Features of Grishneshwar Jyotirlingam

This temple is located near the Ajanta and Ellora caves.

This Shiva Linga is a form of devotion to Ghushma, the supreme devotee of Shiva. This Shivlinga was named after him as Ghushmeshwar.

The last renovation of this temple was done by Devi Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century.

Couples blessed with children

This story is told in the Puranas about this Jyotirlinga.

In the southern country near the Devagiri mountain there lived a very brilliant ascetic Brahmin named Sudharma. His wife’s name was Sudeha and they both had a lot of love for each other. They didn’t have any problems. But they didn’t have any children.

Astrological calculations showed that Sudeha’s womb could not give birth to a child. She was very keen on having a child. He urged Sudharma to remarry his younger sister.

At first, I didn’t know this. But in the end, he had to bow to his wife’s insistence. They couldn’t stop him. He married his wife’s younger sister Ghushma and brought her home. She was a very noble and kind hearted lady. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Every day one hundred and one earthlings used to worship him with true devotion of heart by making Shivalinga.

By the grace of Lord Shiva, a few days later, a very beautiful and healthy child was born from her womb. From the birth of the child there was no end to the joy of both Sudeha and Ghushma. Both days went very smoothly. But I don’t know how a few days later a thought was born in Sudeha’s mind. “I don’t have anything in this house,” he said. Everything is a farce.

By now the curious seed of Sudharma ‘s mind had taken the form of a huge tree. Finally one day he killed the young son of Ghushma while he was sleeping at night. He took her body and threw it in the same pond in which Ghushma used to throw the earthly Shivalingas every day

She also had rights over my husband. The child is also the same. This thought kept popping up in his mind. The child was growing up here. Gradually, he became a youth. He was also married. By now the curious seed of Sudharma ‘s mind had taken the form of a huge tree. Finally one day he killed the young son of Ghushma while he was sleeping at night. He took her body and threw it into the same pond in which Ghushma used to throw the earthly Shivalingas every day.

Everyone knew it in the morning. The whole house was shaking. Sudharma and his daughter-in-law both beat their heads and started crying. But Ghushma remained engrossed in the worship of Lord Shiva as usual. As if nothing had happened. After finishing the puja, she left the body in the pond. As soon as she started returning from the pond, her beloved Lal was seen coming out from inside the pond. He came, as usual, and fell at Ghushma’s feet.

Like you’re walking around somewhere. At the same time, Lord Shiva also appeared there and asked Ghushma to seek a boon. He was very angry with Sudha’s act. He was seen trying to slit her throat with his trident. Gushma folded his hands and said to Lord Shiva, “Lord! If you are pleased with me, forgive my unfortunate sister. Surely he has committed a grave sin, but by your mercy I have got back my son. Forgive him now, Lord!

My one more prayer is that you stay in this place forever for the welfare of the people. Lord Shiva accepted both these things. Appearing in the form of Jyotirlinga he started living there. Due to the worship of Sati Shivbhakt Ghushma, he came to be known as Ghushmeshwar Mahadev. The glory of Ghushmeshwar-Jyotirlinga is described in great detail in the Puranas. Their philosophy is infinitely fruitful for both the world and the Hereafter.