A devotional representation of “SHIVA“. A compound of JYOTIS (‘radiance’) and LINGA (‘sign’). The Śiva Mahapuranam mentions 64 original jyotirlinga shrines
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, located in Vishwanath Gali in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is one of the most revered Hindu temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva. As one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines, it is an important pilgrimage site for millions of devotees. The temple’s presiding deity, Vishwanath, also known as Vishweshwara, means “Lord of the Universe.”
Vishweshwara is described as the supreme deity of Varanasi, ruling over all other gods and the entire area known as the Panchkoshi, a sacred region that stretches 50 miles around the city.
Varanasi is the first Jyotirlinga to manifest. It is believed that when Lord Shiva appeared as an infinite column of light (Jyotirlinga) before Brahma and Vishnu, both gods were unable to trace its origin. Brahma falsely claimed he had located the top of the column, while Vishnu humbly admitted his inability to find its source. As a result, Shiva cursed Brahma, decreeing that he would no longer be revered, while Vishnu would be equally honored alongside Shiva.
The Jyotirlinga is considered an ancient symbol of the axis mundi, representing Shiva’s formless (nirguna) essence, from which his manifest form (saguna) appears. The twelve Jyotirlingas are significant sites where Shiva is believed to have appeared as a fiery column of light, with each temple representing a different manifestation of the god. These shrines are sacred to followers of Lord Shiva.
