Details of Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga: History, Story, Location, and Google Map

About Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga (घृष्णेश्वर ज्योतिर्लिंग)

Ghrishneshwar is a Hindu temple, where Lord Shiva is worshipped, located in Verul village of Aurangabad district, Maharashtra. The history of Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple is quite interesting. It is said about this temple that very little information is available about when this temple was built. This is the fourth prime jyotirlinga among the 12 jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

Mughal Emperors Destroyed the Temple

The temple structure was destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th and 14th centuries. The temple went through several periods of reconstruction and then again destruction during the Mughal-Maratha war. Shivaji's grandfather Maloji Bhosale first renovated it in the 16th century and rebuilt it in its present form in the 18th century under the sponsorship of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore after the fall of the Mughal Empire. You will also get about the Grushaneshwar is mentioned in Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana. Ramayana and Mahabharata.

The Temple Re-Built by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar

According to mythological belief, it is said that the last renovation of Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple was done by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar (रानी अहिल्याबाई होल्कर) in the 18th century. However, there is no full proof of this yet, very little evidence is available.

The Story of Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga

The mythological story of Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga is quite interesting. It is said that a Brahmin named “Sudharma” and his wife “Sudeha” lived near Devagiri Mountain, but they had no children. Due to not having children, Sudeha got her younger sister Ghushma married to a Brahmin. Ghushma was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and she used to make 100 earthly Shivalingas and worship them every day and immerse them in the pond.

By the grace of Shiva devotion, Ghushma got a son, but Sudharma could not see this and he killed the child and threw it in the same pond. Even after the death of the child, Gushma did not get upset, still she remained absorbed in the devotion of Shiva, and one day she would perform such a miracle which would surprise everyone. The Brahman threw which baby in the pond in the same pond she was found alive in the same pond.

It is said that Lord Shiva was very happy to see Ghushma's devotion and appeared at the same place where Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga is established today. There is a belief about Ghrishneshwar Jyotirling that it is Swayambhu and the last Jyotirling. According to mythological belief, whoever comes here for darshan with a true heart, all his wishes are definitely fulfilled here.

Especially on the occasion of Shivratri and Mahashivratri, there is a crowd of devotees here. Thousands of devotees reach here every day during the month of Sawan or August. Especially, on Monday of Sawan, devotees from every corner of the country come to offer water. In Saavan, people are also lining up with the “Kaanwad Yatra”.