Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlinga of the Lord Shiva, it is also known as the Dhushmeshwar or Ghushmeshwar. Located near the village of Verul (Ellora) in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, it holds the deep religious, historical and culture significance.

The origin of the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is associated with a devotees of Lord Shiva name Ghushma. She performed the daily ritual of making a Shiva Linga from clay and immersing into the water body after the worship. Her faith in Lord Shiva remained unshaken, pleased with her devotion Lord Shiva appeared and restored her happiness, manifesting himself as a jyotirlinga at that place. 

The present Architecture of the temple reflects the Structure of the South Indian Temples, primarly built of red volcanic stone. The temple consists of a five tiered shikhara(tower), beautiful carved pillars and image of various deities. A statue of Nandi is placed in front of the sanctum, facing toward the Lingam of the Lord Shiva. 

In Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, devotees are allowed to touch the Lingam while performing the abhishekam, touch the lingam is not permitted in many of other jyotirlinga and this will enhance the spiritual experience for the devotees. 

The temple attracts thousands of pilgrims throughout the year, especially during the Mahashivratri and the holy month of Shravan. Grihneshwar is more famous due to Ellora Caves which are close to the temple and make the place more significant for the pilgrims and tourists. 

Nearby Places to Visit in Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga

Ellora Caves 

Ellora Caves are one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and most remarkable ancient heritage site of India. located near Aurangabad in Maharashtra and about 1.5 km distance form the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga. Ellora Caves represent an extraordinary achievement of rock cutting architecture design and religious harmony.

The Caves are built between the 6th and 10th CE, it consists of 34 caves from south to north. Ellora caves are unique because it have a three major Indian religious at one site, they are Buddhism Caves from 1 to 12, Hinduism Caves from 13 to 29 and Jainism cave form 30 to 34

Daulatabad Fort

Daulatabad Fort is also known as the Devagiri Fort, it is one of the most formidable and historically significant hill fort in India, located about 15 km from the Aurangabad and about 14 km distance from the Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga. The Daulatabad fort is renowned for its strategic location, ingenious defence system and rich medieval history.  

The Fort was built in the 12th century by the King Bhillama V of the Yadav dynasty. The fort has a strong natural defenses and commanding position, it was became the prized stronghold in the deccan region. 

How to Reach Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga

• Nearest Airport -Aurangabad (IXU)
• Nearest railway Station - Aurangabad (AWB)