TEMPLES IN INDIA: Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, Ujjain, Madhya pradesh

mahakaleshwar one of the famous jyotirling

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingams, which are supposed to be the most sacred abodes of Shiva. It is located in the ancient city of Ujjain in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. The temple is situated on the side of the Rudra Sagar lake. The presiding deity, Shiva in the lingam form is believed to be Swayambhu, deriving currents of power (Shakti) from within itself as against the other images and lingams that are ritually established and invested with mantra-shakti.
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Jyotirlinga

As per Shiva Purana, once Brahma (the Hindu God of creation) and Vishnu (the Hindu God of sustenance) had an argument in terms of supremacy of creation.To test them, Shiva pierced the three worlds as a huge endless pillar of light, the jyotirlinga. Vishnu and Brahma split their ways to downwards and upwards respectively to find the end of the light in either directions. Brahma lied that he found out the end, while Vishnu conceded his defeat. Shiva appeared as a second pillar of light and cursed Brahma that he would have no place in ceremonies while Vishnu would be worshipped till the end of eternity. The jyotirlinga is the supreme partless reality, out of which Shiva partly appears. The jyothirlinga shrines, thus are places where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light.Originally there were believed to be 64 jyothirlingas while 12 of them are considered to be very auspicious and holy.Each of the twelve jyothirlinga sites take the name of the presiding deity - each considered different manifestation of Shiva. At all these sites, the primary image is lingam representing the beginningless and endless Stambha pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva. The twelve jyothirlinga are Somnath in Gujarat, Mallikarjuna at Srisailam in Andra Pradesh, Mahakaleswar at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, Kedarnath in Himalayas, Bhimashankar in Maharastra, Viswanath at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Triambakeshwar in Maharastra, Vaidyanath at Deogarh in Jharkand, Nageswar at Dwarka in Gujarat, Rameshwar at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu and Grishneshwar at Aurangabad in Maharastra.

The Temple

The idol of Mahakaleshwar is known to be dakshinamurti, which means that it is facing the south. This is a unique feature, upheld by the tantric shivnetra tradition to be found only in Mahakaleshwar among the 12 Jyotirlingas. The idol of Omkareshwar Mahadev is consecrated in the sanctum above the Mahakal shrine. The images of Ganesh, Parvati and Karttikeya are installed in the west, north and east of the sanctum sanctorum. To the south is the image of Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva. The idol of Nagchandreshwar on the third storey is open for darshan only on the day of Nag Panchami. The temple has five levels, one of which is underground. The temple itself is located in a spacious courtyard surrounded by massive walls near a lake. The shikhar or the spire is adorned with sculptural finery. Brass lamps light the way to the underground sanctum. It is believed that prasada (holy offering) offered here to the deity can be re-offered unlike all other shrines.
The presiding deity of time, Shiva, in all his splendor, reigns eternally in the city of Ujjain. The temple of Mahakaleshwar, its shikhar soaring into the sky, an imposing façade against the skyline, evokes primordial awe and reverence with its majesty. The Mahakal dominates the life of the city and its people, even in the midst of the busy routine of modern preoccupations, and provides an unbreakable link with ancient Hindu traditions. On the day of Maha Shivaratri, a huge fair is held near the temple, and worship goes on through the night
Video Bhasma Aarti at Mahakaleshwar Temple Ujjain Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

Mahakaleshwar Temple, cited by the great poet Kalidasa in his works, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. The temple is a five-storied massive structure and its carved motives displays the Rajput style of architecture while screens and pavilions combined with marble colonnades reminds the influence of Mughal style. The deity here is called Dakshinamurtias since the idol is facing southwards. Bhasm Arti, one of the important ritual of this temple is a symbolic representation of Death and Life. This unusual sacrament that involves smearing the linga with hot ashes from the burning ghats is a mark of respect the Destroyer of the universe, Lord Shiva. The Mahakaleshwar Temple is undeniably a treasured place and a sculptural glee to the visitor.
Festive occasions and fairs play a significant role in the lives of people in Ujjain. An ancient religious centre, Ujjain is famous for the Kumbh Mela , Ardha Kumbh and Shivaratri. Today the city presents a unique blend of glorious past with the vibrancy of modernity. A plethora of ruined temples, damaged sculptures, ancient monasteries along with attractive monuments and a serene ambience, Ujjain provides unlimited opportunities of exploration.

City of Ujjain

A great devout center on the banks of river Shipra, Ujjain, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is regarded as a sacred place since time immemorial. A holy city, which found its mention in the ancient Hindu scriptures as Avantika, Ujjain positioned in equal terms with other major religious centers. Later the name was changed to Ujjayini, which literally means the glorious conqueror.
One among the seven sacred cities of the Hindus, Ujjain has been a high-flying center of spiritual activities for over 2,000 years. The sacredness of this township is attributed by the mythological legend that during ‘Sagar Mathan’, one drop of nectar spilled over Ujjain, which makes it a sacred place. Whatever be the truth behind this, Ujjain has got a considerable mention in the Vedas and it is believed that two parts of Skanda Purana, are supposed to have been composed here.
Ruined sculptures and monasteries have been found scattered around Ujjain, leading to the credence that Buddhism thrived here in the 4th century. A glut of these, along with ruined temples and old remnants of houses found in the district take the visitor to the historic reign of the Mauryan Empire. Ujjain’s relevance is not constrained to the small circle of a religious place. Apart from that, this city was a haven of astronomers, and great poets. Besides this, Ujjain was ruled over by many greatest rulers who have given out their best to this historic city. The illustrious kings of the Gupta dynasty whose reign is considered as the golden rule of India belonged to Ujjain.

