Pratapgarh Ghuisarnath Temple, Uttar Pradesh

Address

Pratapgarh Ghuisarnath Temple, Lalganj – Ghuisarnath Rd, Deum Paschim, Uttar Pradesh 230132

Diety

Ghuisarnath

Introduction

Ghuisarnath or Ghushmeshwarnath Temple is a Shiva temple located on the bank of Sai River at Lalganj Ajhara, Pratapgarh, India. The temple is situated at a distance of about 45 km from Pratapgarh & 145 km from Ayodhya, in Bela Pratapgarh. This magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is the center of people’s faith & spirituality. The Temple is believed to be 1000 years old. The temple is considered as one of the twelve Jyotirlinga which is mentioned in Shiva Puran. The Holy Shivling of the Baba Ghuisarnath is seen in the sanctum of the temple.

Puranic Significance

According to Shiva Purana, in the southern direction, on a bank of lake lived a Brahmin called Brahmavetta Sudharm along with his wife Sudeha. The couple did not have a child because of which Sudeha was sad. Sudeha prayed and tried all possible remedies but in vain. Frustrated of being childless, Sudeha got her sister Ghushma married to her husband. On the advice of her sister, Ghushma used to make 101 lingas, worship them and discharge them in the nearby lake. With the blessings of Lord Shiva, Ghushma gave birth to a baby boy. Because of this, Ghushma became proud and Sudeha started feeling jealous towards her sister. Out of jealously, one night she killed Ghushma son and threw him in the lake where Ghushma used to discharge the lingas. Next morning, Ghushmas and Sudharm got involved in daily prayers and ablutions. Sudeha too, got up and started performing her daily choirs. Ghushma’s daughter-in-law, however, saw stains of blood on her husband’s bed and parts of the body drenched in blood. Horrified, she narrated everything to mother-in-law Ghushma who was absorbed in worshipping Shiva. Ghushma did not deter. Even her husband Sudharma did not move an inch. Even when Ghushma saw the bed drenched in blood she did not break down and said he who has given me this child shall protect him and started reciting “Shiva-Shiva”. Later, when she went to discharge the Shivalingas after prayers she saw her son coming. Seeing her son Ghushma was neither happy nor sad. At that time Lord Shiv appeared before her and said – I am pleased with your devotion. Your sister had killed your son. Ghushma told Lord to forgive Sudeha and emancipate her. Pleased with her generosity, Lord Shiva asked her another boon. Ghushma said that if he was really happy with her devotion then he should reside here eternally for the benefit of the multitudes in form of a Jyotirling and may you be known by my name. On her request, Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a Jyotirling and assumed the name Ghushmeshwar and the lake was named as Sai thereafter.