Gujarat
Somnath
Standing on the Arabian Sea shore at Prabhas Patan, Somnath is honoured as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
Jyotirlinga 2 of 12
Mallikarjuna, Srisailam
High in the forested Nallamala Hills above the Krishna river, Srisailam is both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
LocationSrisailam, Nallamala Hills
State / RegionAndhra Pradesh
Worshipped asMallikarjuna
Best time to visitOctober to February; Maha Shivaratri is very crowded
Religious significance
The temple complex honours Shiva as Mallikarjuna and the Goddess as Bhramaramba — one of very few places where a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha stand together. The site lies within the Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve.
Traditional story
When Kartikeya returned from circling the world to find his brother Ganesha had already been declared winner by circling his parents, he left in hurt for the Krauncha mountain. Shiva and Parvati followed to be near him, and Shiva remained at Srisailam as Mallikarjuna.
Legends are presented as they are told within the tradition; they hold spiritual meaning for devotees and are not offered as historical record.
Visitor guidance
- Check forest-road opening hours before travelling.
- Visit the Patala Ganga steps down to the Krishna river.
- Dress code is enforced for some darshan types.
Continue the journey
More 12 jyotirlingas
Madhya Pradesh
Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain
In the ancient city of Ujjain, Shiva is worshipped as Mahakala — Lord of Time and of death itself.
Madhya Pradesh
Omkareshwar
On Mandhata island in the Narmada — an island said to be shaped like the sacred syllable ॐ — Omkareshwar is one of the most beautiful settings of any Jyotirlinga.
Jharkhand
Baidyanath, Deoghar
Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar is worshipped as Vaidyanatha — Shiva as the divine physician.
From the library
Related reading
Planning a Jyotirlinga Yatra: A Practical Guide
How to group the twelve Jyotirlingas into practical regional circuits, when to go, and what to prepare.