Sri Grinshneshwar Temple is a Lord Shiva temple in Verul in Aurangabad district in Maharashtra.
It is one of the 12 jyotirlingams in India.
This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, also known as the “lord of compassion.” But that’s not all – the temple is situated just a kilometer away from the famous Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So, you can kill two birds with one stone by visiting both the temple and the caves!
But let’s talk about the temple’s history. The original structure was destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th and 14th century, and since then, it’s been through several rounds of destruction and reconstruction during the Mughal-Maratha conflict. But thanks to Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, who sponsored its reconstruction in the 18th century, the temple stands tall today, attracting long lines of devotees every day.
If you’re a man and you want to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, you must go bare-chested! Yes, you heard me right. It’s a local Hindu tradition that you can’t argue with, so just take off that shirt and enjoy the spiritual experience.
The temple’s architecture is a perfect illustration of the Maratha style, built of red rocks and composed of a five-tier shikara. And halfway up the temple, you’ll find Dashavataras of Vishnu carved in red stone, a sight to cheer. There’s also a court hall built on 24 pillars with carvings summarizing various legends and mythologies of Shiva.
The Garbhagriha, where the Lingamurty faces eastward, measures 17 ft x 17 ft, and there’s even a Nandi bull in the court hall. The Grishneshwar Temple is a small temple, measuring only 240 ft x 185 ft, but don’t let its size fool you – it’s still a revered temple that houses carvings and sculptures of many Hindu gods and goddesses.
Now, the best part – getting there! You can reach Grishneshwar Temple from Aurangabad via road, and the city is only 31.5 kilometers away from the temple. You can take a Maharashtra State Transport bus from the Aurangabad Central Bus Station, which is just 29 kilometers away, and enjoy the scenic route to the temple.
So, there you have it – a fascinating temple that’s both spiritual and entertaining, all in one place. Don’t forget to take off that shirt, and happy pilgrimage!
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