Grishneshwar Temple

In Context

• Recently, Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the historic Grishneshwar temple, which is the 12th Jyotirlinga in the country.

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple 

• About:
  • Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple also known as Ghushmeshwar Temple, is one of the shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva that is referenced in the Shiva Purana.
    • The word Ghrneshwara means “lord of compassion”.
    • The temple houses carvings and sculptures of many Hindu gods and goddesses.
    • It is an important pilgrimage site in the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, which considers it as the twelfth Jyotirlinga (linga of light).
  • It is situated in the state of Maharashtra. This pilgrimage site is located in Ellora (also called Verul), less than a kilometer from Ellora Caves – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

• Historical background:
  • The temple structure was destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th and 14th-century. 
  • It went through several rounds of rebuilding followed by re-destruction during the Mughal-Maratha conflict.
  •  It was rebuilt in the current form in the 18th century by Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, after the fall of the Mughal Empire.
• Architectural Design:
  • The Grishneshwar temple is an illustration of maratha temple architectural style and structure. 
  • It is built of red rocks and is composed of a five-tier shikara. 
  • This 240 ft x 185 ft temple is the smallest Jyotirlinga temple in India. 
  • A court hall is built on 24 pillars.
  • The Garbhagriha measures 17 ft x 17 ft. 
  • There is a Nandi bull in the court hall. 

Source:TH