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The Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple, nestled near the renowned Ellora and Kailash caves, holds a captivating story of Lord Shiva and Parvati.
Characters in the story:
Goddess Parvati: Goddess Parvati is a prominent deity in Hinduism, known as the divine mother and the consort of Lord Shiva. She represents feminine power, fertility, love, and devotion, and is worshiped for her nurturing and compassionate nature.
Lord Shiva: Lord Shiva holds significant prominence in Hinduism as a prominent deity, revered for his role as the vanquisher of malevolence and the catalyst of universal change. Depicted in various forms, he is often portrayed as a tranquil ascetic engaged in deep meditation or as the divine dancer, adorned with a third eye, an entwined serpent around his neck, and a trident grasped firmly in his hand.
Lord Brahma: Lord Brahma holds a significant position in Hinduism as the divine creator of the universe and all living beings. He is commonly portrayed with four heads, symbolizing his association with the four Vedas.
The Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple is situated in close proximity to the renowned Ellora and Kailash caves, known worldwide for their historical significance.
One of the most famous legends associated with the temple revolves around Lord Shiva and Parvati. Both shared a love for playing chess, with Lord Shiva consistently emerging as the victor in their games. However, one day, Parvati managed to defeat him, greatly displeasing Lord Shiva. Feeling insulted by his loss, he abruptly departed for the Kamyakavana forest.
In her quest to find Lord Shiva, Parvati disguised herself and set out. While wandering in the forest, Lord Shiva unexpectedly encountered Parvati. Feeling thirsty, she asked Lord Shiva for help. He created Ganga Dhara to quench her thirst by piercing the earth with his trident, causing water from the netherworld (patal lok) to flow out. This water eventually formed the sacred sarovar (lake).
That is how the Shivalaya Sarovar acquired its name. Lord Brahma then brought sacred water from eight different kundas, resulting in the construction of eight distinct temples surrounding the Shivalaya Sarovar.
On another occasion, Goddess Parvati was preparing red vermilion, a symbol of marital bliss in Hindu tradition. Realizing that she needed water to create a paste, she turned to the holy Shivalaya Sarovar, which was brought into existence by Lord Shiva. Holding vermilion in her left palm, she began mixing it with water from the Sarovar using her right hand.
The circular motions of her hands generated friction, and from this friction (Grishna), a radiant light emerged and transformed into a linga. Parvati was astonished by this phenomenon, and Lord Shiva explained that this linga had been concealed in the netherworld, emerging when he struck the earth with his trident.
Parvati enshrined this light within the stone linga and gave it the name ‘Grishneshwar’ (God of Friction) because it was born from the friction between her hands. This is how the temple derived its name.
And so, the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple stands today, a testament to the eternal love and divine play of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, where the sacred linga emerged from the gentle friction of their devotion, forever illuminating the hearts of devotees.
