Forms (Murtis) of Lord Shiva

Shiva Siddhanta - Considers the Lord Shiva to be arupa (formless). It is stated that for the salvation of human kind he took the form of Lingam (It is considered as Arupa of Arup Rupa). Lingam is considered as SadaShiva murti. From this SadaShiva murti, Lord Shiva manifested in various forms. These murtis are known as Maheshwara murtis. Of these 25 are known but there may be more. These murtis can be classified into Bhogamurtis, Yogamurtis, Vegamurtis. Generally SadaShiva murti is found in Sanctum Sanctorum (Gabhara). The Maheshwara murtis are found in the Prahaaram i.e. outside the Sanctum Sanctorum.

25 Maheshwara murtis are as follows

1. Bhikshatanar 
2. Kamari 
3. Kalari 
4. Kalyanasundarar 
5. Rishabharuder 
6. Chandrasekharar 
7. UmaMaheshwarar 
8. Natarajar 
9. Tripurantkar 
10. Jalandhari 
11. GajaSamharmurty 
12. Veerabhadrar (Karalar) 
13. ShankarNarayan 
14. ArdhaNarishwarar 
15. Kiratar 
16. Kankalar 
17. Chandeshanugrahar 
18. Chakrapradar 
19. Somaskandar 
20. Ekapadar 
21. Vighneshanugrahar 
22. Dakshinamurthy 
23. Neelkanthar 
24. Lingodbavar 
25. Sukhasanar

Besides these it is customary in the Shiva temples of South India to list the following 64 murtis also. These are kept in the Prahaaram (Parikrama) along with 63 ShaivaSiddhanta saints knows as Nayanmars.

1. Shivalingam 
2. Lingodbhavar 
3. Mukhalingam 
4. SadaShivam 
5. MahaSadaShivam 
6. Uma Maheshwar 
7. Sukasanamurty 
8. Umeshmurty 
9. Somaskandamurty 
10. Chandrasekharmurty 
11. Vrishabharudmurty 
12. Vrishantikarmurty 
13. Bhujangalitmurty 
14. Bhujangastarmurty 
15. Sandhiyanrittamurty 
16. Sadanrittamurty 
17. Chandatanadamurty 
18. Gangadharmurty 
19. Gajavisarjanamurty 
20. Tripurantakamurty 
21. KalyanSundarmurty 
22. Ardhanarishwarmurty 
23. Gajasamharmurty 
24. Jvarabhagnamurty 
25. Shardhulharamurty 
26. Pasupatmurty
27. Gangalmurty 
28. Keshavarthamurty 
29. Bhikhatanamurty 
30. Simhaganamurty 
31. Chandeshwaranugrahamurty 
32. Vyakhyahadakshinamurty 
33. YogaDakshinamurty 
34. Veenadhardakshinamurty 
35. Kaiantakamurty 
36. Kamanmurty (Kamadhanamurty) 
37. Vaghuleshwaramurty 
38. Bhairavamurty 
39. Apatuddranamurty 
40. Vadukamurty 
41. Kshetrepalmurty 
42. Veerbhadramurty 
43. Agorastramurty 
44. Dakshinagyaharamurty 
45. Kiratamurty 
46. Gurumurty 
47. Ashwarudhamurty 
48. Gajantikamurty 
49. Jalandharvatamurty 
50. Ekpadatrimurty 
51. Tripadatrimurty 
52. Ekpadmamurty 
53. Gaurivarapradamurty 
54. Chakradaneshwarswarupamurty 
55. Gaurisamanavitmurty 
56. Vrishbharanmurty 
57. Garudanikmurty 
58. Brahasirchetakamurty 
59. kurmasamharmurty 
60. Matsyrimurty 
61. Varaharimurty 
62. Prarthamurty 
63. Raktabhisekhapradhanmurty 
64. Shishyabhavmurty 

There are other swarupas also found in the temples of south India.

Shri Ghrushneshwar

This is the twelfth Jyotirlinga. According to Madhwamunishwar there is no other place on earth except this where Lord Ghrushneshwar resides. This Jyotirlinga is located at Verul in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. It is about 30 km west of Aurangabad.

Legends

This place was original settlement of Naga tribes. The place was known as Bambi (place of Nagas) which is "Varul" in Marathi. With passing of time, the name changed to Verul or Yelur. 

There are number of legends associated with this place. A king that had gone on a hunting spree killed animals belonging to Rishis and Munis along with other animals. Due to the curse of Rishis, his whole body was infected with insects. After searching the entire forest for water, he found a water hole. When he drank water from the hole, he was cured of the disease. He did severe penance at that place and got the divine vision of Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma created Parastha-theertha at this place, which later became known as Brahma-Sarovar or Shivalay.

