Jyodhi lingam (Varanasi)

" Kasi-kshetrancha Kalabairava darsanam"
Prayaga madhavam Trushtva Yega Bilvam Sivarpanam'||
Maha-Smsana Nilayam Prasanna Spadiga-prabavam
Vedhacvam Jyothir Roopamcha Yega Bilvam Sivarpanam||

The king among the Kshetrams is Kasi. Every one is aware of this fact in this world. This place has some other names also. Those are Avimuktham, Anandha vanam Maha-smasanam and Banaras There is a belief that the divine bright indescribable light is always on in this place. Hence this Sthalam is called Kasi. Also it is said that Jyothir lingam first came to the earth in this place. Kasi is the central 'sthalam' among Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya Kasi, Kanchi, Avanthika, Dwaraka. There is neither extricate nor extricable merged with Parabrahmam Sankarar hence the name has happened Avimuktham. Bhagavan Sankara happily married the daughter of Parvatha Raja (king of mountain's) Parvathy and he lived in his new palace in Kasi with his newly married wife. Hence this is called Anandha-vanam. The Lord is the protector of the universe and his work is to transform life into after-life. As the world ends in the 'great deluge' with the Lord 's divine dance (Rudra thandavam) drawing in all livings things to himself his living place is called Maha-smasanam. This Holy place is in between two rivers called Varanam, and Asi. So this holy place is called Varanasi. Demon Banaran renovated this sthalam and installed the Sivalingam worshiped in this place. Hence this place is called Banaras following the demon Banaran's name. When Brahma and Vishnu were confused as to what for they had been created there was a voice that said " Both of you do penence." They were thinking as to where they should do the penance. Again the same voice said "Almighty Aadhi Sivam estabilished a huge city and it is hanging in the space supported by the Lord's Soolam (trident). Do the pennence in that place." Then Brahma and Vishnu reached the place and worshiped the "Parabrahma Lingam". Years passed. Lord thought that even the human beings of the world should have all prosperity and pray to himself. Hence he brought Kasi to the earth by his divine force After the city was brought to the earth Vishnu did penance to Lord Siva . He wanted water. So Maha-vishnu dug a well with his disk (Chakra) at the place. He sweatted like a water fall and the water filled the well. Hence it is called 'Chakra-Pushkarni'. In Daksha yagna because devi's consort Lord shiva was insulted by her father Daksha the devi went in to yoga-agni. When shiva came to know about this incident he was very angry.He took sati Devi's body on his shoulders and began to do" Aghora Thandavam" . When Vishnu with his disc seperated Shakthi from shiva to make shiva calm down the Devi's ear ring fell in that place. Much later Siva went to Kasi and enquired with Vishnu about the ear-ring of Sati. Vishnu showed the well that he had created with his disk. Siva peeped into the well and unexpectedly his ear-ring (kundalam) fell into the well. After this Shiva disappeared. At that moment there was a very bright light from the well and a Siva Lingam appeared. This is the first Jyothir Lingam to appear in this world. Paramatma is giving all his blessings to his devotees in 'Jyothir Linga swaroopam'. Because the earrings of Siva and Sakthi both fell in the same place the lingam came out as 'sivasakthi-Ikiya-rupam'. Vishnu took the lingam and installed it in a holy place. Siva was delighted and showed his 'Viswa-roopam' to Vishnu. Then Vishnu prayed to Siva to send Ganga to the earth . He further prayed that when devotees take a dip into the river all their sins should be wiped off and Lord shiva should bestow his blessings on them. Siva said "So be it".

Jyothir Linga Kshetram 1

Om Hreem Namasivaya.