Grishneshwar Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, and is located at Verul, which is 11 km from Daulatabad in Maharashtra, India. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is an important Hindu pilgrimage place and was built by Ahilyabhai Holkar who re-constructed the Kasi Viswanatha Temple at Varanasi and the Vishnu Pada Temple at Gaya. Kusumeswarar, Ghushmeswara, Grushmeswara and Grishneswara are some of the other names of this temple. The temple is located near the famous Ellora Caves World Heritage Site.
Temple Features
The Grishneshwar Temple is noted for its beautiful carvings. Dasavatara (ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu) are exquisitely carved in red stone. Besides, there are other gorgeous statutes with fine carvings. There is a court hall which is built on 24 pillars and the carvings of these pillars depict scenes from mythology. The Garbhagriha enshrines the Shiva Lingam which faces eastward. A magnificent Nandi is seen in the court hall. A holy tank is found nearby.
Legend of Grishneshwar Jyothirlinga
Once there a lived a great scholar Brahmin, Sudhama, on the southern mountain called Deva Parvata. He lived with his beautiful wife called Sudeha. As they had no children, Sudeha decided to get her sister Ghushma married to her husband. Ghushma, who was a devotee of Lord Shiva, used to make 101 Sivalingas, worship them and release them in the nearby lake. Sometime later, Ghushma gave birth to a son who in due course got married. As days passed by, Sudeha started feeling jealousy of her sister. One night, she killed Ghushma’s son and threw him in the lake where Ghushma used to sink the lingas.
Next morning, Ghushma came to know the death of her son through her daughter-in-law. However, she continued her daily worship. When she dipped the Shivalingam in the tank, she saw her son restored to life. Lord Shiva, who appeared before her, revealed the truth. Ghushama pleaded Lord Shiva to remain there itself for the wellbeing of the people. The Lord manifested himself in the form of a Jyotirlinga and thus assumed the name Ghushmeshwar.
Festivals
Maha Shivaratri is celebrated here during February – March.
Grishneshwar Temple Timings
The temple is opened from 5.30 AM - 9.30 PM. During the month of Shravan (August to September), Grishneshwar Temple is opened from 3 AM to 11 PM. Best season to visit the shrine is from October to March.
Nearby Attractions
Grishneshwar Shiva Temple is located near the famous Ajanta and Ellora caves. Ellora is renowned for its ancient rock cut monuments from the 1st millennium CE, and Ajanta is known for its delicate cave paintings from the 1st millennium CE.
How to Reach Grishneshwar
Verul village is about 30 km towards the west side of Aurangabad which serves as the nearest airport. Nearest railway station is Manmad, which is about 140 km away. Frequent bus services are available from Grishneshwar to Aurangabad.
Temple Features
The Grishneshwar Temple is noted for its beautiful carvings. Dasavatara (ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu) are exquisitely carved in red stone. Besides, there are other gorgeous statutes with fine carvings. There is a court hall which is built on 24 pillars and the carvings of these pillars depict scenes from mythology. The Garbhagriha enshrines the Shiva Lingam which faces eastward. A magnificent Nandi is seen in the court hall. A holy tank is found nearby.
Legend of Grishneshwar Jyothirlinga
Once there a lived a great scholar Brahmin, Sudhama, on the southern mountain called Deva Parvata. He lived with his beautiful wife called Sudeha. As they had no children, Sudeha decided to get her sister Ghushma married to her husband. Ghushma, who was a devotee of Lord Shiva, used to make 101 Sivalingas, worship them and release them in the nearby lake. Sometime later, Ghushma gave birth to a son who in due course got married. As days passed by, Sudeha started feeling jealousy of her sister. One night, she killed Ghushma’s son and threw him in the lake where Ghushma used to sink the lingas.
Next morning, Ghushma came to know the death of her son through her daughter-in-law. However, she continued her daily worship. When she dipped the Shivalingam in the tank, she saw her son restored to life. Lord Shiva, who appeared before her, revealed the truth. Ghushama pleaded Lord Shiva to remain there itself for the wellbeing of the people. The Lord manifested himself in the form of a Jyotirlinga and thus assumed the name Ghushmeshwar.
Festivals
Maha Shivaratri is celebrated here during February – March.
Grishneshwar Temple Timings
The temple is opened from 5.30 AM - 9.30 PM. During the month of Shravan (August to September), Grishneshwar Temple is opened from 3 AM to 11 PM. Best season to visit the shrine is from October to March.
Nearby Attractions
Grishneshwar Shiva Temple is located near the famous Ajanta and Ellora caves. Ellora is renowned for its ancient rock cut monuments from the 1st millennium CE, and Ajanta is known for its delicate cave paintings from the 1st millennium CE.
How to Reach Grishneshwar
Verul village is about 30 km towards the west side of Aurangabad which serves as the nearest airport. Nearest railway station is Manmad, which is about 140 km away. Frequent bus services are available from Grishneshwar to Aurangabad.
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