Grishneshwar means "lord of compassion". The temple is an important pilgrimage site in the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, which considers it as the last or twelfth Jyotirlinga (linga of light). This pilgrimage site is located in Ellora.The temple structure was destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate in 13th and 14th-century. The temple went through several rounds of rebuilding followed by re-destruction during the Mughal-Maratha conflict.
It was rebuilt in the current form in the 18th century under the sponsorship of queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, after the fall of the Mughal Empire. It is presently an important and active pilgrimage site of the Hindus and attracts long lines of devotees daily. Anyone can enter the temple premises and its inner chambers, but to enter the sanctum sanctorum core (garbha-gruha) of the temple, the local Hindu tradition demands that men must go bare-chested.
Grishneshwar Shiva temple is next to the Ellora Caves.
The Grishneswar temple is an illustration of maratha temple architectural style and structure. The temple, built of red rocks, is composed of a five-tier shikara. The temple was re-constructed by Maloji Bhosale of Verul, (grandfather of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) in the 16th century and later again by queen Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century.
She is credited with rebuilding some of major Hindu temples such as the Kashi Vishvanath temple in Varanasi, a Vishnu temple in Gaya, and a much larger Shiva Jyotirlinga temple in Somnath Temple.This 240 ft x 185 ft temple is the smallest Jyotirlinga temple in India. Halfway up the temple, Dashavataras of Vishnu are carved in red stone. A court hall is built on 24 pillars.
On these pillars, there are carvings summarizing various legends and mythologies of Shiva. The Garbhagriha measures 17 ft x 17 ft. The Lingamurty faces eastward. There is a Nandi bull in the court hall. Ghrishneshwar Temple is a revered temple, situated in the state of Maharashtra. The temple houses carvings and sculptures of many Hindu gods and goddesses.
Meera Subramanian says,
The temple architecture and spiritual energy are amazing. Felt deeply connected.
Lakshmi Narayan says,
Every visit brings inner peace and strength. Jai Shri Ram ????
Suresh Kumar says,
The divine presence here is very powerful. A truly holy Swayambhu temple
Kavya Nair says,
Such a serene and spiritually uplifting temple. Felt calm and blessed.
Arjun Patel says,
A sacred place filled with devotion and history. Highly recommend visiting with family
Ananya Reddy says,
Blessed to have darshan here. The vibrations and positivity are beyond words.
Priya Iyer says,
An unforgettable spiritual experience. The atmosphere is so pure and peaceful.
Rahul Sharma says,
Felt divine energy as soon as I entered the temple. Truly a powerful Swayambhu kshetra. ????
Grishneshwar temple opens at 05:30 am in the morning and closes at 09:30 pm in the evening. During the month of Shravan, the temple remains open between 03:00 am to 11:00 pm. The time required for Darshan: 1 to 2 hours depending on the crowd.
The temple also performs various rituals during this time. The devotees can be a part of these rituals such as the afternoon and evening aarti.
The timings of Grishneshwar Temple are as follows:
| Rituals | Timings |
| Darshan | 5:30 AM – 9:30 PM |
| Darshan during Shravan Maas | 3:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Afternoon Pooja | 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM |
| Evening Pooja | 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM |
Verul, Maharashtra 431102, India
Explore spiritual insights, reviews, and divine writings shared by our esteemed Priests & Guides.
Sri Ramananda shares the importance of morning poojas for spiritual awakening.
Guru Venkatesh explains how daily mantra chanting transforms mental and spiritual well-being.
Leave a Comment