Ohm! Nama Siva aye! Lord Siva As Jyothirlingams (By Radhakrishnamurthy Bhandaru) Part: 13 Saurashtre Somanathamcha Srisaile Mallikarjunam Ujjayinya Mahakalam Omkaramamaleswaram Paralyam Vaidyanathancha Dakinyam Bheema Shankaram Setu Bandhethu Ramesam, Nagesam Darukavane Varanasyantu Vishwesam Tryambakam Gautameethate Himalayetu Kedaaram, Ghrishnesamcha shivaalaye Etani jyotirlingani, Saayam Praatah Patennarah Sapta Janma Kritam papam, Smaranena Vinashyati Ghrishneswar jyothirlingam Ghrishneswar or Ghushmeswar Jyothirlingam Temple is located at Verul, also called Ellora or Elura, about six miles from Daulatabad City which is near Aurangabad in Maharastra. Daulatabad was once known as Devagiri before the invasion of Muslim kings in the 15 th century. Aurangabad was built by a Muslim king on the site of a village named Khadki in the 17 th century. The world famous ancient caves of Ajanta and Ellora are near Verul. The nearest airport and railway station to Verul are in Aurangabad. Bus services are also available to Verul from several cities in Maharastra state. 1
Legends There are at least three stories associated with the Verul village. In ancient times the area was a settlement of the Naga Tribe, and known as Bambi (means varul or Verul in Marati). The Jyothirlingam is located in Shivalay, a sacred place in Verul village which is on the banks of the River Yelaganga. Some local people say the name Verul for the village is derived from Yelaganga. Some others believe the village got the name from King Yela who ruled this area. Yela or Yelur changed to Verul, and now it is also known as Ellora. There are few legends associated with Shivalay and Ghrishneswar in Puranas. One of the stories from Siva Puranam says that a Brahmin scholar named Brahmavetta Sudharm and his wife Sudeha lived on Devagiri Mountain in Western Ghats. They were ardent devotees of Lord Siva. The couple had everything but they were unhappy because they did not have children. They prayed Lord Siva for children and tried all possible remedies but in vain. Frustrated for not having children Sudeha convinced her sister Ghushma to marry her husband, as second wife. After marriage Sudeha made Ghushma a devotee of Lord Siva and advised her to make 101 Sivalingams every day with clay, worship them and discharge in the nearby lake. Ghushma followed her sister s advice. In course of time, with the blessing of Lord Siva, Ghushma gave birth to a son. The family was happy and Ghushma was proud of his son. As time passed by, he got married and living with his wife in his parents house. Sudeha out of jealous of her sister one night killed her sister s son while sleeping on his bed and threw his body into the lake where Ghushma discharge the Sivalingams every day after Puja. Next morning Ghushma s daughter-in-law horrified to see blood stains and part of her husband s body on his bed rushed to Ghushma and told her that her son was killed while he was sleeping by somebody. But Ghushma was not shaken up and went on attending her chores as usual as though nothing happened. She and her sister Sudeha made Sivalingams worshiped them and went to discharge them in the lake as usual. While immersing the Sivalingams Ghushma saw her son coming out of the water in the lake. She was neither happy nor sad to see her son approaching her from the lake water. At that time Lord Siva appeared in front of her and told that Sudeha killed him and discharged his body in the lake on the previous night. Lord Siva also told her that he was pleased with her devotion to him and because of that he brought back her son s life. Lord Siva wanted to punish Sudeha but Ghushma begged the Lord to forgive and emancipate her sister from the sin. Lord Siva very much appreciated Ghushma s kindness and on her request he manifested there as Jyothirlingam in the name of Ghushmeswara. The lake thereafter became a pilgrimage with the name Shivalaya. Ghushma was also known as Gushma, Ghrishma, and Dhushma, and Lord Siva s Jyothirlingam is also known after these names, Gushmeswar, Ghrishmeswar, and Dhushmeswar. 2
