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Blessed by VerulNagar,
there is no other place like it on this earth, where Lord
Grishneswara resides, the best palce on this earth.” –
Madhwamunishwar
On this holy pilgrimage of
the JyotirLingas of Lord Shankara, the last one, with out which the
pilgrimage will not be considered as complete, is the twelfth
JyotirLinga, of Grishneshwar.
About 30 km towards the
west side of Aurangabad, there is a village called Verul. In this
village there is a place of pilgrimage called Shivalay, when the
great Holy Trilinga of Ghrishneshwar is located. The stories
associated with Verul, Shivalay and Ghrishneswar are like
this:
This was originally a settlement of the Naga tribes. The place of
the Nagas is Bambi, which is known as “Varul” in Marathi “Varul”
gradually changed into “Verul” and is known by this name only.
River Yelaganga flows here. The name “Verul” is derived from
Yelaganga, on whose banks the village is located. There was a king
by the name “Yela” here. The capital of his kingdom was Yelapar, or
Yelur or Verul.
Sthala purana of Grishneshwar
Jyotirlinga
Once the king went hunting. While hunting, the king killed the
animals living with the Rishis and munis too. 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.
His throat was parched because he was very thirsty. There was,
alas, no water to be found anywhere. 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 (Tapa) there. Lord Brahma was
pleased and appeared before him and installed Parashta Teerth
there. He also created a huge and holy lake near
by.
This Brahma sarovar later came to be known as
Shivalay.
About
Shivalay
Once Shiva and Parvati were playing chess on Mount Kailasa. Paravti
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 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,
Paravti was very thirsty. Shankara pierced earth with his trident
and got the water of Bhogavati from the Patal (Nether world). This
is the Shivalay.
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Ellora,
Aurangabad
The Shivalay expands a little ahead where Shivanadi (Shivanand)
meets it and a little more further, Yelaganga also flows just near
it. When Shiva and Parvati were staying here pleasently, 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.
Once Parvati, was about to fill her hair parting with vermillion
and saffron, in Kamyavana. 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
Patala.” And removed it with his
trident.
Then a bubble emerged from the earth with water
(Kashikhand).
Parvati kept that glorious light in stone Linga and installed it
there. This Purna (complete) JyotirLinga is called Kunkumeshwar.
But since Dakshayani created this Linga with the function of her
thumb. She gave it the name of Grishneshwara (Grishna means
friction).
On the southern mountain called Deva Parvata, a great scholar
Brahmin Sudhama of Bharadwaja gotra, used to live with his
beautiful, devout wife called Sudeha. They had no children. They
were very unhappy because of this. They were harassed and tortured
by the sly remarks of their neighbours. But Sudhama, an intelligent
person, did not care about these. One day, Sudeha threatened to
commit suicide and sister Dushma, married her husband. Both of them
promised that there would be no jealousy between
them.
After sometime, Dushma gave birth to a son. And eventually even
that son married. Both Sudhama and Dushma, were nice to Sudeha. But
jealousy did get the better of Sudeha. Once she picked up Dushma’s
son who was sleeping by her side and killed him. She threw the body
into the lake near by.
In the morning there was a big hue and cry. Dushma’s grief knew no
bounds. Even then, she went to the river to do her routine worship.
She made her usual hundred Lingas and began worship she saw her son
standing near the lake. Shiva was pleased with her worship and
revealed the truth about Sudhas forgiveness of Sudha’s sin. She
indeed requested Shiva to remain there itself for the welfare of
the humanity.
Shiva acceded to her request and remained there with the name of
Dhushamesha.
History of the Grishneshvar Temple
The very devout Shiva devotee, Bhosale (The Patel or chief of
Verul) once found a treasure hidden in the snake pit (ant hill) by
the grace of Lord Grishneshwar. He spent that money to renovate the
temple and built a lake in
Shikharshinganapur.
Later on, Goutamibal (Bayajabai) and Ahilyadevi Holkar renovated
the Grishneshwar temple. This 240ft x 185 ft temple is still there
strong and beautiful as ever. Halfway up the temple, Dashavataras
are carved in red stone. These are beautiful to look at. There are
also other beautiful statutes carved out. A court hall is built on
24 pillars. On these pillars there are wonderful carvings. The
scenes and paintings are beautiful. The Garbhagriha measures 17ft x
17 ft. The Lingamurty faces eastward. There is a gorgeous
Nandikeshwara in the court hall.
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