No Jyotirlinga is located in China.
Understanding Jyotirlingas
The term Jyotirlinga refers to a sacred manifestation of Lord Shiva, where "Jyoti" means radiance and "Linga" represents the aniconic symbol of Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared as a colossal, endless column of light, and the places where these columns manifested are considered the twelve Jyotirlingas. These sites are highly revered pilgrimage destinations for Hindus.
Location of Jyotirlingas
Traditionally, all twelve Jyotirlingas are situated within the geographical boundaries of India. These include:
- Somnath in Gujarat
- Mallikarjuna in Andhra Pradesh
- Mahakaleshwar in Madhya Pradesh
- Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh
- Vaidyanath in Jharkhand
- Bhimashankar in Maharashtra
- Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu
- Nageshwar in Gujarat
- Kashi Vishwanath in Uttar Pradesh
- Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra
- Kedarnath in Uttarakhand
- Grishneshwar in Maharashtra
Significance of Mount Kailash
While no Jyotirlinga is located in China, Mount Kailash is a profoundly sacred site for Hindus and is situated in the autonomous region of Tibet, China. Hindus believe that Lord Shiva resides there in a state of eternal meditation, accompanied by his divine consort, Parvati. Mount Kailash is considered a celestial abode of Lord Shiva and is revered as a significant Shiva temple, embodying his spiritual presence. Although it holds immense religious importance as a dwelling place of Lord Shiva, Mount Kailash is not classified as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