According to another legend in the puranas, the nearby Yelaganga river which takes its origins in the forest known as Kamyakavana. Once Parvati was about to fill her hair parting with vermilion and saffron. She mixed them with water from Shivalay. The vermilion turned into Shivalinga with a great light emanating from it. Lord Shiva removed this linga with his trident. Parvati installed this linga here and named it Kumkumeshwar. Since this was created with the thumb of her hand while mixing the vermillion, she named the linga Grushneshwar.

Another legend from the puranas, there was a pious brahmin named Sudharma who had no issue. His wife Sudeha made him marry her sister Ghushma, a staunch devotee of lord Shiva. Ghushma gave birth to a boy, but her elder sister Sudeha, out of jealousy, threw the boy in a pond where a shivalinga was immersed earlier by Ghushma. After the death of her son, Ghushma started worshiping Lord Shiva more intensely. Lord Shiva granted his vision to Ghushma who requested to forgive her sister. Highly merciful Lord Shiva brought the boy to life and stayed at that place as Ghushmeshwar which later became known as Ghrushneshwar. Devi Parvati accompanied Lord Shiva as Ghrushneshwari. The present temple was constructed by the patel of the village who had secured a treasure in a snake pit. The Ajanta and Ellora caves are close to this place.

This completes a small narration about the twelve Jyotirlingas. We have tried out level best to present the details.

Shri Vaidyanath

There are three locations that are considered for this Jyotirlinga. There is a legend associated with each location. Three locations are Parali near Ambejogai in Maharashtra, Deogarh in Jharkhand and Baijanath in Himachal Pradesh. 

Baijanath in Himachal Pradesh is considered as one of the most scared abodes of Lord Shiva. The Demon king Ravana was a staunch worshiper for Shiva. By cutting his ten heads one after the other he offered them as a sacrifice to Lord Shiva during a Tapasya. Pleased by his devotion, Lord Shiva cured Ravana of his injury. As Lord Shiva acted as a doctor in this case, he is known as Baijanath in Himachal Pradesh.

The second legend is associated with the Jyotirlinga at Parali. Devi Yogeshwari of Ambejogai was to be married to Lord Vaidyanatha of Parali. The marriage party arrived late at Ambejogai as a result of which the marriage party members were turned into stone by Yogeshwari (Parvati). Another legend at this place is attributed to Samudra-Manthan. After Samudra-Manthan, Lord Vishnu hid Danavantri, along with other gems, inside the Shivalinga. When the demons tried to snatch away the gems, huge flames came out of the linga and the demons had to retreat. Therefore there is a belief that the abhishek teertha that comes out from the shivalinga has properties to cure diseases. A banyan tree (Vata-Vruksha) near the vataveshwar temple is believed to be the spot where the incident of Savitri and Satyavan took place. A pond nearby is named after Markandeya rishi. This spot is believed to the place where the rishi got the boom of eternal life (Chiranjeevi) from Lord Shiva.

At Deogarh the legend is that, Ravana desired to perform ablutions and as there was no water nearby he hit the ground with his fist. Then there emerged a pond called ShivaGanga. He worshiped sivalinga and sacrificed his hands one by one. Finally Lord Shiva appeared and gave him a boom of invincibility and restored his hands. Hence the shivalinga is known as Vaidyanath.

Shri Tryambakeshwar

This is the tenth of the twelve Jyotirlignas. It is located on the banks of river Godavari, also known as Gautami, at Tryambakeshwar near Nashik in state of Maharashtra. The Linga has unique shape which resembles the bottom part of a founding stone (Ukhal) with a hollow portion in the middle. Inside this hole, there are three lingas having shape of the thumb, hence the linga is known as Tryambakeshwar. There is a constant water flow from an orifice (hole) located above the ShivaLinga. The place attracts thousands of people as darshan of this linga helps satisfy their material desire and find spiritual solace. Every twelve years, when the planet Jupiter comes in the zodiac sign of Leo, Kumbha Mela is held throughout the period when Jupiter is transiting through Leo.

