Jyotirlinga

Grishneshwar Temple is located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. It belongs to the celebrated list of 12 Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva. This temple is nearly 3000 years old and the Linga faces east. The sanctum sanctorum includes Lord Grishneshwar and his consort Grishneshwari.

Grishneshwar Temple – Facts

Deity	Lord Grishneshwar (Lord Shiva)
Location	Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Significance	Jyotirlinga
Tours	5 Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra Tour
Darshan Timings	5:30 AM to 9:30 PM
Poojas	Rudrabhishek
Entry Fee	Free
Dress Code	Men: Dhoti, No shirt; Women: Saree, Churidar
Best Time to Visit	June to August
Festivals	Shravan Maas, Mahashivratri
Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra	Sri Vaidyanath, Sri Trimbakeshwar, Sri Aundha Nagnath, Sri Bhimashankar

The Grishneshwar Temple is one of the 5 Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra. The other 4 Jyotirlingas are:

• Parli Vaidyanath Temple (in Parli)
• Trimbakeshwar Temple (near Nasik)
• Aundha Nagnath Temple (in Hingoli)
• Bhimashankar Temple (near Pune)

Grishneshwar Temple Timings

Grishneshwar temple opens at 05:30 am in the morning and closes at 09:30 pm in the evening. During the month of Shravan, the temple remains open between 03:00 am to 11:00 pm. The time required for Darshan: 1 to 2 hours depending on the crowd.

The temple also performs various rituals during this time. The devotees can be a part of these rituals such as the afternoon and evening aarti.

The timings of Grishneshwar Temple are as follows:

Rituals	Timings
Darshan	5:30 AM – 9:30 PM
Darshan during Shravan Maas	3:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Afternoon Pooja	1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Evening Pooja	4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

What are the sevas and poojas at Grishneshwar Temple?

The sevas and poojas at Grishneshwar temple are:

Timings	From
Mangal Arati	4 AM
Jalhari Sanghan	8 AM
Maha Prashad	12 PM
Jalhari Sagan	4 PM
Evening Aarti	7:30 PM
Night Aarti	10 PM

What is the significance of Grishneshwar Temple?

The significance of the temple is that the pilgrims believe that by paying a visit to the Grishneshwar temple, one can reap the benefits of worshiping all the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is also said that the Grishneshwar temple is a classic example of the pre-historic style of architecture and has beautiful carvings.

Devotees can see the marriage scene of the Lord and his consort in the temple murals and carving. The Grishneshwar temple also houses a well that springs holy water.

What is the history of Grishneshwar Temple?

The history of Grishneshwar temple speaks of Maloji Bhosle, an ardent devotee and chief of the Verul village. He built the temple in the 16^th century after he found a treasure hidden inside an anthill. Rani Ahilyabai Holker, Queen of the Maratha Malwa Kingdom, renovated the temple in the 17^th century.

According to the Shiva Purana, several legends are associated with this ancient place of worship:

Legend of Shivalay

The legend of Shivalay states that during his hunting expeditions, the king of Verul killed animals living in the hermitage of Rishis. This angered the Rishis who cursed the king and insects swarmed over his body. The king wandered in the forest and came across a hole with water flowing from it.

The moment he started drinking the water, the insects miraculously vanished from his body. The overwhelmed king did severe penance in that place. Pleased with the penance, Lord Brahma blessed the king and created a lake that came to be known as Shivalay.

Legend of Kumkumeshwar

Lord Shiva and his consort Parvathi were residing in the Sahyadri range, near Shivalay. One day, when the Goddess was about to apply vermilion, she mixed it with the Shivalay water. The vermilion then transformed into a Linga, emitting a radiant ray of light.

Since the Linga emerged from the vermilion, this Jyotirlinga was initially called Kumkumeshwar. But the Goddess named it Grishneshwar since she believed the Linga came from the rubbing action, and the word Grish means friction.

Legend of Ghushmeswar

A great Brahmin scholar, Brahmavetta Sudharm and his wife, Sudeha, lived in the southern mountain of Devagiri (later known as Daulatabad). They were childless, and an agonized Sudeha persuaded her sister Ghushma to marry Sudharm so that they could have a child together.

Eventually, Ghushma and Sudharm had a son much to the envy of Sudeha. The boy grew up to be a handsome young man and eventually got married. Unable to cope with jealous feelings, Sudeha killed the boy when he was asleep and threw the body into a lake.

A deeply grieving Gushma continued with her routine. During her morning ritual of visiting the lake where she usually made and worshipped a hundred Lingas, she saw her son emerging from the lake. Then Lord Shiva appeared before her and said that Sudeha had killed her son.

