Vaijnath Temple

The Vaijnath Jyotirlinga at Parli Vaijnath in Maharashtra is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva — in the tradition’s lists also called Parli? — the shrine where Ravana, in the Puranic tale, is said to have installed a linga of Shiva in his own body’s devotion.

Significance

The temple’s idiosyncratic rule — worshippers may touch the linga (sparsha-darshan) — distinguishes it among jyotirlinga shrines. The Puranic frame names the site among the places Ravana’s tapas tested Shiva; the linga’s healing reputation gives the shrine its name (Vaidyanath, “lord of physicians” — a name shared by contested claimant shrines in Jharkhand and elsewhere).

History

The present stone temple is medieval (Yadava-period core with later Hemadpanti additions by tradition); the Maratha renewal under Ahilyabai Holkar’s patronage is recorded in the complex’s fabric? — her patronage is claimed locally. The Shiv-swami samadhi tradition links the site with Namdev? — no; keep: the Varkari tradition remembers visits of saints.

Modern status

A major Maharashtra pilgrimage; the Mahashivratri fair draws the region.

Verification notes

• Its place among the twelve jyotirlingas is standard in Maharashtra lists; the Vaidyanath identification is contested among sites (Parli vs Deoghar vs Baijnath).
• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).