Legends

Sage Gautama and his wife Ahilya were doing penance in Dakshina mountains. Once there was a long spell of drought in that region. They pleased Lord Varuna (Rain God) by their severe penance. They got a boon from him, which blessed them with constant flow of abundant water at their place resulting in abundant growth of grains in their ashram. This abundance of grain and water in the ashram of Gautam rishi caused jealousy in the minds of co-sages and their wives. They created a cow by their Maya (magic) which started destroying the grains. When Gautam rishi threw a small twig at thin cow to drive it away, the cow fell dead. The other sages accused Gautam rishi of go-hatya and banished him to a lonely place on the mountain named Bramhagiri.

Gautam rishi did severe penance at this place and worshiped Lord Shiva with ParthivaLinga. Lord Shiva was pleased by the penance and bestowed two boons. One was to create ganga in the form of Gautami and the other was to manifest as a JyotirLanga at Tryambakeshwar. According to another legend, Lord Bramha gave a curse to Lord Shiva during the manifestation of the first JyotirLinga of Ardra Nakshatra that Tryambakeshwar Linga should be pushed under the ground. Hence this linga is small in size in a depression on the floor with water flowing constantly on it from the top.

There is a teertha known as varaha-teertha where Lord Vishnu had a bath in river Gautami during Varaha-Avatar. The spring at Bramhagiri from where Godavari emerges is known as Ganga-Dwar. After emerging at this place Godavari almost disappears and re-appears at Tahalhati. 

When Gautami Ganga, that was received as boon, started flowing, due to its flow Sage Gautam could not take a bath in it and so he threw Darbha (Kusha) in the way of Ganga to stop her. The place is known as Kushavarta-teertha. 

On the parikrama path there are number of holy teerthas namely Ram teertha, Prayag teertha, Narasimha teertha etc. 

According to puranas, people can absolve of sarpa-dosha by performing Narayan-Naag bali and Pitru Dosha by performing Tri-Pindi Shraddha at Tryambakeshwar.

Shri Rameshwar

It is the ninth Jyotirlinga out of the twelve Jyotirlingas. It is located on the southern tip of India in Ramnad district of Tamilnadu. It is considered that the Char Dhaam yatra is complete only when the water from Ganga is carried to Rameshwar and offered to Lord Shiva. Then a little sand is taken from Rameshwar and immersed back in Ganga.

Rameshwar is depicted as important holy place in Skanda Purana and Shiva purana. After the victory over Ravana, Lord Rama decided to install a Shivalinga in gratitude and dutiful homage to Lord Shiva. He sent Hanuman to bring a facsimile of Kasi Vishveswara linga after due prayer at Varanasi. Hanuman could not return to Rameshwar before the auspicious time (muhurtha). Hence Sita devi created linga swarupa out of seashore sand. It was formally consecrated amid chanting of veda mantras. After returning from Kasi, Hanuman was not happy to see that Shiva Linga was already installed. Lord Rama told Hanuman that already installed Shiva Linga can be removed to install Shiva Linga brought by Hanuman. Hanuman tried with all his power to uproot Shiva linga already installed with no success. He realized the importance of Shiva Linga created by Sita. However, Lord Rama instructed to install Shiva Linga brought by Hanuman by the side of Shiva Linga created by Sita. He also instructed that one should first take darshan of Vishwalinga (linga brought by Hanuman) before taking darshan of Ramalinga (linga created by Sita). This custom is followed till date.

According to another legend, searching for Sita, Lord Rama reached Rameshwar. When he was about to drink water, he remembered that he had not performed Shiva pooja. Rama prayed to Lord Shiva who appeared before him. Shiva granted the wish of Rama and stayed as Rameshwar linga.

There are 24 odd holy water springs around here known as Rama tirtha, Seeta tirtha, Kapi teertha, Brahmakunda, and so on…

It is customary to take bath in these wells before going for darshana of Jyotirlinga in Rameshwar. It is believed that pitrukarma performed on the shores of Rameshwar relieves the pitrus from their Karma and help them attain the Moksha.

Shri Nageshwar

This is the eighth in the series of twelve Jyotirlingas. The manifestation of Nageshwar Jyotirlinga has three distinct school of thoughts as stated in the Puranas. Hence there is a controversy over location of Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.

As per first school of thought, Naganath at Aundha in Prabhasha-Kshetra in Maharashtra is considered as Nageshwar jyotirlinga. As per second school of thought, Jageshwar at Almorha in Uttarakhand and as per third school of thought, Dwarka in Gujarath. 

According to Kshetra-Puran, the pandavas during their aranynavas (exile), came to Aundha. During their visit to Aundha forest, Bhima discovered that the cows used to go to the river bank for drinking water and there the milk used to flow automatically from their udder. He tried to dig at that place with his mace. After digging for some time, he came across blood gushing out of a Shivalinga of extreme radiance (Jyotirlinga). In this manner the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga was discovered. 