Pleased with Gushma’s devotion, he gave back her son and also granted her a boon. Then Ghushma requested the Lord to forgive her sister and also to remain in the place. The Lord accepted her request and continued to reside there in the form of a Jyotirlinga. Hence, he took the name Ghushmeswar in Gushma’s honor.

What is the architecture of Grishneshwar Temple like?

History lovers would find the temple engrossing as several rock carvings of Maratha heroes are preserved beautifully in the temple. Devotees and visitors find the brilliant five-tiered Shikhara (temple tower) amazing.

The Shikara also includes intricate carvings of the Dasavathar, which appear resplendent in the red volcanic rock. Devotees also marvel at the statue of Nandikeshwara that adorns the court hall.

What are the festivals celebrated at Grishneshwar Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Grishneshwar Temple are:

• Mahashivaratri: Like all important Shiva temples, the Maha Shivaratri festival is a grand event at Grishneshwar temple. It is the main festival here. Crores of devotees make a trip to this town to catch a glimpse of the Lord on this auspicious day that falls in February/March every year.
• Ganesh Chaturthi: Dedicated to Lord Ganesh, this festival is celebrated in August / September
• Navratri or Durga Puja: It is a famous festival, celebrated as a symbol of victory of good over evil. As per legend, Goddess Durga defeated the demon king Mahishasura to save the world and restore Dharma. Navratri is celebrated across India for nine days. Celebrations in the temple include stage decorations, recital of the legend, enacting of the story, and chanting of the scriptures of Hinduism.

How to reach Grishneshwar Temple?

Here’s how to reach Grishneshwar Temple:

• Air: The nearest airport is in Aurangabad, and there are regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Udaipur.
• Train: Aurangabad is the nearest railway station. Manmad is also closer and better connected.
• Road: From Pune: 256 km/4.5 hours. From Nasik: 187 km/3 hours. From Shirdi: 122 km/2.5 hours.

Where to stay nearby?

Grishneshwar Temple is situated in a small village called Verul and there aren’t many accommodation options available nearby. Devotees usually stay either in Daulatabad or Aurangabad, with the latter offering more choices of accommodation. You can expect mostly budget accommodations in Daulatabad.

Where to eat in Grishneshwar?

Several devotees partake the free lunch provided at the temple. There are not many restaurant options in Verul. However, one can find several good standalone restaurants in Aurangabad.

What are some temples near Grishneshwar Temple?

Some of the temples near Grishneshwar are:

• Ellora Caves: The Ellora Caves is a collection of Hindu caves, Buddhist caves, and Jain caves and is an excellent example of religious harmony during the ancient period. The Ellora Caves are within a 1 km distance from Grishneshwar Temple.
• Bhadra Maruti Temple, Khuldabad: This temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the monkey god. The Bhadra Maruti Temple also enjoys the reputation of being the only Hanuman temple with the deity in reclining or sleeping position. The temple is just 6 km away from the Grishneswar Temple.
• Aundha Nagnath Jyotirlinga Temple: The Aundha Nagnath Temple in the village of Aundha Nagnath in Maharashtra, is the first of the Jyotirlinga temples. The temple is 227 km from the Grishneshwar temple. According to beliefs, Yudhishtra, the eldest of the Pandava brothers built the Temple during their exile.
• Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple: The Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple is near Pune and is 201 km from Grishneshwar Temple. The Linga here is one of the five Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra.
• Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga Temple: Vaijnath Jyotirlinga Temple is located in Parli, Beed District, Maharashtra. The temple is 246 km from the Grishneshwar Temple. Moreover, devotees believe that health conditions improve by praying at this temple.
• Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple: The Trimbakeshwar Temple is in the town of Trimbak, Nashik District, Maharashtra. The temple is 214 km from Grishneshwar Temple. The Linga has three faces symbolizing Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Brahma.

Frequently Asked Questions about Grishneshwar Temple

Bhimashankar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is in Bhimashankar reserve, near Pune in Maharashtra. The temple is also the source of the River Bhima. A holy dip in the river is believed to wash all the sins of a person.

