Spirituality and worshipping are two sacred practices that help people connect with a higher power, and attain inner peace, and a sense of purpose. While worship includes the rituals of prayers and offerings, spirituality involves self-awareness, mindfulness, and other forms of self-improvement. Both practices involve breathing exercises, yoga, or religion, help provide emotional support, relieve stress, and inculcate a sense of community. Compassion, gratitude, and resilience are fundamental to formulating compassion, and spirituality and worship play a central role in helping cultivate them.
Worshipping Lord Shiva
Lord Shiva is also known by the names Mahadev and Shambhu. He is recognized as one of the prominent gods in Hinduism. As we all know, India is home to countless temples, and people worship them to get spiritual tranquillity, affirmation, and blessings. Here are 12 famous Shiva temples in India that every worshipper must visit at least once in their life.
Famous Shiva Temples in India
Along with other vital archetypal edifices, a Shiva temple provides a shrine to each aspect of the Hindu God. Each shrine contains its legacy of amazing works. Temples are considered to be unique pieces of art and architecture stemming from Hindu mythology and are captive to a wide range of human interests. They are worshipped as pieces of art and reflect that each practice includes a sense of the sacred which corresponds to art. All temples encompass myriad beliefs.
Various cultures around the world consider temples to be uniquely built pieces of work that hold Shiva. Myths assume that fortification keeps are strong as it helps believers and worshippers cast away evil and negative powers. Temples have ensembles of infinite manifestation of the Lord Shiva. These Shrines are profoundly believed to take away idol worship limiters and give devotees freedom from other negative forces. Festivals such as Mahashivratri and Shravan month see a lot of people gathering in some temples with many followers who attend it.
Shiva Temples In India
1. Kedarnath, Uttarakhand
One of the holiest Jyotirlingas Kedarnath Temple is found at an altitude of 3583 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas. It lies in the Chota Char Dham Yatra, and it is thought that the manifestation of Lord Shiva appeared in the bull. Pilgrims need to endure a difficult journey to arrive at this honoured location.
2. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Kashi Vishwanath temple is situated on the shores of the Ganga River. It is one of the most sacred temples in India. Varanasi is revered as the city of Lord Shiva; the temple is supposed to be visited by everyone who wants to India & it is said to bless with MOKSHA (liberation) from the cycle of death.
3. Somnath Temple, Gujurat
Somnath known as the first Jyotirlinga, is believed to have been restored by the moon god (Chandra). The exhibit has undergone, rebuilt, and ever so lost many times; India stands strong as a symbol and delineation. India’s master art now rests in the architectural genius of India located on the Arabian coast sea.
4. Brihadeseewar temple, Tamil Nadu
Built by Raja Raja Chola I in the 11th century, this UNESCO World Heritage Site in Thanjavur is known for its Dravidian architecture and a towering 216-foot high vimana (temple tower).
5. Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
This temple is known as one of 12 jyotirlingas that preside over the deity Mahakal, who is worshipped as the Lord of Kaal (Time). This brings a unique character to the temple, in that Bhasma Aarti is performed with sacred ash from the funeral.
6. Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
This temple is included in the Char Dham pilgrimage since it’s linked to Lord Rama, who, as per legend, offered prayers to Shiva here before embarking on his trip to Lanka. It also claims to have the longest corridor of any Hindu temple in the world.
7. Grishneshwar Temple, Maharashtra
Situated adjacent to the Ellora Caves, this temple is the smallest of the 12 Jyotirlingas and has features of South Indian temple architecture. It is considered an important pilgrimage site for worshippers of Shiva.
8. Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Lingaraj Temple is one of the most remarkable Kalinga-style temples with a history exceeding more than 1000 years. Along with being dedicated to Shiva, it also depicts the all-encompassing expression of the Hari-Hara, which is Vishnu and Shiva combined.
9. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
Overlooking the Bay of Bengal, this 7th-century temple is also one of the oldest structural stone temples in India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
1o. Mallikarjuna Temple, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
This temple is another Jyotirlinga, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Being one of the Shakti Peethas, it is a special temple where both Shakti and Shiva are worshipped together.
11. Panch Kedar Temples, Uttarakhand
The temples of Panch Kedar include Kedarnath, Madhya Maheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath, and Kalpeshwar, which are all venerated by followers of Shiva. Each of the temples corresponds to his bull divinity form (Shiva) in\soothed called Panch Kedar which is a Yatra to five Shiva temples located in Uttarakhand.
12. Tarakeshwar Temple in West Bengal
This is located in the mercantile western mixed part of the state bordering Hooghly district and related to Shankara Pillas and Mahadevara Puni gades. With its great outer structure, regarding already Dravidian temple Yoga styles, this is one of the basic Shiva temples in Eastern India. It is popular among devotees that Lord Shiva fulfils the failing wishes of those praying here with a super heart. People from all walks come here to gain from pots full of worship.
Also Read – Famous Temples in Delhi: A Guide to the Best and Most Beautiful Mandirs
Conclusion
These as stated above are the 12 most famous Shiva temples of note for epic power, stunning sculptural artistry unbelievably wrought with deep mythological and historical meaning. For both spiritual learners, these temples indeed bestow so much power and higher sensations for the worshippers.
Do you want to know the directions from which one could travel to these temples?
