Grishneshwar Temple is a Jyotirlinga temple of Shiva located near the Ellora Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra.
This temple is considered to be the last or twelfth Jyotirlinga (linga of light). This temple is situated on the banks of a stream called Shivalaya, which is considered to be a tributary of the holy river Ganga.
The name Grishneshwar means Lord of Compassion, and reflects the generosity of Bhagwan Shiva towards his devotees. This temple is a nationally protected site, one and a half kilometers away from the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History and Architecture of Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, the most sacred manifestations of Bhagwan Shiva. Grishneshwar is mentioned in Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The architecture of the Grishneshwar temple is a blend of South Indian and Maratha styles. The temple is made of red sandstone and black basalt and is topped by a five-tiered shikhara. The temple has a large courtyard with a statue of Nandi (bull) in front of the main entrance. The main entrance has a verandah with pillars and arches decorated with floral motifs.
The sanctum sanctorum (innermost chamber) of the temple houses a Shiva Linga which can be touched by devotees. The Shiva Linga is approximately 60 cm high and 45 cm wide and has a silver snake wrapped around it. There is also an idol of Bhagwan Vishnu behind the Shiva Linga in the sanctum sanctorum. The inner chambers of the temple have murals depicting ten incarnations of Bhagwan Vishnu.
The temple also has a hall with 12 pillars, each of which represents one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The hall has a silver plated door with images of Bhagwan Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi. The temple also has a circumambulation path which has idols of various deities like Brahma, Saraswati, Kartikeya, Parvati, Ganesha, Nandi and Hanuman.
This temple was first constructed by an unknown ruler before the 13th century. Later it was destroyed but with time it was renovated by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar, the queen of Indore in the 18th century. The present structure of the temple is attributed to him and is considered one of his finest works.
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Darshan Timings:
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is open for devotees every day from 5:30 am to 9:30 pm. The entry fee is Rs 10 per person.
Major festivals of Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga
Maha Shivratri, Shravan month, Kartik Purnima, Maha Shivratri Yatra are the major festivals of Grishneshwar Temple. These rituals and festivals attract thousands of pilgrims and tourists from all over India and abroad who seek blessings from Bhagwan Shiva.
How to reach Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga?
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is located at a distance of about 30 km from Aurangabad city and about 2 km from Ellora Caves. This temple is very well connected by road to other cities. The nearest railway station is Aurangabad and the nearest airport is at Aurangabad.
Popular Name: Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga