Grishneswara jyotirlinga

Six down, six to go… walking the divine Shiva circuit of Jyotirlingas !!!

For the past few years, I’ve set myself a gentle goal—each year, to visit at least one Jyotirlinga, those twelve sacred shrines where Lord Shiva is believed to have manifested as a radiant column of light. This year, since I had planned a trip to Mumbai to spend time with my children, I extended it into a whirlwind visit to Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga near Aurangabad—one of the three Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra. ( Bhimashankar & Triyambkeshwar …being the other two) Tradition says Somnath should be the first one and this shrine should be the last in the circuit, but I am still midway in completing my Shiva journey. Be it random or out of sequence, I am not too rigid or fastidious about it.

About 300 km from Mumbai, the drive itself was an experience. The Balasaheb Samruddhi Expressway, resembling a sleek runway, cut across the Western Ghats and made the journey enthralling. The road opened up to the lush green folds of the Sahyadri range, the monsoon-drenched landscapes of Bhandardara, and further through tunnels and viaducts carved into the hills. The route via Nashik unrolled a stunning panorama—beginning in the grandeur of the Sahyadris, passing the Harischandra hills, and finally culminating in the Ajanta Range that cradles Aurangabad.

What I had imagined as a quick obeisance turned into an arduous pilgrimage. Unlike the north , where the month of Shravan concludes on the day of Rakshabandhan, which falls on Shravan Purnima. the Shravan month was still underway here, drawing throngs of devotees. I found myself in a long, winding queue and had to wait patiently for three hours before reaching the sanctum. Yet, the crowd was orderly, the arrangements smooth, and the anticipation only deepened the spiritual experience. 
One curious custom I noticed here was that men were required to enter the sanctum bare-chested. Anyone wearing a shirt was politely turned away. The reason for this practice remains unknown, but it certainly set this temple apart from the others I’ve visited

The legend of Grishneshwar is as profound as the temple itself. Long ago, a devout woman named Kusuma worshipped Lord Shiva daily by immersing a Shiva Linga in a nearby pond. Her simple but unwavering devotion angered her husband’s first wife, who in jealousy killed Kusuma’s son. Grief-stricken, yet unshaken in faith, Kusuma continued her prayers and offered her son at the feet of the Lord. Moved by her steadfastness, Lord Shiva appeared before her, restored her son to life, and blessed the place with His eternal presence as a Jyotirlinga. From then on, He came to be known as Grishneshwar—the Lord of Compassion.

What makes this shrine especially unique is that it is the only Jyotirlinga where devotees are allowed to touch the Shivalinga directly and perform rituals—offering flowers, bel leaves, milk, and water with their own hands. Another rare feature is its east-facing sanctum (a distinction shared only with Kashi Vishwanath). Just adjacent to the temple lies the sacred pond called Shivalaya, believed to be the very spot where Kusuma immersed the Shiva Linga during her daily worship.

Happy and blessed after the divine darshan, I couldn’t miss the majestic Ellora Caves, situated close by. The monolithic marvel of the Kailasa Temple, carved entirely out of a single rock, leaves you absolutely awestruck—an enduring testimony to human devotion, creativity, and perseverance. A beautiful blend of architecture , history , geography , and spirituality …

Driving back, I felt a quiet sense of contentment. Each Jyotirlinga visit that I take up as an annual goal ends up giving me much more than I expect—be it the long drives through ever-changing landscapes, the patient wait in temple queues, or the chance to touch centuries-old legends in stone and spirit. Grishneshwar added its own charm to the journey—compassion in legend, closeness in worship, and grandeur in its surroundings. With half the circuit still to go, I returned carrying not just the joy of darshan, but also the thought that perhaps the real pilgrimage is in these little experiences along the way!!

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