Grishneshwar Temple or Ghrneshwar or Dhushmeshwar Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga Temple in Ellora, Aurangabad, Maharastra. This shrines is dedicated to Lord Shiva that is referenced in the Shiva Purana. Ghrneshwara means “lord of compassion”. Grishneshwar Temple is located in Ellora also known as Verul, which is less than a km from Ellora Caves (an UNESCO World Heritage site). It is about 30 kilometres north-west of the city of Aurangabad, and about 300 kilometres east-northeast from Mumbai.
The Grishneshwar Temple is one of the 5 Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra. The other 4 are Parli Vaidyanath Temple in Parli, Trimbakeshwar Temple near Nasik, Aundha Nagnath Temple in Hingoli, Bhimashankar Temple near Pune.
The temple was destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate in 13th and 14th centuries. The temple underwent several phases of reconstruction followed by further destruction during the Mughal-Maratha conflict. Indore Queen Ahilyabai Holkar has rebuilt the current temple in 18th century.
The importance of the temple is that Devotees believe that by visiting this Grishneshwar temple, one can reap the benefits of the worship of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is also said that the temple of Grishneshwar is a classic example of prehistoric architectural style and has beautiful sculptures.
The Devotees can see the scene of the marriage of the Lord and his wife in the murals and sculptures of the temple. The Grishneshwar temple also houses a well that sprouts holy water.
Grishneshwar Temple Darshan Timings: 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Shravan Months (August & September) 3:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Temple Opens at: 5:30 AM
Darshan Time: 6:30 AM to 12:00 Noon
Darshan Time: 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Darshan Time: 9:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Darshan Ticket Price: Free
Temple Closed: 9:30 PM
Note: Timings may change on Special Days and Festivals Days without prior notice.
Grishneshwar Temple Days Ritual Timings:
Monday to Sunday Mangal Aarti 4:00 AM
Monday to Sunday Jalhari Saghan 8:00 AM
Monday to Sunday Maha Prasad 12:00 Noon
Monday to Sunday Jalhari Saghan 4:00 PM
Monday to Sunday Evening Aarti – Summer 7:30 PM
Monday to Sunday Evening Aarti – Winter 10:30 PM
Monday to Sunday Night Aarti 11:50 PM
Grishneshwar Temple Dress Code:
Men: Men’s should enter the temple without shirt and vest, allowed only with Dhoti and Dhoti Colour Saffron is recommended.
Women: Saree, Churidar
Grishneshwar Temple Panchamrutha Abhishekam:
Morning: 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Afternoon: 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Note: Online Booking for Abhishekam is not available.
Grishneshwar Abhishekam Benefits:
Gains good Health and Wealth, Creates Positive Energy, Removes fear of Sudden Death.
Grishneshwar Shiva Temple History:
The story of the Grishneshwar Shiva temple speaks of Maloji Bhosle, an ardent devotee and the chief of Verul village. He constructed the temple in the 16th century after finding a hidden treasure in an anthill. In 17th century Maratha Malwa queen Rani Ahilyabai Holker renovated the temple.
According to Shiva Purana, several stories are associated with this ancient Temple they are
Shivalay Story:
The story of Shivalay tells that during his hunting journeys, the king of Verul killed animals that lived in the Rishis ashram. This angered the Rishis who cursed the king and the insects swarmed all his body. The king wandered through the forest and found a hole with water flowing from it.
By the time he started drinking water, the insects miraculously disappeared from his body. The overwhelmed king did severe penance there. Satisfied with the kings penance, Lord Brahma blessed the him and created a lake which became to be known as Shiva temple.
Kumkumeshwar Story:
Lord Shiva and his wife Parvathi resided in the Sahyadri range, near Shiva temple. One day when the goddess was about to apply Kumkum, water mixed with Shivalay. The Kumkum has transformed into Linga, emitting a ray of radiant light.
Since Linga emerged from kumkum, this Jyotirlinga was originally called Kumkumeshwar. But the goddess called him Grishneshwar because she believed that the Linga came from the action of rubbing, and the word Grish means friction.
Ghushmeswar Story:
Brahmavetta Sudharm is a great Brahmin scholar, he and his wife, Sudeha, lived in the southern mountain of Devagiri. They had no children, and an worried Sudeha told her sister Ghushma to marry Sudharm so that they could have a child.
Finally, Ghushma and Sudharm had a son who is the envy of Sudeha. The boy grew up to be a handsome young man and in time married. Unable to cope with feelings of jealousy, Sudeha killed the boy while he was sleeping and threw the body into a lake.
A deeply worried Gushma continued her routine. During her morning ritual of visiting the lake where she regularly make and worship a hundred lingas, she saw her son come out of the lake. Then Lord Shiva appeared before her and told her that Sudeha had killed her son. Pleased with Gushma’s devotion, he returned her son and also gave her a blessing. Ghushma then requested the Lord to forgive her sister and stay in the place. The Lord accepted her request and continued to reside there in the form of Jyotirlinga. Therefore, he took the name Ghushmeswar in honor of Gushma.
Grishneshwar Temple Festivals:
Mahashivratri
Ganesh Chaturthi
Navaratri
Diwali
Temples Near Grishneshwar Temple:
Ellora Caves
Bhadra Maruti Temple, Khuldabad
Aundha Nagnath Jyotirlinga Temple
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple
Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga Temple
Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
How to Reach Grishneshwar Shiva Temple:
By Air:
Chikkalthana Airport, Aurangabad is the nearest Airport which is just 36.4 km away from the Temple.
Pune International Airport the second nearest Airport which is just 251 km away from the Temple.
Mumbai International Airport the third nearest Airport which is just 341 km away from the Temple.
By Rail:
Aurangabad Railway Station is the Nearest Railway Station which is 28.9 km away from the temple.
By Road:
Pune is 257 km away from Grishneshwar
Nasik is 175 away from Grishneshwar
Shirdi is 147 km away from Grishneshwar
Ellora is 1 km away from Grishneshwar
Grishneshwar Mandir Location:
Grishneshwar Jyotirling Temple,
Verul (Ellora),
Aurangabad District,
Maharashtra – 431102.
Other Jyotirlinga Temples are:
1) Somnath Temple in Gujarat
2) Mahakaleshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh
3) Omkareshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh
4) Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand
5) Bhimashankar Temple in Maharashtra
6) Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Uttar Pradesh
7) Trimbakeshwar (or) Tryambakeshwar Shiva Temple in Maharashtra
8) Ramanathaswamy Temple in Tamil Nadu
9) Vaidyanath Temple in Jharkhand
10) Nageshwar Temple (or) Aundha Nagnath Temple in Gujarat
11) Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swami Temple in Andhra Pradesh