Another legend states that when Saint Namdev was singing in Aundha, the Brahmin priest asked him to go away as he felt that Namdev was disturbing their routine. Namdev and his followers went to the back side of the temple and sang bhajans. Due to this the entire temple turned back. As a testimonial to this miracle, Nandi is located at the back of this temple. 

The school of thought about Dwarka in Gujarat says that the Nageshwar linga located here is one of the Jyotirlingas. The demon Daruka and Daruki did severe penance and obtained a boom from Parvati that wherever they travel, the forest will travel with them. The demons used to harass the hermits by destroying their yagna and penance. Hermits sought refuge with Orva muni who cursed the demons that they will be destroyed on earth. The demons lifted the entire forest and put it in the middle of the sea. They started harassing the merchants traveling with their ships and imprisoned them in the islands. A hermit named Supriya, also a prisoner, prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva answered his prayers and destroyed all the demons. Parvati granted a boon to Daruka that at the end of the era, only demons will be created on this island and Parvati will rule over them. Shiva and Parvati stayed on the island. Lord Shiva assumed the form of Jyotirlinga Nageshwar and Parvati as Nageshwari on the sea coast. 

The third legend pertains to Bala Jageshwar Jyotirlinga at Daruk-vana at Almorha. Here Lord Shiva appeared as Jyotirlinga due to the penance of Balakhilyas (dwarf maharishis). The main mantra that is recited at this temple is “Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam Urvarukamiva Bandhanaan Mrityor MukshiyaMaamritaat” (Maha Mritunjay jaap) (we pray to Mahadeva whose eyes are Sun, Moon and the Fire, may he protect us from disease, poverty and fear and bless us with prosperity and longevity).

Shri Kashi Vishwanath

This temple is located at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on the sangam of rivers where Varana and Assi rivers join river Ganga. Varanasi is supposed to be founded by lord Shiva 1000s of year ago. It has a lot of legends associated with it. It is one of the most sacred pilgrimage centers. A tribe known as Kasha used to live here hence it is named as ‘Kashi’. 

Kashi Puran mentions that Purusha (Man) and Prakruti (Nature) (Shiva and Shakti) were ordained by Lord Shiva to perform tapas in the universe to create best being at a specified place. Nirgun Shiva created a city called PanchaKoshi. Vishnu did tapas at this place and hence a number of water springs originated. As Lord Vishnu was admiring this, a gemstone fell from his ear. Hence this place was called ManiKarnika. All the water in this panchakoshi was gathered in his trident by Lord Shiva. Then Bramha was born on the Lotus flower from the navel of Lord Vishnu. Bramha created this world as ordained by Shiva. According to purana, this world has 50 crore Yojanas of area and 14 lokas. In order to save life of those bound by karma, Shiva kept Panchakoshi city away from the entire universe. In this city he established the MuktiDayak Jyotirlinga. Shiva removed Kashi from his trident and set it on this mortal world. So Kashi is known as Vimukta-Kshetra. The Avimukteshwar linga is in Kashi. This city is ruled by Bramha, Vishnu and Mahesh according to legends. It is a belief that those who live in Kashi attain Mukti. According to another legend, the city is guarded by Dandapani and KalaBhairav. Hence it will not get destroyed during Pralay. On the banks of Ganga there are 84 bathing ghats and innumerable tirtha kundas which are supposed to exist from Vedic period. 

There is also another legend associated with this place from puran. Brahma made a great tapasya at a spot in Kasi. Once Brahma recited veda in praise of Lord Shiva. He recited a stanza in a misleading and a wrong way. For this mistake Shiva sliced one of his heads. This head found a lasting place known as Brahmakunda. 

Varanasi is also one of the Shakti peetha where Devi’s one of earrings fell. At this place we have the string of Devi VishalAkshi. During a long spell of famine in Kasi, Devi served food to all. At this place we have the shrine of Annapurna Devi. Mahadeva as a beggar was also a beneficiary of this food served by the Devi. Lord Shiva had to beg for alms to atone sin of Brahmahatya. Due to Brahmahatya Brahma's skull got stuck in Lord Shiva's left palm (BrahmKapala). This skull fall off when Lord Shiva received alms from Devi. 

Harishchandra ghat is the place where Raja Harishchandra was posted as a slave at the smashaan (cremation place). 

Varanasi was also plundered by Moguls a number of times and the shrine of Lord Vishwanath was destroyed. It was rebuilt later during the Maratha and Rajput period.