Near the world famous Ellora Caves in Maharashtra stands Grishneshwar, also called Ghushmeshwar, the twelfth and final Jyotirlinga in our journey through these twelve sacred shrines of Lord Shiva.
FACT: THE SMALLEST OF THE TWELVE, BUILT BY A QUEEN
Grishneshwar is famously the smallest of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples in size. The present structure was built in the eighteenth century by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar, the devout queen of Indore, who is also remembered for rebuilding the Kashi Vishwanath temple at Varanasi and the temple complex at Somnath, making her one of the most important figures in the history of India's Jyotirlingas.
The Story of Grishneshwar
MYTH: FAITH TESTED BY UNBEARABLE LOSS
In this region once lived a devoted woman named Kusuma, known for her deep daily worship of Shiva, in which she would immerse a small lingam into a nearby pond as part of her ritual. Her husband's other wife, Sudeha, who had no children of her own, grew envious of Kusuma's happiness and, in a moment of cruelty, killed Kusuma's young son and threw his body into that same pond.
Despite this unbearable grief, Kusuma did not abandon her faith. She continued her worship of Shiva exactly as before, immersing her lingam in the pond the next morning with the same devotion. Moved beyond measure by her unwavering trust, Lord Shiva rose from the pond, restored her son to life, and, at the prayers of the grateful devotees, agreed to remain there forever as the Jyotirlinga Grishneshwar.
Neighbour to a World Heritage Site
Grishneshwar stands close to the Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its rock-cut temples carved directly into hillside rock, including the enormous Kailasa temple carved from a single piece of stone. Many pilgrims combine their darshan here with a visit to the caves on the same day.
FACT: A CIRCLE THAT COMPLETES ITSELF
With Grishneshwar, the pilgrimage through all twelve Jyotirlingas comes full circle, from Somnath in the west to Kashi Vishwanath in the north, from Rameshwaram in the south to Grishneshwar here in central India, each one a different face of the same eternal light.
घृष्णेश्वरं महादेवं कुसुमावतिपूजितम् ।
यो नमेत् भक्तिसंयुक्तः सर्वसिद्धिमवाप्नुयात् ॥
Transliteration: Ghrishneshvaram Mahaadevam, Kusumaavati-poojitam | Yo namet bhakti-samyuktah, sarva-siddhim avaapnuyaat ||
Meaning: One who bows with devotion to Lord Mahadeva as Grishneshwar - the one worshipped by the devoted Kusumavati - attains all perfections and the fulfilment of every righteous wish.
Source: Shiva Purana - Kotirudra Samhita, Chapter 32 - The Story of Grishneshwar and Kusumavati
द्वादशानां ज्योतिर्लिङ्गानां चरमं घृष्णेश्वरम् ।
दर्शनात् सर्वपापघ्नं मोक्षदं शिवसंमतम् ॥
Transliteration: Dvaadashaanaam Jyotirllingaanaam, charamam Ghrishneshvaram | Darshanaat sarva-paapa-ghnam, mokshadam Shiva-sammatam ||
Meaning: Grishneshwar is the last among the twelve Jyotirlingas. Its darshan destroys all sins and grants Moksha - liberation - as approved by Shiva Himself. The one who completes the twelve by coming here receives Shiva's complete grace.
Source: Skanda Purana - Sahyadri Khanda, Chapter 11 - Grishneshwar as the Final Jyotirlinga
How to Reach Grishneshwar
- The temple is about 30 kilometres from Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar).
- Aurangabad has its own airport and railway station, well connected to Mumbai and Pune.
- Local taxis and buses connect Aurangabad, Ellora and Grishneshwar throughout the day.
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Detail |
Information |
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Location |
Near Ellora, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra |
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Nearest Railway Station |
Aurangabad Railway Station (about 30 km) |
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Nearest Airport |
Aurangabad Airport (about 30 km) |
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Temple Darshan Hours |
5:30 AM to 9:30 PM (approximate) |
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Best Time to Visit |
October to March |
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Wheelchair Access |
Good; flat temple grounds |
TIP FOR SENIOR PILGRIMS
The temple grounds are flat and manageable for elderly visitors. If combining with Ellora Caves in the same trip, plan the temple visit first in the cooler morning hours before the caves, since the caves involve more walking and climbing.
Estimated Cost for a 2-Night Stay (Per Person)
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Expense |
Approximate Cost |
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Budget hotel in Aurangabad |
Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 per night |
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Mid-range hotel in Aurangabad |
Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 3,000 per night |
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Taxi from Aurangabad to Ellora and Grishneshwar (return) |
Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 2,000 |
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Ellora Caves entry ticket |
Rs. 40 for Indian citizens, subject to change |
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Meals |
Rs. 150 to Rs. 350 per day |
What Else Can You See Nearby
- Ellora Caves - UNESCO World Heritage rock-cut cave temples, including the Kailasa temple.
- Daulatabad Fort - a formidable hilltop fort on the way from Aurangabad.
- Bibi Ka Maqbara - a monument often compared to the Taj Mahal, located in Aurangabad.
CLOSING MYTH: FAITH THAT CANNOT BE BROKEN
Kusuma's story is remembered as the truest example of unshaken faith, devotion that did not waver even after unbearable loss. With Grishneshwar, the journey through all twelve Jyotirlingas comes full circle, each one a reminder that sincere devotion, wherever it is offered, is never without an answer.