Everything You Need To Know About The Mahakaleshwar Temple Ujjain

Situated on the banks of the holy Kshipra river, the Mahakaleswar temple is the abode of Lord Shiva. It is one among the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Jyotirlinga means ‘ the column or pillar of light’.  Believers think Shiva himself visited these sacred shrines.

Lord Shiva self-originated the Linga here, and consequently, people refer to it as ‘Swayambhu‘, meaning it existed on its own without anyone creating it. Furthermore, the idol at the Mahakaleshwar temple is the only idol in India that faces south. As a result, the temple holds a special place among devotees, and thus, lakhs of pilgrims visit this temple and take a holy dip in the sacred Kshipra river to get rid of all their sins.

The temple is also one among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas in India and holds immense religious significance. The one event that occurs at the temple every morning at 4 am and is most popular among devotees is the Bhasmarti. Devotees book this arti and attend it with full devotion.

Every year, lakhs of devotees, especially during Mahashivratri, visit the temple solely dedicated to Lord Shiva. People believe that Lord Shiva appears on earth during this period and blesses devotees.

The temple has inscriptions of Omkaeshwara and Nagchandreshwara and also the images of Ganesha, Kartikeya, and Parvati. The temple is ancient and has a history dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Bhumija, Chalukya, and Maratha styles influence the architecture of the temple. Various empires renovated the temple during their reigns, and visitors can witness glimpses of the ancient era here.

This article will cover everything you need to know about the Mahakaleshwar temple and its religious significance. So keep reading.

Bhasma Aarti at Mahakaleswar Temple

The Bhasmarti at The Mahakaleshwar temple is an important ritual that takes place every morning at 4 am. Devotees book this arti in advance online or offline. This arti is very popular among devotees and they attend it with full devotion.

Devotees start gathering in queues from 1 am in the morning.The temple has 3-4 halls where people can conveniently attend the ritual.

The arti includes Bhasm (Ash) which was initially taken from funerals, but now people prepare fresh ash from cow dung for the tradition.

People perform the Bhasmarti only at the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple. Attending this arti is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the early morning calmness fills you with immense joy and blissfulness.

You can book the arti online from the official website of the temple or you can book it from the counters at the temple. You can collect passes of the arti from the designated counters one day prior.

Festivals Celebrated

The temple regularly performs the Puja- Archana and Abhishek arti, but apart from this, they celebrate other festivals here. These are:

Nitya Yatra

The Skanda Puran narrates the Yatra conducted here. In this ritual the Yatri (Participant) takes bath in the holy Ksipra river and then visits Mahakaleshwara, Koteswara, Nagchandreshwar, Agasteshwara, Goddess Avantika, and Godess Harasiddhi for the Darshana.

Sawari

On every Monday, the procession of Lord Shiva passes through the streets of Ujjain for a specific time period. Additionally, lakhs of devotees attend the Sawari that takes place on the dark fortnight of the Bhadrapada and celebrate it with great enthusiasm. Similarly, people celebrate Vijayadashami with fervor and devotion, with a huge procession taking place as well.

The Architecture of Mahakaleswar Temple

The architecture of the Mahakaleshwar temple has influences of the Maratha, Bhumija, and Chalukya styles. The architecture is a beautiful amalgamation of these traditions. The temple sits near a lake and rests upon a spacious courtyard.

Surrounded by massive walls, the temple has five levels one of which is underground. The idol of Mahakaleshwar is located below the ground level. In the middle and uppermost part, there are the lingams of Omkareshwara and Nagchandreshwara installed.

The Nagchandreshawara idol is open for Darshan only on the Nagpanchmi. In the compound, you can see a large Kunda known as Koti Tirtha which people consider to be celestial.

A veranda lies to the east of this kunda, serving as the entrance to the Garbhagriha where you can find small images of Ganesha, Kartikeya, and Parvati. Additionally, on all the walls, you can see pieces of writings dedicated to Lord Shiva. Furthermore, on the north side of the veranda, you can see the images of Shri Rama and Goddess Avantika.

The Legend of Mahakaleshwar Temple

‘ Mahakaleshwar’ means the Lord of time and death and refers to Lord Shiva who is one among the significant trinity of Hinduism, Bramha, Vishnu, and Mahesh. People also refer to Lord Shiva as ‘Maheshwara. Devotees worship ‘Mahakal’ with full devotion at the Mahakaleshwar temple, where he resides.

