Gujarat
Somnath
Standing on the Arabian Sea shore at Prabhas Patan, Somnath is honoured as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
Jyotirlinga 12 of 12
Grishneshwar
Barely two kilometres from the Ellora Caves, Grishneshwar is the twelfth and among the smallest of the Jyotirlingas.
LocationVerul, near Ellora
State / RegionMaharashtra
Worshipped asGhushmeshwar
Best time to visitOctober to March
Religious significance
The red-stone temple with fine carvings was rebuilt in the 16th century by Maloji Bhosale, grandfather of Chhatrapati Shivaji, and again in the 18th century by Ahilyabai Holkar. Unlike many shrines, devotees here may traditionally touch the linga.
Traditional story
Ghushma, a devoted woman, worshipped Shiva daily by making and immersing 101 lingas in a tank. Her jealous co-wife killed Ghushma's son. Ghushma calmly continued her worship, and Shiva restored her son to life and remained there at her request as Ghushmeshwar.
Legends are presented as they are told within the tradition; they hold spiritual meaning for devotees and are not offered as historical record.
Visitor guidance
- Men are traditionally asked to remove shirts before entering the sanctum.
- Combine with the Ellora Caves — note that Ellora is closed on Tuesdays.
- Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) at Ellora is a monolithic temple dedicated to Shiva.
Continue the journey
More 12 jyotirlingas
Andhra Pradesh
Mallikarjuna, Srisailam
High in the forested Nallamala Hills above the Krishna river, Srisailam is both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
Madhya Pradesh
Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain
In the ancient city of Ujjain, Shiva is worshipped as Mahakala — Lord of Time and of death itself.
Madhya Pradesh
Omkareshwar
On Mandhata island in the Narmada — an island said to be shaped like the sacred syllable ॐ — Omkareshwar is one of the most beautiful settings of any Jyotirlinga.
From the library
Related reading
Planning a Jyotirlinga Yatra: A Practical Guide
How to group the twelve Jyotirlingas into practical regional circuits, when to go, and what to prepare.