Jyotirlinga
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) district, near Ellora, Maharashtra
The twelfth and final Jyotirlinga, right beside the world-famous Ellora Caves
At a glance
- Location
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) district, near Ellora, Maharashtra
- Presiding deity
- Lord Shiva
- Temple type
- Jyotirlinga
- Tradition
- Shaiva
- Nearest railway station
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) railway station (~30 km)
- Nearest airport
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport (~35 km)
- Best time to visit
- October to March — also the ideal window for touring the nearby Ellora Caves.
History
The Grishneshwar temple lies barely a kilometre from the Ellora Caves (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Shiva Purana tells of a devoted woman, Ghushma, who did not abandon her faith even after her son's death; moved by her devotion, Shiva revived her son and chose to remain here forever as a Jyotirlinga — giving the temple its alternate name, Ghushmeshwar. Like several other Jyotirlingas, the present structure was built by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century.
Spiritual significance
A visit to Grishneshwar is often combined with touring the Ellora and Ajanta caves, offering both a spiritual pilgrimage and a world-class art-and-history experience in one trip.
Plan your visit
Darshan timings
5:30 AM to 9:30 PM.
Timings change on festivals and special occasions. Confirm with the temple's official source before you travel.
Taxis and local buses run regularly from Aurangabad's railway station and airport to Grishneshwar and Ellora, taking roughly 45 minutes.
Continue your Shiva bhakti
Devotional texts for this deity, already on the site.