Mahakaleshwar

(3th Jyotirlinga)
IPLTOURS

Avantikāyāṃ vihitāvatāraṃ
Akālamṛtyoḥ parirakśhaṇārthaṃ
Muktipradānāya cha sajjanānām
Vande mahākālamahāsureśam

Story behind the Twelve Jyotirlingas

Hinduism plays a significant role in human life from the eras Krutha, Thretha and Dwapara 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 and Shiva wear several incarnations to punish the evils and to protect sages and his devotees from their harassment. The places where Vishnu and Shiva wear incarnations spread all over India are came in to existence a holy places with the respective incarnation names. The holy places of Dwadasa Jyothirlingas spread from Kedarewar 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 Dwadasa Jyothirlingas Spread all over India like a Conch.

The legend is that Vishnu and Brahma 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 travel 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. There are 64 Temples of Shiva and twelve only being called as Dwadasa Jyothirlingas and holy places of Shiva. Darshan of Dwadasha jyothirlingas feasible only on Spiritual culmination of human being. Every jyothirlingam became familiar with different names in the name of local shrine.

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

Mahakaleswar is the 3rd among the Dwadasa Jyothirlingas situated on the side of the holy river Shirpa in Ujjaain of Madya Pradesh State. Shiva in the form of Swayambhoo Lingam worshipped here deriving mantra-shakti from itself. Mahakaleswar facing south is known as Dakshinamurkhi. Omkareswar idol is also in the sanctum of Mahakaleswar Mandir just above the Mahakaleswar shrine. In the North, West, Eeast and South of the Sanctum, the idols of Ganesh, Parvathi, Karthikeya and Nandi are the attractions in this temple. The Temple located near a lake in a spacious place surrounded by big walls with five stairs out which one is in underground. It is believed that all people irrespective gender of LIBRA Zodic sign visit Ujjain and worship the Mahakaleswar Jyothirlingam will be relieved from all their hurdles in life.

The temple complex destroyed by Mughals and the jyothirlingam was thrown away into the nearby Kunda or Pond and the structure support the lingam was stolen away in the invasion. Subsequently the Marathas built the present structure in 1734 after 500 years of invasion and further developed from time to time. The Devasthan Trust is now maintaining administration of the temple.

Acomodation available in Devasthan Dharmasala/Railway Retiring Rooms/Hotels. Online booking available. Pilgrims may also reserve through online booking for Basma Harati and other Sevas and the Basma Harati will be conducted in the morning.

Places to visit around Mahakaleshwar Temple

Shakti Peetha Maha Kali Temple

Brahma, the creator created earth with Sakthi separated from Shiva and performed Yagna through his son Daksha Prajapathi to add Sakthi again with Shiva. Sakthi borne to Daksha as Sathi and want to marry Shiva. Shiva got angry on Brahma who saw Sarswathi in his presence and separated the fifth head of Brahma. In order to get release from the curse, Shiva gone to Badarinath where the curse left him at Brahmakapalam. Daksha got angry on Shiva, since he separated the fifth head of his father Brahma and to get revenge on Shiva Dhaksha has not invited Shiva and Sati to the Yagna performed by him and invited all the other deities. Daksha insulted Sati and Sati committed suicide by entering into fire. Shiva taken the body of Sati on his shoulders and started Tandava Nrutyam wondering in the world. Vishnu cut the body of Sati into 51 pieces with his Sudharshana Chakra and the pieces fallen on the world in different places and the places named as Sakthi Peetams. Among the 51 Sakthi Peetams 18 became famous as Astadasa Sakthi peetams. Mahakali Sakthi Peetam is the 9th Sakthi Peetam the upper lip of Sathi fallen here.

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Hara Siddhi Mata Temple

Locally the Sakthi Peeth being called as Harasiddhi Mata and not as Maha Kali. There is Annapoorna Idol in dark red colour in between Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswathi Idols in this Temple. There is also Yantra a form of Sakthi in the temple. Maha Kali is the Goddess worshipped by Vikramaditya. Maha Kali or Harasiddi Madata given voice and speech to Kalidasa, the great Sanskrit poet during the regime of Vikramaditya during 4th to 5th century by writing beejaksharams on the tongue of Kalidasa. Kalidasa mentioned about the rituals mainly about Nada Aradhana, the performance of dance in the temple in his Meghaduta.

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Kalabhairava Temple

Kala Bhairava is nothing but another incarnation of Shiva. In every Jyothirlinga Kshetram there is Kala Bhairava temple. Every Pilgrim visit Jyothirlinga has to visit Kala Bhairava without which their yatra could not be completed. In Ujjain Kala Bhairava temple has somehow specialty. Pilgrims will offer wine along with Pooja offerings. The Pandas in the temple will place some wine in a plate and the idol sip some wine. The remaining will be returned as Prasad to the Pilgrims. They may take the Prasad or may give to others. Wine is so favor to Kala Bhairava. This is the only temple in India where wine offered to Kala Bhairava. There temple complex to Nava Grahas with temple towers of different colors. Bus transport provided by Devastanam to the Pilgrims to visit the Nava Graha Temple complex along with aforesaid temples.