How Shri Ghushmeshwar became the last Jyotirlinga

Twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva are located in different parts of the country.

These are known as Dwadash Jyotirlinga. By seeing, worshiping and worshiping these Jyotirlingas, all the sins of the devotees in previous births are eliminated. They become worthy of the blessings of Lord Shiva. Among such welfare Jyotirlingas, Shri Ghushmeshwar Jyotirlinga is considered to be a major Jyotirlinga. This is the last Jyotirlinga among the twelve Jyotirlingas. It is also called Ghushmeshwar, Ghusrineshwar or Ghrishneshwar. It is located near Verul village, twelve miles away from Daulatabad in Maharashtra state.

This story is described in the Puranas about Shri Ghushmeshwar Jyotirlinga – In the south country, near Devagiri mountain, there lived a very bright ascetic Brahmin named Sudharma. His wife’s name was Sudeha. There was a lot of love between both of them. He did not suffer from any kind of problem but he did not have any children. Astrological calculations revealed that Sudeha’s womb could not produce a child.Sudeha was very keen to have a child. He urged Sudharma to remarry his younger sister. At first Sudharma did not like this but in the end he had to bow to his wife’s insistence. They could not avoid his request. He married his wife’s younger sister Ghushma and brought her home. Ghushma was a very polite and virtuous woman. She was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Every day she would make one hundred and one earthly Shivlingas and worship them with true devotion in her heart.

By the grace of Lord Shiva, after a few days a very beautiful and healthy child was born from her womb. There was no limit to the joy of both Sudeha and Ghushma after the birth of the child. Both of their days were passing very comfortably, but somehow, after a few days, an evil thought took birth in Sudeha’s mind. She started thinking, I don’t have anything in this house. Everything belongs to Ghushma.

By now the sprout of evil thoughts in Sudeha’s mind had taken the form of a huge tree. She took control over my husband also. The child also belongs to him. This evil thought gradually started increasing in his mind. Here, Ghushma’s child was also growing up. Gradually he became young. He also got married. Finally, one day he killed Ghushma’s young son while he was sleeping at night and took away his body and threw it in the same pond in which Ghushma used to throw the dead Shivalingas every day.

Everyone came to know about this as soon as the morning came. There was chaos in the entire house. Both Sudharma and her daughter-in-law started crying bitterly but Ghushma remained engrossed in worshiping Lord Shiva as usual. As if nothing had happened. After finishing the puja, she set out to leave the mortal remains of Shivalingas in the pond. When she started returning from the pond, her beloved Lal was seen coming out of the pond.

Like always, he came and fell at the feet of Ghushma. As if he is coming from somewhere nearby. At the same time, Lord Shiva also appeared there and asked Ghushma to ask for a groom. He was extremely enraged by Sudeha’s heinous act. He seemed ready to cut his throat with his trident. Ghushma folded his hands and said to Lord Shiva, ‘Lord! If you are happy with me then forgive that unfortunate sister of mine.Certainly he has committed a very heinous sin but due to your mercy I got my son back. Now you forgive him and Lord! I have one more request, for the welfare of the people, you should reside at this place forever.’

Lord Shiva accepted both his prayers. Appearing in the form of Jyotirlinga, he started residing there. Due to his devotion to Sati Shiva devotee Ghushma, he became famous here by the name of Ghushmeshwar Mahadev. The glory of Ghushmeshwar Jyotirlinga has been described in great detail in the Puranas. His philosophy is unfailingly fruitful for both this world and the next world.