It is observed as one among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva, where the legend of Shiva appears as the infinite column of light to test Brahma and Vishnu.

There are theories and Myths about the Mahakaleswar temple. According to one story, Sati walked into the fire to rebel against her father who opposed her marriage with Lord Shiva. Shiva was furious with this and performed the ‘ Dance of Death’ (Tandav). They then called him ‘Mahakal’ who is mightier than time.

Another legend states that when the demon Dushan preyed upon four Shaiva Bhakts, Shiva broke out in a fit of rage and tore the earth in half. Lord Shiva has manifested as Mahakaleshwar since then.

The best time to Visit Mahakaleshwar Temple

The best time to visit the Mahakaleswar temple is from October to March. You can feel the serene weather during this time and it is ideal for visiting temples and exploring different sites. During winters the temperature is chill and ranges from 15- 20 degrees Celsius.

So if you are planning your next religious trip to Ujjain you should definitely visit during the said period. The temperature is mostly harsh during the summer so it is advisable to visit during winter and pre-summer times.

Mahakaleshwar Temple Services

The Mahakaleswar temple provides many religious services to its devotees and visitors. Some of the notable services the temple offers are:

• Darshan: The temple provides the Darshan of Mahakaleshwar to the devotees all round the year. The timings of the Darshan can vary according to different times and festivals. Also, specific rituals are carried out at the temple and lakhs of devotees attend the rituals and seek blessings.
• Abhishek:  Abhishek ceremonies ( Ritual bathing) are carried out throughout the year and devotees can offer Water and Milk to the deity.
• Aarti: Daily aartis are carried out at the temple and devotees attend it with full devotion. One of Aarti that is most popular is the Bhasmarti which is carried out at 4 am in the morning daily. The Aartis are full of energy and the ringing bells and mantra chanting make it a mesmerizing event.
• Pujas and Rituals: The temple provides specific pooja services where devotees can offer their prayers to the lord and seek blessings. You can book these Poojas in advance and take advantage of the services offered by different priests at the temple.
• Annadan: There is a dedicated kitchen at the temple where free meals known as Annadanam are provided to the devotees and needy people. It is a noble service that is aimed at feeding the needy and creating a sense of equality among people.

Mahakaleswar Temple – Nearby Tourist Spots

Apart from the Mahakaleswar temple there are many places and temples in Ujjain that have immense religious and cultural heritage.
Some of the most popular tourist spots are:

• Kal Bhairav Temple
• Harsiddhi Temple
• Bhartrihari Caves
• Mangalnath Temple
• Ram Mandir Ghat
• Kaliadeh Palace
• Chintaman Ganesh Temple
• Vikram Kirti Mandir
• Kalidasa Academy
• Gopal Mandir

Interesting facts about Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

The Linga at the Mahakaleswar temple is Swayambhu that is it is self originated and not created by anyone. It means this Linga derives power on its own and doesn’t require any mantra shakti, unlike other Lingas.

This Jyotirlinga is the only Linga that is facing south hence called as Dakshinmukhi.  This is because the direction of death is south and Shiva is called as the master of death. Many devotees worship Shiva to prevent untimely death and lead a happy life.

The Nagchandreshwar temple is open for Darshan to devotees only on one day which is Nagpanchmi. It remains shut throughout the year.

The Bhasmarti at Mahakaleshwar is a popular ritual among devotees. The ash used in the ritual was previously taken from funerals but with changing times the ritual has changed and now fresh ash is prepared from cow dung.

How to Reach Mahakaleswar Temple

Summary

The Mahakaleshewar temple at Ujjain holds a special place among devotees. It is one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas in the country and hence holds immense religious significance. The temple sees lakhs of devotees throughout the year.

It is a strong belief that Mahakaleshwar helps in getting rid of all your sins and making your life prosperous. Moreover, various rituals are carried out at the temple throughout the year, and among these, the Bhasmarti, which is carried out every morning, is especially popular among devotees.

The entire aura of the temple is spellbinding and one feels immense spiritual energy in this sacred place. The captivating view of the Kshipra River is mesmerizing and if you want to soak in the divine atmosphere, you should definitely include visiting this temple at least once a year on your travel list.

And, if you are planning your next religious trip to Ujjian, it is advisable that you visit during winters that is from October to March. The weather is pleasant during those times and is ideal for visiting temples and exploring different sites. It is the perfect time to visit Mahakaleswar temple.

Hope this article was helpful in knowing everything about the Mahakaleshwar temple Ujjain.