Another Puranic story goes like this: one day Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi were playing chess on Mount Kailas and the Goddess checkmated Lord Siva. The Lord got up set for losing the game, left Mount Kailas without telling the Goddess, went southwards to Sahyadri Mountain and stayed at a place now known as Maheshmouli Bhainsmal. Goddess Parvathi searching for Lord Siva went to Maheshmouli in the disguise of a mountain girl and won the heart of the Lord. Both of them lived there together for a long time. One day Goddess Parvathi was very thirsty and there was no water available. Lord Siva pierced earth with his trident and got water from Bhogavathi River from Pathala Loka. This water formed a lake which is known as Shivalay. Goddess Parvathi one day wanted to fill her hair parting with vermillion and saffron. She kept them in her left palm along with water from Shivalay. When she started mixing them with her right thumb vermillion turned into a Sivalingam with glowing light inside. Goddess Parvathi was awe struck to see the Jyothirlingam in her palm. Then Lord Siva told the Goddess that Lingam was hidden in Pathala Loka, and he brought it into her palm with his trident. Goddess Parvathi installed the Jyothirlinga in Shivalay and named as Kumkumeswar Jyothirlingam. Since Goddess Parvathi created this Lingam by friction (rubbing) of her thumb it is also known as Ghrishneswar (ghrishna means friction). Temple The original temple is said to have been built in the 7th century.it was restored in the early 17 th Century by Chatrapathi Shivaji s ancestor Malojiraje Bhosale, Chief or Patel of Verul. He found a treasure hidden in a snake pit by the grace of Lord Siva. He spent that money for Ghrishneswar Temple renovation. Later on, Ahilyadevi Holkar, a pious queen, who ruled Indore in the Eighteenth Century, and her mother-in-law Goutamibai rebuilt it. The temple looks strong and beautiful, and stands on a rectangular platform of 240 ft. X 185 ft. in Nagara style architecture. It has red basalt up to the entablature and with brick and stucco there on. The exterior color of the temple is remarkable, a pleasing pink and purple. It is enclosed by a Prakara wall with its main entrance to South and another entrance to west. Carved Dasavathars in red stone on the stairway can be seen halfway up the temple. The court hall is on 24 pillars. There are magnificent carvings on these pillars. The Garbhagruha is square shaped, 17 feet each side. The Jyothirlingam is facing east. A marble statue of Goddess is also present. In front of the Jyothirlingam there is gorgeous Nandi. Outside the main temple, there is a deep well (Kund). One can get down a flight of broken stone steps to touch the water of the well, which is a standard ritual. According to tradition, men have to remove upper garment before entering the temple. It Is the only temple where non-hindus are allowed to touch the Sivalingam in the Garbhagruha. 3
Temple Timings The Temple opens from 5:00am to 9:00pm every day with some exceptions. All Mondays during Shravan month- 4:00am to next day 1:00am; Vikunta Chathurdasi 5:00am to next day 3:00am; Mahasivarathri 4:00am next day 5:00am. All Hindu festivals are celebrated at the temple. The festival of Mahasivarathri being the main festival is celebrated with great pomp and show. Thousands of devotees are seen flocking the temple during this festival time. The village of Verul is extremely small and the temple is the major attraction of the place. Ajanta and Ellora Caves Ghrishneswar Temple Pilgrims who visit Ghrishneswar Temple also visit Ajanta and Ellora caves. 4
Ajanta Caves are one of the most popular Buddhist monuments. They are located just outside the village of Ajantha near Verul. The caves are rock-cut monuments dating back to 2nd Century B.C to 600 A.D. They are famous for their sculptures and paintings of 'Buddhist religious art. Ellora is another name of Verul where Ghrishneswar Temple is located. At Ellora there are 34 caves. These are structures excavated out of the vertical face of hills. They represent Hindu, Buddhist and Jain rock cut temples, Vihars and Mathas. They are all located in vicinity suggesting that these religions were in harmony during that period of Indian History. Nandi in front of the Garbhagriha in Ghrishneswar Temple 5
Ajanta Caves A Buddhist prayer hall with Stupa Ellora caves Lord Kailasnath Temple 6
Ellora Caves Jain Temple Adiguru Sankaracharya s Prayer to Lord Ghrishneswar Ghrishneswar Jyothirlingam is mentioned in the Dwadasa Jyothirlinga Sloka as the twelfth and the last one. Although it is listed at the end it is no way less holy or powerful than the rest. Adiguru Sri Sankaracharya prayed Lord Ghrishneswar as follows: Ilapure ramya visalake asmin, Samullasantham cha jagad varenyam, Vande maha dhara thara swabhavam, Ghusruneswarakhyam saranam prapadhye. means I seek the refuge of Ghusraneswara, Who lives and plays in the pretty city of Ilapura, Who is the greatest among the universe, And who is by his nature extremely kind Hara Hara Mahadeva! Sambho Sankara! 7