Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Verul: The Last of the TwelveVerul, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Maharashtra

About this guide

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, in the village of Verul near the Ellora caves in Maharashtra, is counted as the last of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. It is a small, beautiful temple of red stone, and its story of a mother's devotion has made it dear to families across India.

This is YatriSutra's devotee guide to Grishneshwar: the legend of Ghushma, the history and architecture of the temple, how darshan works, the rituals, the sacred calendar and practical advice for your visit. It is written from temple, government and scriptural sources listed at the end of the page.

The divine story of Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga

According to the Shiva Purana, a Brahmin named Sudharma and his wife Sudeha had no children, so Sudeha asked her husband to marry her sister Ghushma. Ghushma was a great devotee of Shiva and worshipped 101 clay lingams every day, immersing them afterwards in a nearby lake. She was blessed with a son.

Sudeha grew jealous and killed the boy, throwing his body into the lake. Ghushma did not stop her worship. As she immersed her lingams, her son came out of the water alive, and Shiva appeared before her. At her request, Shiva forgave Sudeha and stayed here as Grishneshwar (also called Ghushmeshwar), the Lord of compassion.

YatriSutra devotee tip: pray at the Shivalaya tank near the temple, believed to be the lake of Ghushma's story.

Why devotees visit Grishneshwar

Many couples come to Grishneshwar to pray for children and for the health of their families, remembering Ghushma's story. Others come to complete the twelve Jyotirlingas, as Grishneshwar is traditionally the last in the list.

The temple's closeness to the Ellora caves, including the great Kailasa temple carved from rock, also makes this a place where devotion and heritage meet.

History and architecture of Grishneshwar Temple

The temple was rebuilt in the 16th century by Maloji Bhosale, the grandfather of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and again in the 18th century by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, who gave it much of its present form.

The temple is built of red stone in a south Indian influenced style. Its features include:

• A five-tiered shikhara of red stone.
• Carved walls and pillars showing gods, goddesses and scenes from the Puranas.
• A large Nandi in the court hall facing the sanctum.

Inside the temple

The sanctum is reached through a pillared hall and holds the Jyotirlinga, which faces east. Devotees can see the lingam closely and, at permitted times, offer abhishek themselves. Grishneshwar is often described as the smallest of the Jyotirlinga temples, which makes darshan feel intimate.

Grishneshwar darshan guide: timings and queues

The temple usually opens early in the morning and closes at night, with a short break for midday rituals. General darshan is free. Queues are longest on Mondays, in Shravan and on Mahashivratri.

By tradition, men remove their shirts and banians before entering the sanctum, so wear something easy to remove. Check current rules at the temple.

Your darshan, step by step

• Leave footwear and bags at the counter.
• Join the queue in the temple courtyard.
• Men remove their upper garments before entering the sanctum.
• Have darshan of the Jyotirlinga and, if allowed, offer water or abhishek.
• Bow to the Nandi and walk around the temple.

Aarti, puja and rituals at Grishneshwar

The day includes morning abhishek, midday puja and the evening aarti. Devotees book rudrabhishek and other pujas through the temple or registered priests. Couples praying for children often perform special pujas, remembering Ghushma.

Sacred calendar: Mahashivratri and Shravan

• Mahashivratri: the biggest festival, with night-long worship.
• Shravan Mondays: large crowds and special abhishek.
• Kartik Purnima: lamps and special worship.

Devotee etiquette

• Dress modestly; men should be ready to remove their upper garments at the sanctum.
• Leave phones and leather items outside.
• Do not photograph inside the temple.
• Keep the queue moving on busy days.

Darshan for elderly and differently-abled devotees

The temple is small and on level ground, which makes it easier to visit than many Jyotirlingas. Elderly devotees should visit on a weekday morning and ask temple staff for help if needed.

Tips for pilgrims visiting Grishneshwar Temple

• Combine with Ellora, about 1 km away. The caves are closed on Tuesdays.
• Avoid Mondays if you want a short queue.
• Wear easy clothing for the sanctum rule.
• Visit early before the day's heat and crowds.

YatriSutra devotee tip: see the Kailasa temple at Ellora after your darshan. It is a Shiva temple carved from a single rock.

Connected sacred places

• Ellora Caves, including the Kailasa temple (Cave 16), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Shivalaya Tirth, the sacred tank near the temple.
• Bhadra Maruti Temple at Khuldabad, with a sleeping Hanuman.
• Trimbakeshwar and Bhimashankar, the other Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra.