Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram
द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग स्तोत्रम्
What is the Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram?
Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram The Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram is a Sanskrit hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya that praises all twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva, giving one verse to each shrine and closing with a verse on the merit of its recitation. Chanting it is believed to bring the blessing of visiting every Jyotirlinga.
The Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram is a Sanskrit hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya that garlands all twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva into a single recitation. Each verse fixes on one shrine, travelling from Somnath on the Saurashtra coast to Ghushmeshwar near the Ellora caves, and closes by taking refuge in that form of the Lord.Reciting it is treated as a way to gather the blessing of a full Jyotirlinga pilgrimage without leaving one’s seat. Below is the complete Sanskrit text in Devanagari with Roman transliteration, a plain-language meaning for every verse, guidance on when and how to recite it, and answers to common questions.
Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram Lyrics (Sanskrit & English)
Authentic Sanskrit text in Devanagari with Roman transliteration and an original English meaning for each verse. The half-lines of every shloka are separated by a slash.
Saurashtra-deshe vishade’tiramye jyotirmayam chandra-kalavatamsam
Bhakti-pradanaya kripavatirnam tam somanatham sharanam prapadye
सौराष्ट्रदेशे विशदेऽतिरम्ये ज्योतिर्मयं चन्द्रकलावतंसम् ।
भक्तिप्रदानाय कृपावतीर्णं तं सोमनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ १ ॥
Meaning
In the bright and welcoming land of Saurashtra shines a form of pure light, crowned with the crescent moon. Moved by compassion, Shiva has come down here to grant devotion to those who seek him. The reciter takes refuge in this Lord, known as Somnath.
Shrishaila-shringe vibudhati-sange tuladri-tunge’pi muda vasantam
Tam-arjunam mallika-purvam-ekam namami samsara-samudra-setum
श्रीशैलशृङ्गे विबुधातिसङ्गे तुलाद्रितुङ्गेऽपि मुदा वसन्तम् ।
तमर्जुनं मल्लिकपूर्वमेकं नमामि संसारसमुद्रसेतुम् ॥ २ ॥
Meaning
On the peak of Srisailam, in the company of the gods and lofty as the very scales of merit, Shiva dwells in joy. The devotee bows to him as Mallikarjuna, the one who becomes a bridge across the ocean of worldly existence.
Avantikayam vihitavataram mukti-pradanaya cha sajjananam
Akala-mrityoh parirakshanartham vande mahakala-mahasuresham
अवन्तिकायां विहितावतारं मुक्तिप्रदानाय च सज्जनानाम् ।
अकालमृत्योः परिरक्षणार्थं वन्दे महाकालमहासुरेशम् ॥ ३ ॥
Meaning
At Avantika, the old city of Ujjain, Shiva took a deliberate form to grant release to good-hearted people and to shield them from untimely death. The verse salutes him as Mahakala, lord even over the forces of destruction.
Kaverika-narmadayoh pavitre samagame sajjana-taranaya
Sadaiva mandhatri-pure vasantam-omkaram-isham shivam-ekam-ide
कावेरिकानर्मदयोः पवित्रे समागमे सज्जनतारणाय ।
सदैव मान्धातृपुरे वसन्तमोंकारमीशं शिवमेकमीडे ॥ ४ ॥
Meaning
At the sacred meeting of the Kaveri and the Narmada, Shiva stays to ferry the worthy across. In the city linked with King Mandhata, the reciter praises this one auspicious Lord as Omkareshwar.
Purvottare prajvalika-nidhane sada vasantam girija-sametam
Surasurararadhita-pada-padmam shri-vaidyanatham tam-aham namami
पूर्वोत्तरे प्रज्वलिकानिधाने सदा वसन्तं गिरिजासमेतम् ।
सुरासुराराधितपादपद्मं श्रीवैद्यनाथं तमहं नमामि ॥ ५ ॥
Meaning
In the north-east, at the place of the sacred flame, Shiva forever abides together with Parvati. His lotus feet are worshipped by gods and demons alike, and the devotee bows to him as Vaidyanath, the divine healer.
