Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Home to the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga and the UNESCO World Heritage Ellora Caves — a major stop in Maharashtra's Marathwada region.
Connection to Adi Shankaracharya
The Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is explicitly named in the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram, a hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya that enumerates and glorifies the twelve principal Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The stotram's inclusion of Grishneshwar attests to the shrine's recognised spiritual pre-eminence within the Shankarite tradition and the broader Shaivite pilgrimage framework.
Source: Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram, attributed to Adi Shankaracharya; preserved in stotra compilations and referenced in Hindupedia and other scholarly sources on the Jyotirlinga tradition.Places of Interest
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga
One of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, located near the Ellora Caves. The current temple structure was built by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century. The temple is referenced in the Shiva Purana.
Ashwalayana Ghat
A sacred ghat associated with the Ashwalayana Shakha tradition — an important site for ritual and scholarly engagement on the yatra.