are the twelve Jyotirlingas?
They are Somnath (Gujarat), Mallikarjuna (Srisailam), Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain), Omkareshwar (MP), Kedarnath (Uttarakhand), Bhimashankar (Maharashtra), Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi), Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra), Vaidyanath (Deoghar), Nageshwar (Gujarat), Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu) and Grishneshwar (Maharashtra).
When is the best time to chant the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram?
It can be chanted any day, but Mondays, the month of Sawan (Shravan), and Maha Shivaratri are especially auspicious. The stotram itself recommends reciting it both morning and evening.
Do I need to visit the shrines to gain the benefit?
No. The special grace of this stotram is that daily recitation is said to grant the merit of darshan at all twelve Jyotirlingas, making it a spiritual pilgrimage accessible from one's own home.
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