Yamye sadange nagare’tiramye vibhushitangam vividhaishcha bhogaih
Sad-bhakti-mukti-pradam-isham-ekam shri-naganatham sharanam prapadye
याम्ये सदङ्गे नगरेऽतिरम्ये विभूषिताङ्गं विविधैश्च भोगैः ।
सद्भक्तिमुक्तिप्रदमीशमेकं श्रीनागनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ६ ॥
Meaning
In a pleasant town to the south, adorned and honoured with offerings of every kind, dwells the one Lord who grants both true devotion and liberation. The reciter takes refuge in him as Nageshwar.
Mahadri-parshve cha tate ramantam sampujyamanam satatam munindraih
Surasurair-yaksha-mahoraga-adhyaih kedaram-isham shivam-ekam-ide
महाद्रिपार्श्वे च तटे रमन्तं सम्पूज्यमानं सततं मुनीन्द्रैः ।
सुरासुरैर्यक्षमहोरगाढ्यैः केदारमीशं शिवमेकमीडे ॥ ७ ॥
Meaning
Beside the great mountain and along its slope Shiva delights, worshipped without pause by the foremost sages and attended by gods, demons, yakshas and mighty serpents. The verse praises this one Lord as Kedara.
Sahyadri-shirshe vimale vasantam godavari-tira-pavitra-deshe
Yad-darshanat-patakam-ashu nasham prayati tam tryambakam-isham-ide
सह्याद्रिशीर्षे विमले वसन्तं गोदावरीतीरपवित्रदेशे ।
यद्दर्शनात्पातकमाशु नाशं प्रयाति तं त्र्यम्बकमीशमीडे ॥ ८ ॥
Meaning
On the crest of the Sahyadri, in the pure country along the bank of the Godavari, Shiva resides. A single sight of him quickly undoes accumulated wrongdoing, and the devotee praises this Lord as Tryambaka.
Sutamraparni-jala-rashi-yoge nibadhya setum vishikhair-asankhyaih
Shri-rama-chandrena samarpitam tam rameshvarakhyam niyatam namami
सुताम्रपर्णीजलराशियोगे निबध्य सेतुं विशिखैरसंख्यैः ।
श्रीरामचन्द्रेण समर्पितं तं रामेश्वराख्यं नियतं नमामि ॥ ९ ॥
Meaning
Where the waters gather near the Tamraparni, Shri Rama bound a bridge with countless arrows and offered his worship. The reciter steadfastly bows to the Lord installed there, known as Rameshwara.
Yam dakini-shakinika-samaje nishevyamanam pishitashanaishcha
Sadaiva bhimadi-pada-prasiddham tam shankaram bhakta-hitam namami
यं डाकिनीशाकिनिकासमाजे निषेव्यमाणं पिशिताशनैश्च ।
सदैव भीमादिपदप्रसिद्धं तं शङ्करं भक्तहितं नमामि ॥ १० ॥
Meaning
Served in the gathering of dakinis and shakinis and by the spirits of the wild, long famous under the name beginning with Bhima, this Lord is a true well-wisher of devotees. The verse bows to him as Shankara, the Bhimashankar.
Sanandam-ananda-vane vasantam-ananda-kandam hata-papa-vrindam
Varanasi-natham-anatha-natham shri-vishvanatham sharanam prapadye
सानन्दमानन्दवने वसन्तमानन्दकन्दं हतपापवृन्दम् ।
वाराणसीनाथमनाथनाथं श्रीविश्वनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ११ ॥
Meaning
In the joyful forest of bliss dwells the very root of joy, the one who destroys whole heaps of sin. Lord of Varanasi and refuge of those who have no other, the reciter takes shelter in him as Vishwanath.
Ilapure ramya-vishalake’smin samullasantam cha jagad-varenyam
Vande mahodara-tara-svabhavam ghrishneshvarakhyam sharanam prapadye
इलापुरे रम्यविशालकेऽस्मिन् समुल्लसन्तं च जगद्वरेण्यम् ।
वन्दे महोदारतरस्वभावं घृष्णेश्वराख्यं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ १२ ॥
Meaning
In the lovely, spacious town of Ilapura this Lord shines forth, worthy of the whole world's worship and boundlessly generous by nature. The devotee takes refuge in him as Ghrishneshwara, the Grishneshwar linga.
