Ghuisarnath Temple – Pratapgarh

Ghuisarnath or Ghushmeshwarnath Temple is a Hindu temple located on the banks of river Sai in Lalganj Azhara, Pratapgarh, India. This temple Pratapgarh

Bela is situated in Pratapgarh at a distance of about 45 km from India and 145 km from Ayodhya. This grand temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is the center of people’s faith and spirituality. Jyotirlinga is mentioned in Shiva Purana.

History

Somnath in Saurashtra and Shri Shaile Mallikarjuna in Ujjain, Omkar Mamleshwar Kedar in Himavatprasthe, Bhimashankaram in Varanasi, Vishvesh Trimbak on the banks of Gautami in Varanasi, Vaidyanath in Chitbhum, Nagesh in Daruka forest and Ramesh in Setubandh and Ghushmesh in Shiva temple (Shiva Purana Koti Rudra Samhita Chapter 32-33). ,

According to Shiva Purana, on the southern side, on the shore of the lake, a Brahmin named Brahmavetta Sudharma lived with his wife Sudeha. The couple did not have any children due to which Sudeha remained sad. Sudeha prayed and tried all possible measures but in vain. Disappointed at being childless, Sudeha married her sister Ghushma to her husband. On her sister’s advice, Ghushma would make 101 Lingas, worship them and float them in a nearby lake. With the blessings of Lord Shiva, Ghushma gave birth to a child. This made Ghushma proud and Sudeha became jealous of her sister. Out of jealousy one night he killed Ghushma’s son and threw him in the lake where Ghushma used to immerse lingas. The next morning, Ghushams and Sudharma join in the daily prayers and bath. Sudeha also got up and started singing her daily song.However, Ghushma’s daughter-in-law noticed blood stains on her husband’s bed and parts of his body soaked in blood. Frightened, she told the whole story to her mother-in-law Ghushma who was engrossed in the worship of Shiva. Ghushma did not stop. Even her husband Sudharma did not step back even an inch. Even when Ghushma saw the bed soaked in blood, she did not break down and said that the one who has given me this child will protect her and started chanting “Shiv-Shiv”. Later, when she went to remove the Shivalingas after prayers, she saw her son coming. Ghushma was neither happy nor sad after seeing her son. Then Lord Shiva appeared before him and said – I am pleased with your devotion. Your sister had killed your son. Ghushma asks God to forgive Sudeha and free her. Pleased with his generosity, Lord Shiva asked him for another boon. Ghushma said that if he is really pleased with her devotion then she should reside here for eternity in the form of Jyotirlinga for the benefit of the people and you should be known by my name.