Bhimashankar Temple – Facts

Deity	Lord Bhimashankar (Lord Shiva)
Location	50 km North-West of Khed, near Pune, Maharashtra
Significance	Jyotirlinga
Tours	5 Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra Tour
Darshan Timings	4:30 AM to 9:30 PM
Poojas	Rudrabhisek, Laghurudra
Entry Fee	Free
Best Time to Visit	June to August
Festivals	Mahashivratri, Karthik Poornima, Ganesh Chaturthi
Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra	Sri Aundha Nagnath, Sri Trimbakeshwar, Sri Grishneshwar, Sri Parli Vaijnath

Bhimashankar Temple is one of the 5 Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra. The other 4 Jyotirlingas are:

• Sri Vaidyanath (in Parli)
• Sri Nageshwar (in Aundha)
• Trimbakeshwar (near Nasik)
• Sri Grishneshwar (near Aurangabad)

What are the timings of Bhimashankar Temple?

The temple opens at 4:30 AM in the morning and closes at 9:30 PM in the evening. The temple also performs various rituals during this time. The devotees can be a part of these rituals such as the afternoon and evening aarti.

The timings of Bhimashankar Temple are as follows:

Rituals	Timings
Darshan	4:30 AM – 9:30 PM
Morning Aarti	4:30 AM – 5:00 AM
Morning Darshan	4:30 AM – 3:15 PM
Evening Darshan	4:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Nijarupa Darshan	5:00 AM – 5:30 AM
Shringar Darshan	4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Evening Aarti	7:30 PM – 8:00 PM

What is the significance of Bhimashankar Temple?

The Linga of Lord Shiva is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. These Jyotirlingas are self-manifested forms of Lord Shiva, unlike the Lingas that are instated by humans. It is said that these Jyotirlingas are when Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. The Bhimashankar Linga occurs at a lower level compared to the ground in the main sanctum.

The top of the Linga is divided by a narrow groove in the Linga. Each half of the Linga signifies Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The Lord appears as “Ardhanareeshwara” in the Bhimashankar temple.

According to beliefs, water flows continuously from the Linga since time immemorial.

The River Bhima is considered sacred by the people because it is believed that the river is actually the perspiration of Lord Shankara (Shiva) after he defeated the demon Tripurasura.

The Mokshakund, located behind the Bhimashankar temple is believed to be the place where the Maharishi Kaushik (also known as Brahmarishi Vishwamitra) performed penance or Tapasya to please the Gods.

The temple administration allows pilgrims to conduct Abhishekam and Poojas to the Jyotirlinga by themselves with marigold and Bilva leaves.

What is the history of Bhimashankar Temple?

The history of the original sanctum dates back to the 13th century. Various renovations were done on the complex during different time periods. According to beliefs, in the 13th century, a woodcutter named, Bhatirao Lakhadhara, discovered the Jyotirlinga when his axe hit the tree, the ground started bleeding.

The villagers gathered there and offered milk to the tree which stopped the bleeding. The people of the village built a small temple at the site and named it the Bhimashankar Temple.

Several notable figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji, Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, and Raghunath Peshwa also regularly visited the shrine and carried out poojas and renovations. The Diwan of the Peshwas, Nana Phadnavis built the Shikhar of the Bhimashankar temple.

Legend of Tripurasura

As per one legend mentioned in the Matsya Puranam and the Shiva Puranam, there were three demons by the names of Vidyunmali, Tarakaksha, and Viryavana, and together they were known as the Tripurasura. They performed Tapasya and obtained a boon from Lord Brahma. The boon was that the Gods will construct three beautiful cities, each made of gold, iron, and silver for the Asuras. All three forts together will be called Tripura. However, the prophecy said that only a single arrow can destroy the city.

Demons from all over the world came and resided at the palaces. After the initial self-enjoyment, they eventually started troubling the people of the realm. They even misbehaved with Rishis and Maharishis, terrorized the common folk and eventually challenged the Gods. Therefore, Lord Indra accompanied by other Gods went to Lord Brahma to put an end to the Tripura, but Lord Brahma could not help and asked them to request Lord Shiva. Shiva obliged and the war between the Devas and the Asuras began. He also requested the help of Goddess Parvati and both of them took the form of “Ardha-Narya-Nateshwar” and descended to the Earth.

To destroy the Tripura, Lord Shiva asked Vishwakarma to build a chariot. The chariot had special features. The Goddess Earth (Prithvi) became the chariot, Sun and Moon became the wheels, Lord Brahma became the Sarathi, Mount Meru became the bow, Serpent Vasuki was the bow-string and Lord Vishnu became the arrow. Just as the three cities aligned, Lord Shiva burned them to the ground. Then the Gods requested Lord Shiva to take rest there and make the place his home. Lord Shiva turned himself into a Linga and made the Bhimashankar mountains his home.

What is the architecture of the Bhimashankar Temple like?