Puja / Abhishek

Type of Puja Amount in Rs.

General Puja 51.00

Shiv Mahinm Path 101.00

Shiv Mahinm Strot / 11 Path / Vaidik Puja 151.00

Rudra Patha Avartan 251.00

Rudra Patha 11 Avartan 01.00

Laghu Rudraabhishek 1500.00

Maha Rudraabhishek 11 Brahmin 11000.00

Mahamrtunjay 15000.00

Bhanga Shringar 101.00

Note : For Performing Puja / Abhishek please send E-mail on : admin@mahakaleshwar.nic.in

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirling, Ujjain

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How to Reach Ujjain

Located on the right bank of the Shipra River, Ujjain is a venerated pilgrimage centre of Hindus in India. From times immemorial, various legends have been associated with the place. The place was believed to be known as 'Avantika', and was renamed as 'Ujjainyini' (one who conquers with pride) by Lord Shiva, after he vanquished the demon king of Tripuri. It was later abridged to 'Ujjain'. This article explicates the various feasible options available for traveling to Ujjain. Read on and know how to reach the place.

LIVE TRAIN ENQUIRY

By Air
Ujjain doesn't have an airport of its own. The nearest airport is the 'Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport', located in Indore, situated 55 km away. Major airlines like Air Deccan, Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Go Air, Alliance Air, SpiceJet, Kingfisher Airlines and Indian Airlines connect Indore to places like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Goa, Nagpur, Ranchi, Raipur, Patna, Vizag and Kolkata.
By Rail
Ujjain Junction Railway Station is a major railhead on the Western Railway network and connects the place to different parts of the country. It lies on the Bhopal-Nagada rail route. Some of the important Express trains that halt in this station are Narmada Express, Malwa Express, Indore-Pune Express, Sabarmati Express and the Avantika Express. Two other stations are Vikram Nagar and Chintaman (meter gauge) that facilitate railway travel to the place.
By Road
Major roadways like Agra Road, Dewas Road, Indore Road, Maksi Road and Badnagar Road link Ujjain to other places of India. The two bus stations of the place are the Dewas Gate and NanaKheda. A large number of private buses ply from these bus stations to Delhi (774 km), Bombay (655 km), Ahmedabad (402 km), Bhopal (183 km), Gwalior (451 km), Indore (53 km), Khajuraho (570 km) and Mandu (158 km). Regular bus services are available for reaching here, from places like Indore, Bhopal, Ratlam, Gwalior, Mandu, Dhar, Kota, etc.
Ujjain map:

Attractions of Ujjain

Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir, Ujjain

Situated near the tank of the Mahakaleshwar Temple, Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir holds a colossal statue of the elephant-headed God. The elephant head of the deity signifies wisdom, discretion and foresight that the Hindus attribute to divinity.
In the center of the Ganeshji temple, there lies an exceptional statue of Hanuman, a deity of devotion and belief. What makes this deity so unique is the fact that Hanuman is depicted here with five faces, which symbolises courage, loyalty, devotion, strength, and righteousness. An important centre for learning, Bade Ganeshji Temple imparts knowledge in the field of astrology and Sanskrit.

Chaubis Khamba Temple, Ujjain

An impressive structure, which belongs to ninth or tenth century AD, Chaubis Khamba Temple presents an architectural marvel. The majestic entrance gate of the magnificient Mahakala-Vana, the remains of which provides an amazing spectacle. Two splendid images of goddesses are depicted on each side of the gate with the inscription of their names on the foot steps.
These guardian-deities by name Mahamaya and Mahalaya in a very graceful form guards the grand entrance of the structure. One can imagine the dimensions of the boundary-wall of the conventionally recognized Mahakala-vana, which is now covered under thick inhabitation.

Gopal Mandir, Ujjain

Dedicated to lord Krishna, Gopal Temple in Ujjain presents a classic example of Maratha architecture. Built in the 19th century, by Bayajibai Shinde, this huge temple is placed in the middle of a big market. Its strategic position in the heart of the city attributes the popularity of the temple.
This temple is a marble-spired structure and the deity’s two feet tall statue is placed on a marble-inlaid altar with silver-plated doors. The door in the inner sanctum is the same door, which had been carried away by Ghazni from the Somnath temple. Mahadji Scindia recovered the door and now it has been installed in this temple.

