Grishneshwar Temple, Ellora – Legends

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).