Shiva is as timeless as creation. There are thousands of chronicles on his miracles and deeds. Of them, the one on jyotirlinga – the all-pervading light – holds a special place. According to Hindu mythology, specifically the Shiva Purana, Vishnu and Brahma had a quarrel over who was superior to who.

To test and teach them a lesson, Shiva, who is devoid of the concept of spacetime, pierced through three worlds – earth, cosmos and patala – as huge energy of radiating light. This light is the Jyotirlinga. Shiva asked them to find the source and the culmination of the light. After traveling indefinitely, Vishnu accepted his defeat while Brahma claimed to have found the source.
On claiming false victory, Shiva arrived as another pillar of light and cursed Brahma that the world would no worship him and that there would be no ceremonies for him. On the other hand, He blessed that Lord Vishnu would be worshipped until the end of time.

The Jyotirling is the radiance born out of Shiva, a part of Him and the shrines across India are the places of significance where Shiva appeared as the eternal light.