Vishnu ventured downward in his quest to locate the base, while Brahma went upwards seeking the top. Despite their efforts, neither could find the ends of the light. Vishnu eventually conceded his inability to find the end and admitted his defeat. Brahma, on the other hand, falsely claimed that he had discovered the top, using deceit to bolster his argument. In response to Brahma’s dishonesty, Shiva reappeared and rebuked him, decreeing that Brahma would no longer be worshipped in ceremonies. Conversely, Shiva praised Vishnu for his honesty and declared that Vishnu would be worshipped for eternity. The jyotirlinga, therefore, is seen as a symbol of Shiva's boundless and supreme nature.

In total, there are believed to be 64 jyotirlingas according to ancient texts, but only 12 are particularly revered and considered especially holy. Each of these twelve sites is named after a different manifestation of Shiva, and they are unique in their representation of his divine attributes. The jyotirlinga at each site represents the infinite pillar of light, embodying Shiva's endless and beginningless essence. These shrines are not just places of worship but are considered significant spiritual centers, where the divine presence of Shiva as an infinite light is believed to have manifested.

For instance, within Shri Omkareshwar Temple, the jyotirlinga is described as a "roundish black stone" that symbolizes the form of Shiva. Near this stone is another white stone, representing Parvati, Shiva's consort, highlighting the divine union of the god and goddess.

The twelve sacred jyotirlingas are scattered across India, each with its unique legends and significance:

Somnath in Veraval, Gujarat: This jyotirlinga is considered the foremost among the twelve. It symbolizes the eternal and unchanging nature of Shiva. According to legend, the Moon God, Soma, built this temple in gold initially.

Mallikarjuna in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh: Situated on the Srisailam hills, this temple represents both Shiva and Parvati. The story goes that Shiva and Parvati visited this site to console their son, Kartikeya.

Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh: Known for its south-facing lingam, which is rare and represents the destructive form of Shiva. It is believed that the temple is built over a self-manifested lingam.

Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh: Located on an island shaped like the sacred symbol 'Om', the lingam here is believed to be split into two, representing Shri Omkareshwar jyotirlinga and Amaleshwar.

Kedarnath in the Himalayas, Uttarakhand: This jyotirlinga is accessible only part of the year due to its high altitude. It is associated with the Pandavas from the Mahabharata, who came here seeking Shiva's blessings.

Bhimashankar in Maharashtra: Situated in the Sahyadri hills, this shrine represents the fierce yet compassionate aspects of Shiva. It is linked to the legend of Shiva defeating the demon Tripurasura.

Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Located in one of the oldest and most sacred cities, this jyotirlinga is believed to liberate one from the cycle of rebirth. Shiva is said to have appeared here as a pillar of light to end a dispute among the gods.

Triambakeshwar in Maharashtra: Close to the origin of the Godavari River, this temple is believed to be the birthplace of the river, which is also called Gautami Ganga.

Baidyanath in Deoghar, Jharkhand: Also known as Baba Dham, it is linked to the story of Ravana, who worshipped Shiva here to gain his boon.

Nageshwar in Aundha, Maharashtra: This jyotirlinga represents protection from poisons and is associated with the legend of Shiva defeating the demon Daruka.

Ramanathaswamy in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu: This temple is tied to the Ramayana, where Rama worshipped Shiva to seek forgiveness for killing Ravana.

Grishneshwar in Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra: The smallest of the jyotirlingas, this shrine is linked to the legend of a devotee named Ghushma, whose prayers brought Shiva to this place.