Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Temple, Bangalore

Sri Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Temple is located in Bangalore, in the state of Karnataka, India. The temple is located in Omkar Ashram, in Omkar Hills Bangalore. Omkar Hills in Srinivasapura is one of the highest points of Bangalore. The Sri Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Devasthana is unique, and one of the most magnificent and gigantic temples in Karnataka.

Temple History
Architecture
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This temple was founded by Brahmaleena Sadguru Sri Shivapuri Mahaswamiji with the intention of providing an opportunity to each and every devotee, for Jyotirlinga darshana, which otherwise requires health, wealth and time, as the original Jyotirlinga temples are in different parts of India. It also serves the purpose of propagating awareness, significance and uniqueness of these twelve Jyotirlingas to the younger generation.

The construction of this temple was started in 2002 by Sri Shivapuri Mahaswamiji, and it continued for many years. However, before he could complete this divine task, he attained Samadhi, (left his mortal coil) in 2007. Later his Sannyasin disciple, Sri Madhusudhanananda Puri Swamiji became his successor, (The Peetadhipathi of Omkara Ashrama Mahasamsthana), and continued the temple work.

The Pranaprathishta (consecration) of the 12 Jyotirlingas and Mahakumbhabhishekam of the Temple was done by Sri Swami Madhusudhanananda Puri on the Auspicious day of Wednesday, 16 February 2011, in the divine presence of many Saints, Holy men, purohits and others with elaborate rituals, Japas, Homams and Poojas.

Inside the main temple, the 12 Jyotirlingas are seen along with Sri Vidyaganapathi, Sri Subrahmanya, Sri Kalabhairava, Sri Chandikeshwara, Ekadasha (11) Rudradevatas, Panchaloha Nataraja weighing around 1000 kg and the Divine Mother Shakti in the form of Sri Yantra. Of these Twelve Jyotirlingas, the Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga measuring around 6 Feet in height, is at the centre of the temple, encircled by the other Eleven Jyotirlingas. Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga is the main Jyotirlinga of this temple. In this Sri Dwadasha Jyothirlinga Devasthana all the 12 Jyothirlingas are along with the Shakthi in the form of Sri Yantras. The Spatika Sri Yantra is in the Omkareswara Jyothirlinga and in the remaining 11 jyothirlingas Panchaloha Sri Yantras are there. All the 12 Jyotirlingas face east.

The Vimana Gopurams, of Srisaila Mallikarjuna and Sri Rameshwara Jyotirlingas which are in South India, are in the South Indian style and the Vimana Gopurams of the remaining Ten Jyotirlingas which are in North India, are in the North Indian Style. Hence, this temple is a harmony of South Indian and North Indian sculpture. The height of the Vimana Gopuram of the main Jyotirlinga, Sri Omkareshwara, approximately 108 feet from the ground level, is the highest among all the Vimana Gopurams.

Daily Rudrabhisheka and pooja will be performed to all the Jyotirlingas and varieties of sevas are also performed to the lord. During the festivals, special poojas, homas etc., will also be performed. Pradosha poojas and Sankashtahara Ganapathi poojas are done regularly. The temple is open for darshan from 7 AM to 12.30 PM and from 4.30 PM to 8PM on Monday to Saturday and on Sundays and holidays, the temple is open for darshan from 7 AM to 8 PM.

The Dwadasha Jyotirlinga temple celebrates 2 major annual festivals. The annual festival of Maha Shivaratri is celebrated on Magha Krishna Chaturdashi (February – March) every year. During the annual festival of Karthika Maasa (mid October – November), special abishekas, poojas, Deepothsavas and homams will be done during the entire Karthika month with special alakarams to all Jyotirlingas on all the 4 Mondays.

In Sri Dwadasha Jyotirlinga temple, the 12 representative Jyotirlingas of the original Puranik twelve Jyotirlingas, which are in different parts of our country, are in one temple, each with an individual Garbhagraha and Vimanagopuram. The Dwadasha (12) Jyotirlingas are very sacred and auspicious and are different from the ordinary shiva lingams. As per the Shastras, the darshanam of even a single Jyotirlinga will lead to moksha. In Sanskrit, jyoti means light. So a Jyotirlinga is a shrine where Lord Shiva, is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam or “Lingam of light.” Puranas say that Lord Shivafirst manifested himself as a Jyotirlinga on the night of the Arudra Nakshatra and thus the special reverence for the Jyotirlinga. The names and the locations of the 12 Jyotirlingas are mentioned in the Shiva Purana.

This Dwadasha Jyotirlinga temple is in the Omkar ashram which is an abode of temples and religious activities, namely – Sri Matsya Narayana temple, Sri Vanadurga temple, Sri Nagadevatha temple, Sri Muneeshwara temple, Goshala, Vishwamitra Veda Vidyalaya, Sacred Banyan tree, Religious harmony memorial, giant tower clock which is one of the biggest clock in the world and a monastery. Hence a pilgrimage to this Dwadasha Jyotirlinga theertha kshetra and having darshan of all the temples and the blessings of sanyasins, will remove all the nava graha doshas (defects of the nine astrological planets) which are the source of all miseries and brings abundant grace, joy, health, wealth and peace.