Phalashruti
Jyotirmaya-dvadasha-lingakanam shivatmanam proktam-idam kramena
Stotram pathitva manujo’tibhaktya phalam tad-alokya nijam bhajeccha
ज्योतिर्मयद्वादशलिङ्गकानां शिवात्मनां प्रोक्तमिदं क्रमेण ।
स्तोत्रं पठित्वा मनुजोऽतिभक्त्या फलं तदालोक्य निजं भजेच्च ॥
Meaning
This hymn of the twelve radiant lingas, each one the very self of Shiva, has been recited here in order. Whoever chants it with deep devotion should look upon its fruit and make that blessing his own.
Meaning & Significance
The stotram works by repeating one simple act of devotion twelve times: name a place made holy by Shiva, describe the living presence found there, and surrender to it. The closing refrains rotate between three expressions, sharanam prapadye (I take refuge), namami (I bow) and shivam-ekam-ide (I praise the one Shiva), so the hymn keeps its movement even while circling a single idea.
Geography carries part of the meaning. The verses move from Gujarat’s western shore to the Godavari and the Sahyadri in the Deccan, up to Kedarnath in the Himalaya, east to Kashi and Vaidyanath, and south to Rameshwaram. Taken together the twelve shrines map Shiva across the whole of the land, and the final verse promises that reciting their names with feeling clears long-standing wrong and turns the reciter toward liberation.
How to Chant the Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram
- Bathe and settle – Sit facing east or north in a clean spot, ideally before an image or a Shivalinga, and steady the breath.
- Light a lamp – A ghee or oil lamp and, if available, bilva leaves or water offered on the linga set the mood; these are traditional rather than required.
- Set the intention – Begin with 'Om Namah Shivaya' three times, then start from the first verse, Saurashtradeshe vishade'tiramye.
- Chant slowly – Keep the twelve shrine names clear and visualise each Jyotirlinga as you reach its verse.
- Close with the phala – Finish on the Jyotirmayadvadashalingakanam verse and a final 'Om Namah Shivaya', then sit quietly for a moment.
What Are the Benefits of Chanting?
Devotees recite the Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram for these reasons:
- Pilgrimage merit: Naming all twelve shrines is held to gather the blessing of visiting each Jyotirlinga in person.
- Release from old wrongs: The closing verse says failings built up over many births fade through sincere remembrance.
- Protection from untimely death: The Mahakala verse invokes Shiva as a guardian against akala-mrityu.
- A steadier mind: The repeated refrains of refuge settle attention and ease restlessness during daily practice.
- Devotion and liberation: Several verses ask for both bhakti and mukti, the twin aims the hymn keeps returning to.
Who Composed This Stotram?
The hymn is traditionally ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya, the eighth-century teacher who travelled across the subcontinent and helped shape its devotional currents. Whether or not every line comes from his own hand, the stotram sits within the wider body of Jyotirlinga literature that fixed the list of twelve shrines in popular memory.
A separate, shorter mnemonic beginning ‘Saurashtre Somanatham cha Shrishaile Mallikarjunam’ is often printed under the same title; it packs all twelve names into three verses plus a phala line and is used mainly for memorising the list. The longer hymn given here gives a full verse to each shrine and is the one that ends with the Jyotirmayadvadashalingakanam phalashruti.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dvadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram?
It is a Sanskrit hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya that praises all twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva in turn, with one verse for each shrine and a closing verse on the merit of reciting it.
How many verses does it have?
The elaborate version given here has twelve naming verses, one per Jyotirlinga, followed by a phalashruti verse, making thirteen in all. A shorter mnemonic version compresses the same twelve names into four verses.
Which twelve Jyotirlingas does it name?
Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Vaidyanath, Nageshwar, Kedarnath, Tryambakeshwar, Rameshwar, Bhimashankar, Vishwanath (Kashi) and Ghushmeshwar (Grishneshwar).
When should it be chanted?
Mondays, Maha Shivaratri and the month of Shravan are favoured, and the hymn itself recommends morning and evening recitation. Any time with a settled mind is acceptable.
What are the benefits of reciting it?
It is believed to grant the merit of a full Jyotirlinga pilgrimage, to clear long-standing wrongdoing, to guard against untimely death, and to deepen both devotion and the aim of liberation.
Is the 'Saurashtre Somanatham' verse the same stotram?
That line opens a shorter, four-verse mnemonic that simply lists the twelve shrines for easy memorising. It shares the theme but is a more compact hymn than the twelve-verse text given here.
॥ ॐ नमः शिवाय ॥