Kal Bhairav Temple, Ujjain

Bhairav is a fierce materialization of Lord Shiva, and the city of Ujjain has numerous shrines dedicated to this ferocious manifestation. Kal Bhairav temple is believed to be associated with the Tantra cult, a heretical secret religious group with brawny black magic nuances. The temple premises are mottled with holy men with ash smeared body and long matted hair.
The Kal Bhairava Temple houses a Shiva linga under a banyan tree inside the periphery of the temple opposite to the statue of Nandi Bull. Kal Bhairav temple also depicts beautiful sculptures of other deities along with Lord Vishnu. On the eve of Mahasivarathri, the temple premises put on a festive mood when this shrine is packed with ardent devotees.

Navagraha Mandir (Triveni), Ujjain

A unique temple dedicated to the Planets of Our Solar system, Navgraha Mandir in Ujjain indicates that the planets need to be propitiated to avoid a negative influence. In India, Astronomy and Astrology adorned a pivotal role in the life of people of ancient times and the popular belief is that each planet exercises an influence on the lives of people.
Marking of the first meridian at Ujjain, adds a special significance to this temple, which situates at the confluence of the Shipra and two other rivulets. Devotees tender flowers, coconuts and vermilion, and especially mustard oil as their offerings to the deities.

Patal Bhairav Temple, Ujjain

A legendary temple, which holds an astounding story about the power of the mother Goddess, Patal Bhairav Temple adorns a prime position.
Hindu mythology states Bhairav Nath, a selfish demon, chased a young girl Vaishno Devi, who was none other than the incarnation of the Mother Goddess. In order to escape from the demon, Devi shot an arrow into the Earth from which water gushed out and then found a shelter under a cave. When Bhairav located her, Devi was compelled to take the form of Mahakali, and killed the demon. In his last moments, Bhairav pleaded for forgiveness. Bhairav was granted Moksha along with a boon that every devotee, in order to accomplish their pilgrimage, had to visit Bhairav Nath's temple near the Holy cave after the darshan of the goddess.

Ram Janardhan Mandir, Ujjain

Constructed by Mirza Raja Jaisingh in the Seventeenth Century, Ram Janardan temples present an eye-catching look. Presenting an outstanding structural elegance, these temples depict masterpieces of Maratha paintings on their walls. The Maratha Kings added some of the structures in the temples in the eighteenth century. The imposing pictures on the walls of the temples add the charm of the temples.
These fabulous shrines also houses some amazing sculptures which dates back to the 11th and 12th century. The image of Govardhandhari Krishna, Brahma, Vishnu and Mashesa are very striking for their architectural grandeur and sculptural excellences. It is certain that these awe-inspiring shrines are worthy enough to catch the attention of not only the devotee but also a casual visitor.

Ram Mandir, Ujjain

Dedicated to Lord Ram who is flanked by his consort Sita on one side and brother Lakshman on the other side, Ram Mandir in Ujjain is a eye catching spectacle. Built in the 17th century, this fabulous shrine is a finest example of structural brilliance. The walls of the pretty shrine are decorated with beautiful paintings.
Besides the attractive scenes from the lives of Rama and Krishna the painting of Bedalya Bua Maharaj and Sant Tukoba are very attractive. Certain old images are seen inscribed inside the temple are very remarkable for their amazing sculptural designs and perfection. A tenth century old image of Lord Vishnu installed in between the assembly hall and the interior of Ram Mandir needs a special mention.

Ram Mandir Ghat, Ujjain

Ram Mandir Ghat, located near the Harsiddhi Temple in Ujjain is famous for its Kumbh Mela. Kumbh Mela is held in every 12 years. Ram Mandir Ghat, Ujjain is the most ancient bathing ghat in connection with the Kumbh celebrations.
During the Kumbh Mela, lakhs of fortune-seekers gather the city from all corners of India. It is believed that those people who took a holy dip in Ram Mandir Ghat will attain the much-awaited salvation. During the time of Kumbh Mela, this oldest bathing Ghat in Ujjain will be crowded with devotees. Apart from its religious significance, Ram Mandir Ghat is a fascinating place for a leisurely walk especially a walk in the early morning and at sunset is quite enchanting.

Sandipani Ashram, Ujjain

The Ancient Indian Tradition of gurukul imparts education to students irrespective of their wealth or poverty. Besides a variety of subjects and ancient scriptures, in gurukul, students were taught battle techniques and spiritualism. From the vedic period itself, Ujjain was a reputed center of learning.
Sandipani Ashram is a famous hermitage situated in Ujjain, where Lord Krishna spent his formative years until adolescence. Sandipani, the saint in the hermitage, taught Krishna and Balarama, here in this Ashram.
The Ashram situates adjacent to so many remarkable spots, which are closely associated with lord Krishna. Another important feature of this ashram is that the supporters of Vallabha sect regard this place as the 73rd seat of Vallabhacharya where he conveyed his speeches throughout India. Sandipani Ashram and its serene surroundings provides a divine feeling to all those who wish to be in tranquil ambience.

ATTRACTIONS OF UJJAIN