Grishneshwar Temple, Ellora – Legends
Ghushmeshwar:
According to Shivapurana, in the southern direction, on
a mountain named Devagiri lived a Brahmin called Brahmavetta Sudharm along with
his wife Sudeha. The couple did not have a child because of which Sudeha was
sad. Sudeha prayed and tried all possible remedies but in vain. Frustrated of
being childless, Sudeha got her sister Ghushma married to her husband. On the
advice of her sister, Ghushma used to make 101 Lingas, worship them and
discharge them in the nearby lake.
With the blessings of Lord Shiva, Ghushma gave birth to
a baby boy. Because of this, Ghushma became proud and Sudeha started feeling
jealous towards her sister. Out of jealously, one night she killed Ghushma's
son and threw him in the lake where Ghushma used to discharge the Lingas. Next
morning, Ghushma’s and Sudharm got involved in daily prayers and ablutions.
Sudeha too, got up and started performing her daily
choirs. Ghushma's daughter-in-law, however, saw stains of blood on her
husband's bed and parts of the body drenched in blood. Horrified, she narrated
everything to mother-in-law Ghushma who was absorbed in worshipping Shiva.
Ghushma did not deter. Even her husband Sudharma did not move an inch.
Even when Ghushma saw the bed drenched in blood she did
not break down and said he who has given me this child shall protect him and
started reciting ‘Shiva-Shiva'. Later, when she went to discharge the
Shivalingas after prayers she saw her son coming. Seeing her son Ghushma was
neither happy nor sad. At that time Lord Shiva appeared before her and said - I
am pleased with your devotion. Your sister had killed your son. Ghushma told
Lord to forgive Sudeha and emancipate her.
Pleased with her generosity, Lord Shiva asked her
another boon. Ghushma said that if he was really happy with her devotion then
he should reside here eternally for the benefit of the multitudes in form of a Jyotirlinga
and may you be known by my name. On her request, Lord Shiva manifested himself
in the form of a Jyotirlinga and assumed the name Ghushmeshwar and the lake was
named as Shivalaya thereafter.
Brahma
Sarovar:
Once the Local King went for hunting. While hunting, the
king killed the animals living with the Rishis. Seeing this, the irate Saints
cursed the king, as a result of which, his entire body was infested with
insects. Now, smitten by this curse, the king began to wander in the forest. He
was very thirsty and he was searching for water. At last he found a water hole
made by the hooves of a horse. Just as the king started to drink water a
miracle occurred. The king's body was rid of all the insects. The king did
severe penance (Tapas) there. Lord Brahma was pleased and appeared before him
and installed Parashta Teerth there. He also created a huge and holy lake nearby.
This Brahma Sarovar later came to be known as Shivalay.
Shivalay:
Once Shiva and Parvati were playing chess on Mount
Kailasa. Parvati checkmated Shiva. Shankara played to be angry at this and went
away southward. He went and stayed at a place on the Sahyadri range, where
there is cool breeze. This place was given the name of Maheshamauli or Bhainsmal.
Parvati came there looking for Shankar. She won the heart of Shiva in the form
of a hill mountain tribal girl. They both spent some time there happily.
This forest came to be known as Kamyakavana. Lord
Mahesha forbade crows from entering the area of Maheshamouli or Bhainsmal. One
day, Parvati was very thirsty. Shankara pierced earth with his trident and got
the water of Bhogavati from the Patal (Nether world). This is the Shivalay. The
Shivalay expands a little ahead where Shivanadi meets it and a little further,
Yelaganga also flows just near it.
Origin
of Yelaganga River:
When Shiva and Parvati were staying here pleasantly, a
hunter by the name Sudhanwa came there looking for a prey. A miracle happened
and Sudhanwa turned into a woman. At this he did a severe Tapa there. Shankara
was pleased and appeared. Actually, Sudhanwa was a woman by birth in his
previous life. Thus, Shankara from that very curse of becoming a woman turned
Sudhanwa into Yelaganga river. Thus, Punya Sarita Yelaganga was born in the
Kamyawana. Later, it was to become the bathing place called Dhara Teerth or
‘Sita's Snangriha' and flow from a higher place and goes through Verul village.
Grishneshwar:
Once Parvati, was about to fill her hair parting with
vermillion and saffron, in Kamyawana. She kept them in her left palm and mixed
the water of Shivalay in it. With the right thumb she started mixing them both.
Then a miracle occurred, vermillion turned into a Shivalinga and a great light
appeared in it. Parvati was awe struck at this. Then Lord Shankara said:
"This Linga was hidden in the Pathala." And removed it with his
trident. Then a bubble emerged from the earth with water. Parvati kept that
glorious light in stone Linga and installed it there. This Poorna (complete) Jyotirlinga
is called Kunkumeshwar. But since Dakshayani created this Linga with the
function of her thumb. She gave it the name of Grishneshwar (Grishna means friction).
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