Complete · Twelve lingas · ~7 min · ~7 min chant
Dwadashalinga Stotram
द्वादशलिङ्गस्तोत्रम्
Dvādaśaliṅgastotram
Twelve verses in praise of the twelve Jyotirlingas, from Somnath to Grishneshwar, attributed to Shankaracharya.
12 verses · About 7 min · Lord Shiva
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Dwadashalinga Stotram (Dvadashajyotirlinga Stotram) visits the twelve radiant lingas of Shiva across India - Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Vaidyanath, Nageshwar, Kedarnath, Tryambakeshwar, Rameshwaram, Bhimashankar, Vishvanath of Kashi, and Grishneshwar - in twelve compact verses of refuge and praise.
At a glance
- Deity
- Lord Shiva
- Verses
- 12 verses
- Chant time
- About 7 minutes (Twelve lingas · ~7 min)
- Attribution
- Traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
- Sanskrit source
- sanskritdocuments.org · All sources
Verse overview
- 1
Somnath, moon-crowned Lord of Saurashtra, is sought as refuge. Every jyotirlinga is a doorway to the one light of consciousness that illumines all shrines and…
- 2
Mallikarjuna on Shri Shaila is praised as the bridge over the ocean of becoming. Devotion to the Lord who spans samsara leads the mind to the shore of non-dual…
- 3
Mahakaleshwar of Ujjain grants liberation and wards off untimely death. Time itself is Shiva's power; refuge in him is refuge in the timeless Self beyond birth…
- 4
Omkareshwar at the sacred river confluence is the one Shiva praised as Om. The primordial syllable and the Lord of the linga are one: the sound and silence of…
- 5
Vaidyanath with Parvati is the physician who heals the disease of ignorance. Worshipped by gods and demons alike, he is the one Lord before whom all…
- 6
Nageshwar grants both rightful enjoyment and liberation. The Lord who blesses worldly life also leads the devotee beyond it to the freedom of the Self.
- 7
Kedarnath on the Himalaya is worshipped by sages, gods, and serpents. The Lord on the mountain peak symbolizes the Self reached when the mind ascends beyond…
- 8
Tryambakeshwar by the Godavari destroys sin at a single sight. The third eye of Shiva is the eye of knowledge that burns away the accumulated ignorance of…
- 9
Rameshwaram was worshipped by Rama with bilva leaves across the sea. When the Lord of the universe worships Shiva, it teaches that even the highest avatara…
- 10
Bhimashankar is worshipped even by bhutas and pishachas, yet he benefits devotees. The Lord accepts all worship and leads every soul, however fallen, toward…
- 11
Vishvanath of Varanasi is lord of the universe and refuge of the refugeless. In the city of liberation, the Lord who destroys sin is the inner Self of all who…
- 12
Grishneshwar, abundantly gracious, completes the circuit of twelve lingas. Each shrine reveals the same Shiva; the pilgrimage ends in the recognition that the…
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Common questions
- When do people recite Dwadashalinga Stotram?
- Shaiva hymns are often chanted on Pradosham, during Shravan, and on Maha Shivaratri, as well as in short daily practice. This edition is labeled for practice as "Twelve lingas · ~7 min" and takes about 7 minutes to chant.
- What is the opening focus of Dwadashalinga Stotram?
- Somnath, moon-crowned Lord of Saurashtra, is sought as refuge. Every jyotirlinga is a doorway to the one light of consciousness that illumines all shrines and all hearts. Read verse 1 in Study mode for the full editorial note beside the Sanskrit.
- Which hymns pair well with Dwadashalinga Stotram?
- On this site, related reading includes Vishwanathashtakam, and Manikarnikashtakam. Open those hubs for their own Sanskrit, English meaning, and study notes.