Jyotirlinga or Jyotirling or Jyotirlingam is a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva where Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam or "Lingam of Light". There are said to be twelve Jyotirlinga shrines in India although their location is not consistently identified. The Jyotirlingas look like any other Shiva Linga. However, it is believed that a person who has attained a certain degree of spirituality sees these lingas as columns of fire piercing through the earth.
There are 12 famous Jyotirlingas where Lord Shiva appeared in the form of light (Jyothi) lingam. These have been worshipped from time immemorial. They are mentioned in the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotra and are enshrined in following temples. Please click on the links to know more about the significance of each of these Jyotirlingas.
According to a legend of Lingodbhavamurthy narrated in Linga Purana, once Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma were fighting to prove who was the Supreme Being. At this point, Lord Shiva appeared as a flaming Linga and challenged the duo to measure the gigantic Linga (phallic symbol of Lord Shiva). Brahma and Vishnu decided to find one end each and declared that whoever returned first would be acknowledged as supreme. Vishnu assumed the form of a boar and went down. Brahma, in the form of a swan, flew upwards. They searched for days but in vain and returned to the starting point exhausted and bewildered. At that moment, the central part of the pillar split open and Shiva revealed himself in his full glory. Brahma and Vishnu realized their mistake and acknowledged Shiva as the Supreme Being.
Since it was on the 14th day in the dark half of the month of Phalguna that Shiva first manifested himself in the form of a Linga, the day is especially auspicious and is celebrated as Mahashivaratri. Worshipping Shiva on this day is believed to bestow one with happiness and prosperity. Also read The Legend of Shiva Linga
Jyotirlinga shrines are held in great reverence in Hinduism. Puranas talk in detail about the significance of greatness of the Jyotirlingas. It goes on to say that by reciting the name of 12 Jyotirlinga a devotee can eliminate all the sins. Besides, the devotee becomes calm, chaste and pure as he becomes illuminated and enlightened with supreme and divine knowledge. The names mentioned for the benefits of all are:
Saurashtra Somnatham Cha Shrishaile Mallikarjunam ||
Ujjainyam Mahakalomkare Mammaleshwaram ||
Parlyam Vaijnatham Cha Dakinyam Bheem Shankaram ||
Setu Bandhe Tu Ramesham Nagesham Daruka Vane ||
Varanasya Tu Vishwesham Tribakam Gautamitate ||
Himalaye Tu Kedaram Ghurmesham Cha Shivalaye ||
Aetani Jyotirlingani Sayam Prataha Pathennaraha ||
Sapta Janma Kritam Papam Smaranen Vinashyati ||
Hindus believe that a sincere devotee who recites these 12 names regularly in the morning and evening washes all the sins committed in the previous seven births and attains all the powers and Siddhis.
सौराष्ट्रदेशे विशदेsतिरम्ये ज्योतिर्मयं चन्द्रकला वतंसम ।
भक्ति प्रदानाय कृपावतीर्णं तं सोमनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये ।।
श्रीशैलश्रृंगे विबुधातिसंगेतुलाद्रितुंगेsपि मुदा वसन्तम ।
तमर्जुनं मल्लिका पूर्वमेकं नमामि संसार समुद्र सेतुम ।।
अवन्तिकायां विहिता वतारं मुक्ति प्रदानाय च सज्जनानाम ।
अकालमृत्यो: परिरक्षणार्थं वन्दे महाकाल महासुरेशम ।।
कावेरिका नर्मदयो: पवित्रे समागमे सज्जनतारणाय ।
सदैव मान्धातृपुरे वसन्तमोंकारमीशं शिवमेकमीडे ।।
पूर्वोत्तरे प्रज्वलिका निधाने सदा वसन्तं गिरिजा समेतम ।
सुरा सुराराधितपादपद्मं श्रीवैद्नाथं तमहं नमामि ।।
याम्ये सदंगे नगरेsतिरम्ये विभूषितांग विविधैश्च भोगै: ।
सद्भक्ति मुक्ति प्रदमीश मेकं श्रीनागनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये ।।
महाद्रिपार्श्चे च तट रमन्तं सम्पूज्यमानं सततं मुनीन्द्रै: ।
सुरासुरैर्यक्षमहोरगाद्यै: केदार मीशं शिव मेकमीडे ।।
सह्याद्रिशीर्षे विमले वसन्तं गोदा वरीतीर पवित्रदेशे ।
यद्दर्शनात्पात कमाशु नाशं प्रयाति तं त्र्यम्बकमीशमीडे ।।
सुताम्रपर्णीजल राशियोगे निबध्य सेतुं विशिखैरसंख्यै: ।
श्रीरामचन्द्रेण समर्पितं तं रामेश्वराख्यं नियतं नमामि ।।
यं डाकिनी शाकिनिका समाजे निषेव्यमाणं पिशिताशनैश्च ।
सदैव भीमादि पदप्रसिद्धं तं शंकरं भक्तहितं नमामि ।।
सानन्द मानन्दवने वसन्त मानन्द कन्दं हतपाप वृन्दम ।
वाराणसी नाथम नाथ नाथं श्रीविश्वनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये ।।
इलापुरे रम्य विशाल केsस्मिन समुल्ल सन्तं च जगद्वरेण्यम ।
वन्दे महोदार तरस्वभावं घृष्णे श्वराख्यं शरणं प्रपद्ये ।।
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According to a legend of Lingodbhavamurthy narrated in Linga Purana, once Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma were fighting to prove who was the Supreme Being. At this point, Lord Shiva appeared as a flaming Linga and challenged the duo to measure the gigantic Linga (phallic symbol of Lord Shiva). Brahma and Vishnu decided to find one end each and declared that whoever returned first would be acknowledged as supreme. Vishnu assumed the form of a boar and went down. Brahma, in the form of a swan, flew upwards. They searched for days but in vain and returned to the starting point exhausted and bewildered. At that moment, the central part of the pillar split open and Shiva revealed himself in his full glory. Brahma and Vishnu realized their mistake and acknowledged Shiva as the Supreme Being.