10 December 2013 The twelve jyotirlinga are Somnath in Gujarat, Mallikarjuna at Srisailam in Andra Pradesh, Mahakaleswar at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, Kedarnath in Himalayas, Bhimashankar in Maharashtra, Viswanath at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Triambakeshwar in Maharashtra, Vaidyanath at Deogarh in Jharkand, Nageswar at Dwarka in Gujarat, Rameshwar at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu and Grishneshwar at Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Grishneshwar Jyotirling Temple Complex, Aurangabad, Maharashtra. This article is a researched article and borrows heavily from printed and electronic encyclopedias as well as material provided by our panel of research scholars, astrologers, academics and pundits. Blessed by Verul Nagar, there is no other place like it on this earth, where Lord Ghrishneswara resides, is the best place on this earth. - Madhwamunishwar hrishneshwar Temple is a very Grevered temple, situated in the state of Maharashtra. It lies very near to the Buddhist caves of Ellora, only half a kilometer away, and serves as the abode of one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple, with exquisitely sculpted walls, was built under the patronage of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, one of the rulers of the erstwhile state of Indore. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India, where Lord Shiva is worshipped and is the most superb example of medieval temple architecture. This Jyotirlinga is said to be self - manifested. It is the last Jyotirlinga without which the journey to the Jyotirlingas is considered incomplete. The Lord is also k n o w n b y s e v e r a l n a m e s l i k e K u s u m e s w a r a r, G h u s h m e s w a r a, G r u s h m e s w a r a, G h r i s h n e s w a r a. Ghrishneshwar is also known as Ghushmeshwar. The Grishneshwar temple was constructed by Ahilyabai Holkar who also re-constructed the Kasi Vishwanatha temple at Varanasi and the Vishnu Paada temple at Gaya. History Of Ghrishneshwar Temple The very devout Shiva devotee, Bhosale (The Patel or chief of Verul) once found a treasure hidden in the snake pit (ant hill) by the grace of Lord Ghrishneshwar. He spent that money to renovate the temple and built a lake in Shikharshinganapur. Later on, Goutamibal (Bayajabai) and Ahilyadevi Holkar renovated the Ghrishneshwar temple. This 240 ft x 185 ft temple is still there strong and beautiful as ever. Halfway up the temple, Dashavataras are carved in red stone. These are beautiful to look at. There are also other beautiful statutes carved out. A court hall is built on 24 pillars. On these pillars there are wonderful carvings and beautifully painted The scenes and paintings are beautiful. The Garbhagriha measures 17 ft.x17 ft. The Lingamurty faces eastward. There is a gorgeous Nandikeshwara in the court hall. Giant banyan trees, whose innumerable epiphytic roots possess an almost sculptural beauty, flank the road from Aurangabad to continued on page 11
December 2013 11 continued from page 10 Ghrishneshwar. A little under an hour after we leave Aurangabad, the temple stands before us on a bowl of flat land fringed by ancient basaltic hills in the distance. Devotees duck under a low door in the boundary wall to enter the last among India s revered Jyotirlinga shrines. This Shiva temple is rich, with beautiful carvings and is a fine example of medieval architecture. The temple is made of spotted red sandstone. Decorative friezes and sculpture depict a pantheon of Indian gods including Brahma, Vishnu, Ganesh, the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, celestial beings, and even Maratha heroes. The temple is managed by a trust. Arti (prayer) is carried out at dawn and dusk here, accompanied by drums and horns. Poor people are fed once a day. Sheds are provided along the wall for resting. Hundreds of devotees come here every day, while this number goes to thousands on Mondays. While entering the Gabhagraha (the chamber where Shiva Linga resides) men have to take off their shirts. Architecture: Fine architecture and great artistry of stone carvers characterize this impressive structure. The Shivl inga resides inside the inner chamber of the temple. Outside this chamber a large statue of Nandi is present. Covering Nandi is the Sabha Mandap of the temple. It occupies the major portion of the temple and offers seats made from stone. Various tales can be seen carved on the pillars of the Sabha Mandap. These carvings feature fine details and notable artistic ability. The exterior walls of the temple are full of various carvings. Several mythological tales are carved here. Amongst these the statues showing ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu stand out. The conical top of the temple, which was probably built later, also has carvings with continued on page 12 The Ghrishneshwar temple was constructed by Ahilyabai Holkar who also re-constructed the Kasi Vishwanatha temple at Varanasi and the Vishnu Paada temple at Gaya. Nandi of Ghrishneshwar Jyotirling Temple
12 December 2013 Puja at Ghrishneshwar temple continued from page 11 fine details. The figures here are masterfully carved and possess very expressive gestures. The temple has a gilded crest made of copper. Resting inside a square shaped ground, having pavement and a s u r r o u n d i n g s t o n e w a l l, a n d t h e Ghrishneshwar temple is a fine example of ancient Indian architecture. Legend The emergence of linga is explained in the Shivapurana. On a mountain named Ghrishneshwar Temple one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India, where Lord Shiva is worshipped and is the most superb example of medieval temple architecture. This Jyotirlinga is said to be self - manifested. It is the last Jyotirlinga without which the journey to the Jyotirlingas is considered incomplete. Devagiri, lived a Brahmin - Brahmavetta Sudharm along with his wife Sudeha, teaching Vedas. The couple did not have children because of which Sudeha was sad and would often pray for a child. After trying all the possible remedies she got her sister Ghushma married to her husband by force. She would serve Sudharm along with Ghushma her sister. On advice by her sister Ghushma used to make 101 lingas and worship them. In the lake, near by, the Lingas were discharged. With Lord Shiva s blessings she was blessed with a beautiful fortunate baby boy. Because of this, Ghushma became proud and Sudeha started feeling jealous towards her sister. Out of jealousy, one night she killed Ghushma s son and threw him in the lake where Ghushma used to discharge the lingas. The next day Ghushma s daughter-in-law saw stains of blood of her husband on the bed. She also noticed parts of the body drenched in blood and was horrified and came to her mother-in-law, crying and told her everything. Ghushma was absorbed in worshipping Shiva and did not deter. Even her husband Sudharma did not move an inch. When Shiv Linga at Ghrishneshwar Jyotirling Temple Ghushma saw the bed drenched in blood she did not break down, instead said, He who has given me this child shall protect him, and started chanting the name of Lord reciting Shiva continuously. When she went to discharge the Shivalingas after prayers she saw her son coming. Seeing her son she was neither happy nor sad. Pleased with her devotion, Lord Shiva appeared before her and said I am pleased with your devotion. Your sister had killed your son. Ghushma prostrated before Shiva and asked Him to forgive Sudeha and emancipate her. Lord Shiva allowed her another boon. Ghushma said that if he was really happy with her devotion then he should reside there eternally for the benefit of the multitudes in the form of a Jyotirlinga and may He be known by her name. On her sincere request He manifested in the form of a Jyotirlinga and assumed the name Ghushmeshwar. There are various versions of the name itself, such as Kusumeswara Jyotirlinga, G r u s h m e s w a r a J y o t i r l i n g a a n d Ghrishneswara Jyotirlinga.
December 2013 13 KNOWING SHIVA IMPORTANT DAYS OF WORSHIP OF LORD SHIVA continued on page 14
14 December 2013 continued from page 13 continued on page 15... Ganga at Hari ki Paudi on the occasion of Maha Shivratri in Haridwar.
December 2013 15 Conducting Maha Shivaratri Puja continued from page 14 continued on page 16
16 December 2013 Shivaratri Fire Yagya continued from page 15 The 12 Jyotirling series and the Knowing Shiva series are concluded with this article.