Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Aurangabad

"Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga", just one and a half kilometers from Ellora, is an important religious site in India. It is also the last of the twelve Jyotirlingas. This temple was renovated in the 18th century by Queen Ahilya Devi Holkar of Indore. Built-in red sandstone, the Mahadev temple is a beautiful example of architecture. Many stories from the Puranas are sculpted here. There are stories of Shiva Parvati marriage, Brahma, Vishnu, Ganesha. The feature of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India is that it is believed that Shankar Mahadev is located here in the form of Jyoti.

Story of Grishneshwar Temple:

The beautiful story of this temple is also told. There were two sisters Ghrishna and Sudeha who married the same man. But neither of them had children. Ghrishna was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and used to worship and adore Lord Shiva regularly. As a result, she gave birth to a son. But Sudeha, burning with envy, killed the boy and threw him into the river. At the time of the incident, Ghrishna was in Shiva Puja, but she was not distracted by the news that the child had been killed, nor did she leave the Puja halfway. All she said was that the one who gave me a son would protect him.

Seeing her devotion, Shankara was pleased and the son of Ghrishna came out of the river alive again. But he told his mother to forgive Sudeha. When Shankara was pleased with the devotion of hatred, she prayed to Shankara to abide in this place forever as Jyotirupa and Shankara also heard her prayer. This place got the name Ghrishneshwar from the name of Ghrishna.

Rule for Men to enter in Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple:

There is a special rule for all men in the Ghrishneshwar temple. Before entering the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, all kinds of leather goods like belts, pockets must be removed outside the temple. Men have to take off their shirts and jackets. Entry to this Mahadev temple is granted only if this rule is followed.