The twelfth and last of the Jyotirlingas, standing close to the UNESCO-listed Ellora Caves. The present red-stone temple was lovingly rebuilt in the 18th century by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar.
Primary Deity
ShivaLocation
Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Pilgrimage Circuit
JyotirlingaBest Time to Visit
October to March, ideal for also exploring the Ellora Caves nearby. Mahashivratri is the principal festival.
Grishneshwar is the last of the twelve Jyotirlingas and, by tradition, completing its darshan fulfils the entire Jyotirlinga pilgrimage. The Shiva Purana tells of a devoted woman named Ghushma (or Kusuma) whose faith revived her dead son and caused Shiva to manifest here permanently at her request. The temple thus celebrates the power of unwavering devotion over death. Its nearness to Ellora ties India's living faith to its ancient artistic heritage.
Grishneshwar (also Ghrishneshwar) is a compact but exquisitely carved temple of red basalt, its walls covered with fine sculptures of gods, goddesses and mythological scenes in the Maratha style. Rebuilt by the devout queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, who restored many of India's great temples, it sits beside the magnificent rock-cut Ellora Caves, allowing pilgrims to combine devotion with one of India's finest heritage experiences. A traditional custom requires men to enter the sanctum bare-chested for darshan of the lingam. Though the smallest of the Jyotirlingas, Grishneshwar completes the sacred circuit and carries the full spiritual weight of the twelve.
The 12 Jyotirlingas are the holiest abodes of Lord Shiva, where he is worshipped as a self-manifested pillar of radiant light (jyoti). Completing darshan of all twelve is considered one of the highest acts of Shaivite devotion. This temple is one of the 10 sacred sites of the Jyotirlinga.
📍 Pune, Maharashtra
A Jyotirlinga hidden in the forested Sahyadri hills near Pune, cradled within the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is the source of the Bhima river and a haven of both faith and biodiversity.
📍 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
One of the holiest of all Shiva temples, rising on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi, the eternal city of light. Here Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, the 'Lord of the Universe'.
📍 Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
One of the 12 Jyotirlingas and the presiding deity of the ancient city of Ujjain. Its lingam is uniquely dakshinamukhi (south-facing), a feature found in no other Jyotirlinga.
📍 Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
The second Jyotirlinga, set amid the forested Nallamala Hills on the banks of the Krishna River. It is one of the rare shrines that is simultaneously a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
📍 Dwarka, Gujarat
A Jyotirlinga near Dwarka on the Saurashtra coast, marked by a towering 25-metre seated statue of Lord Shiva visible from far away. Its name means 'Lord of the Nagas (serpents)'.
📍 Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh
A Jyotirlinga set on a river island in the Narmada that is itself shaped like the sacred syllable 'Om'. It is one of the most serene Shaivite pilgrimages in central India.
📍 Veraval, Gujarat
The first among the 12 Jyotirlingas, standing on the western coast of Gujarat where the Arabian Sea meets the shore. It is among the most sacred and storied Shiva temples in all of India.
📍 Nashik, Maharashtra
A Jyotirlinga near Nashik at the source of the sacred Godavari river, famous for its rare lingam bearing three faces — Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is one of the four sites of the Nashik Kumbh Mela.
📍 Deoghar, Jharkhand
Revered as Baba Baidyanath Dham, this Jyotirlinga is worshipped as the 'divine physician' who heals body and soul. It is also counted among the Shakti Peethas.
📍 Shirdi, Maharashtra
The great pilgrimage centre built around the samadhi of Sai Baba of Shirdi, the beloved saint who taught unity of all faiths. It draws millions of devotees of every religion.
📍 Ahmednagar, Maharashtra
A famous shrine of Shani Dev (Saturn) in a village so trusting of the god's protection that its homes traditionally have no doors or locks. Its self-manifested idol stands in the open sky.
📍 Nashik, Maharashtra
A hilltop Shakti shrine among seven peaks near Nashik, revered as a half (ardha) Shakti Peetha and the family goddess of countless Maharashtrian households.
📍 Nashik, Maharashtra
A Jyotirlinga near Nashik at the source of the sacred Godavari river, famous for its rare lingam bearing three faces — Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is one of the four sites of the Nashik Kumbh Mela.
Grishneshwar Temple is primarily dedicated to Shiva.
Grishneshwar Temple is located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
October to March, ideal for also exploring the Ellora Caves nearby. Mahashivratri is the principal festival.
Grishneshwar Temple is one of the 10 temples in the Jyotirlinga.
Grishneshwar is the last of the twelve Jyotirlingas and, by tradition, completing its darshan fulfils the entire Jyotirlinga pilgrimage. The Shiva Purana tells of a devoted woman named Ghushma (or Kusuma) whose faith revived her dead son and caused Shiva to manifest here permanently at her request. The temple thus celebrates the power of unwavering devotion over death. Its nearness to Ellora ties India's living faith to its ancient artistic heritage.
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