Grishneshwar Temple (Maharashtra)

Located in Aurangabad District (Maharashtra), Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple or Dhushmeshwar Temple is one of the shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. The word Ghirneshwara means “lord of compassion”.

The site is considers as the last or twelfth Jyotirlinga (linga of light) and is located near Ellora Caves (UNESCO World Heritage Site). It is presently an important pilgrimage site of the Hindus.

Anyone can enter the temple premises and its inner chambers, but to enter the sanctum sanctorum core (garbha-ghrya) of the temple, the local Hindu tradition demands that men must go bare-chested.

Key Points about the Grishneshwar Temple

Location : At Post, near BANK OF MAHARASHTRA, Ellora, Maharashtra 431102
Affliation : Hinduism
Entry Fees : No Entry Fees
Festivals : Mahashivratri
Deity : Grishneshwar (Lord Shiva)
Photography : Prohibited

Architecture of the Grishneshwar Temple

The architecture is inspired by south Indian 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 Shivaji) in the 16th century and later again by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century.

This 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 with 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. The temple houses carvings and sculptures of many Hindu gods and goddesses.

Visiting Hours

• No entry fee is needed to visit the temple.
• Usual Timings- 05:30 am to 09:00 pm (all days of week)
• Shravan Month Timings- 03:00 am to 11:00 pm (all days from August to September)

Code of Conduct for Visitors

The temple can be visited throughout the year. However winter months is preferable than the summer months.

How to reach the Temple?

Tourists can reach Grishneshwar Temple from Aurangabad via road. The city is 31.5 kilometres away from the temple and connected by Maharashtra State Transport buses. The Aurangabad Central Bus Station is barely 29 kilometres away.

There are frequent buses heading to Ellora almost every day. The second-best option is to self-drive or rent a cab to reach Grishneshwar Temple from Aurangabad. The route to be taken goes via SH 60 – NH 52. Those taking a bus ride would have to disembark at Grishneshwar Temple Road and walk towards the temple.