Grishneswar

Story behind the Twelve Jyotirlingas

Hinduism plays a significant role in human life from Krutha, Thretha and Dwapara eras continuing in present Kali era. In the entire eras, God wears several incarnations to punish evil and to protect sages and his devotees. The demons get boons from Brahma, the creator and used to show their sadism on sages and devotees of God in all these eras. Vishnu, status god and Shiva the destructor wear several incarnations to punish the evils and protect sages and their devotees from their harassment. The places where Vishnu and Shiva wear incarnations  spread all over India are came in to existence as holy places with the respective incarnation names. There are 64 Temples of Shiva and twelve only being called as Dwadasa Jyothirlingas and holy places of Shiva The holy places of Dwadasa Jyothirlingas spread from Kedareswar in north to Rameswaram in South and from Vaidhyanath in the east to Somanath of Gujarat in the West protecting our nation from times immemorial.          

The legend is that Brahma and Vishnu argued about supreme creation. Shiva prepared the three worlds as an endless Jyothirlinga pillar of light. Brahma decides to travel downwards along with the pillar and Vishnu to treavel upwards respectively, to find the end of the light. Brahma lied that he had found the end, while Vishnu agreed his defeat. Shiva appeared as a second pillar of light and find the lie told by Brahma. Shiva got angry on Brahma and cursed Brahma him not to have place in ceremonies and Vishnu would be worshipped in eras.  

The legend in Shiva Purana is that Sudharma and Sudeha lived in Devagiri Mountain, that they have no children, and Sudeha performed marriage to Sudharma with his sister Gushma. Gushma gave birth to a male child and Sudeha felt jolous. She has thrown away the child in a tank in which they have abounded 101 Shiva Lingas. Gushma prayed Shiva and Lord Shiva handed over the child to Gushma and informed the action of Sudeha. Lord Shiva come into existence in the form of Grushneswar Jyothirlinga at the request of Sudharma. The temple is the smallest among the Jyothirlinga temples. The ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu were engraved on a red stone. The Jyothirlingam is on the east facing in the small oracle. Nandi Statue is there in the Portico constructed with 24 Pillers. It is believed that all people irrespective of gender of  SCORPIO Zodiac sign visit and worship the Gurhsneswar Jyothirlingam will be relieved from all their hurdles in life.