ShareYourGroupShareYourGroupTirth Yatra Guide

Grishneshwar jyotirlinga

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Maharashtra: the story, the temple and what to know before you go.

About Grishneshwar

Place
Verul (Ellora), near the Ellora caves
District and state
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Maharashtra
Deity
Shiva, as a jyotirlinga (a column of light)

Grishneshwar, or Ghushmeshwar, is counted as the twelfth and last of the jyotirlingas and is the one nearest to the caves of Ellora. The story is of a devout woman, Ghushma, who worshipped a lingam every day and immersed it in a lake; when her son was killed by her jealous sister-in-law, her faith brought him back, and Shiva remained here at her request.

The temple was rebuilt in the eighteenth century by Ahilyabai Holkar. Men are required to enter the sanctum without a shirt, as is the custom in many temples in Maharashtra. It is easily visited together with the Ellora caves and with Daulatabad Fort.

Getting there and when to go

The nearest city is Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad), about 30 km away, with railway and an airport.

Read our guide to planning a yatra and the notes on temple etiquette. This is jyotirlinga number 12 in the usual list of twelve; see all twelve.

Previous: Rameshwaram

Questions people ask

Where is Grishneshwar?

Verul (Ellora), near the Ellora caves, in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Maharashtra.

What is a jyotirlinga?

A jyotirlinga, "lingam of light", is a place where Shiva is believed to have appeared as a column of light. Twelve are named in the Shiva Purana tradition.

Temple rules, opening seasons, booking arrangements and routes change. Before you travel, check the official website of the temple or the state tourism board, and be careful of anyone who asks for money to book darshan or a stay by phone or message. We do not sell tours or packages. Information on this page was last checked in November 2026.