Grishneshwar Temple

Grishneshwar Temple, situated near Verul (Ellora) in Maharashtra, holds profound significance as the twelfth and final Jyotirlinga mentioned in the Shiva Purana and other scriptures. Its history is marked by resilience, having faced destruction during the periods of conflict associated with the Delhi Sultanate and subsequent Mughal rule. The original temple's exact antiquity is uncertain, but its sanctity as a Jyotirlinga site dates back millennia. The current magnificent structure owes its existence primarily to the piety and patronage of Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore in the 18th century. A renowned ruler and devoted Shaiva, Ahilyabai undertook the reconstruction and restoration of numerous sacred Hindu sites across India that had suffered neglect or destruction, including Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi and Somnath in Gujarat (partial restoration). Her rebuilding of Grishneshwar cemented its status as an active pilgrimage center. The temple is constructed in the characteristic Maratha architectural style of the period, using distinct red volcanic rock. It features a five-tiered shikhara, intricate carvings depicting Hindu deities and mythological scenes on its walls and pillars, and a spacious Sabha Mandap (assembly hall). The presiding deity, Grishneshwar ('Lord of Compassion'), is linked to a Puranic legend involving a devoted woman named Kusuma whose faith restored her dead son to life through Shiva's grace at this spot. Located just a kilometer from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ellora Caves (which includes the Kailasa Temple), Grishneshwar exists within an exceptionally rich historical and sacred landscape, representing the continuity of Shaiva worship from ancient rock-cut traditions to later structural temple building revived under Maratha patronage.