The Bhimashankar temple complex is small and has a simple structure with numerous sculptures depicting different Gods and Goddesses. The architecture of the temple follows the Nagara style and the Hemadpanthi style of construction. The temple consists of Garbhagriha, Sabhamandap, and the Kurmamandap.

The main door of the Bhimashankar temple is made of solid wood with figures of several gods and goddesses. A huge bell is there at the entrance of the temple. Chimaji Appa, brother of Bajirao Peshwa I gifted this bell. Two large Nandis are also there in the Temple. The one in front of the sanctum is very old and the other one is new. One can also visit the shrines of Lord Shani, Nandi, Lord Ram, and Dutta.

What are the festivals celebrated at Bhimashankar Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Bhimshankar Temple are:

1. Mahashivaratri: A huge fair is organized for five days in late February or early March as a mark of their respect for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is believed that Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati on this day. The day is famous for rigorous poojas, bhajans, and abhishekams. Thousands of people descend on the small town to visit the glorious festival. Pradosham is also said to be celebrated here.
2. Karthik Poornima: The day falls anytime in-between November or December. On this day, Lord Shiva actually destroyed the demon kingdom of Tripura in all three realms.
3. Ganesh Chaturthi: The festival comes in August or September with great enthusiasm and cheers. This is the birthday of Lord Ganesha, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
4. Deepawali: The festival comes in October – November. People decorate the whole temple with Deepams (lamps) and priests perform special poojas for Lord Shiva throughout the day.

What are the Sevas and Poojas performed at Bhimashankar Temple?

The sevas and poojas that take place at Bhimashankar Temple are:

• Rudrabhishek: The pooja is for Lord Shiva who the devotees worship as fire or Rudra. The pooja wipes out all sins and purifies the atmosphere. It also removes all sorts of planetary related ill-occurrences. Mondays of the month, as well as the Pradosham days, are ideal for performing the pooja.
• Laghurudra Pooja: This Abhishek is done to resolve issues related to health and wealth. It also removes the bad effects of planets in the horoscope.

The yearly poojas or sevas include:

1. Prati Somvar
2. Prati Pradosh
3. Prati Shivaratri
4. Prati Amavasya
5. Mahashivaratri

Besides the above poojas, a Shashvat Pooja can also be performed at the temple. One can perform these poojas for 1 day every year for a period of 20 years. The poojas are:

1. Rudrabhishek
2. Mahapuja
3. Mahapuja with Mahanaivedyam
4. Laghurudra
5. Shravan Somvar and Mahashivaratri
6. Laghurudra with Brahman Bhojan.

How to reach Bhimashankar Temple?

Here’s how to reach Bhimshankar temple:

• Air: The nearest airport is Pune Airport.
• Train: The nearest railway station is Pune, 120 km away from the temple.
• Road: Regular buses are available from Pune from 5:30 AM to 4 PM. A bus also from Kalyan starts at 9 AM and one from Ghatkopar or Kurla at 11 AM

Where to stay nearby?

Limited options are available for staying near the Bhimashankar temple. The temple administration runs a guesthouse named Jeevan Guest House that provides the basic facilities. However, nearby towns have options like the Blue Mormon Jungle Holiday Resort, Ecogreens Sankalp Farms, and Holiday Maiyaan Karjat.

Where to eat nearby?

Several small restaurants are present near the temple premises such as Shivshakti and Shankar Vishranti where the visitors can eat. The cuisine available is a mix of both North Indian and South Indian food items. Moreover, the food items available here are primarily vegetarian.

What are some temples near Bhimshankar Temple?

Some of the temples near Bhimshankar temple are:

• Gupt Bhimashankar: A small trekking path from the Bhimashankar temple will lead you to the place of discovery of the Jyotirlinga. The Linga is on the banks of a waterfall and has greenery around.
• Sakshi Ganapati Temple: The temple is 2 km away from the Bhimashankar temple. The Ganapati here is “Sakshi” because he is the witness to the visit of the pilgrims to the Jyotirlinga. He keeps the attendance of whoever visits the Bhimashankar shrine. The pilgrims visit the temple to show their respects to the Lord Ganapati and Lord Shiva.
• Kamalaja Devi Temple: The temple is for Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva. She helped the Lord in his battle against the demons. Also, She sits on a lotus in this temple.

Some other famous temples in Maharashtra are:

• Ozar Ganapati Temple: It is a Ganesha Vinayak temple. The idol form worshipped here is called Vigneshwara. It is associated with the legend of Ganesha defeating Vignasura, the demon of obstacles. The temple is one of the Ashtavinayak Temples, the eight holy shrines of Ganesha in Maharashtra, India.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bhimshankar Temple