Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

2021-08-08T06:11:22Z

106.201.50.105: /* About Jyotirlingas */

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox Mandir
| name =Mahakaaleshwar or Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
| image
= Mahakal Temple Ujjain.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Madhya Pradesh
| map_caption = Location in Madhya Pradesh
| coordinates = {{coord|23|10|58|N|75|46|6|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| district =
| location = [[Ujjain]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Mahakala|Mahakaaleshwar]] ([[Shiva]])
| festivals = [[Mahashivratri]]
| architecture =
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website = http://www.mahakaleshwar.nic.in
}}

'''Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga''' is a [[Hindu]] temple dedicated to [[Lord Shiva]] and is one of the twelve [[Jyotirlingam]]s, shrines which are said to be the most sacred abodes of [[Lord 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 holy river ''[[Shipra River|Shipra]]''. The presiding deity, Lord 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.

On 5 September 2019, A show premiered on History TV18 '''Mahakaleshwar : The Legends of Shiva''' showed about the working in Mahakaleshwar Mandir during the [[Shivaratri]].

==About Jyotirlingas==
As per the [[Shiva Purana]], [[Lord Brahma]] and [[Lord Vishnu]] once had an argument over who was supreme in the creation.<ref name="R.">R. 2003, pp. 92-95</ref> To test them, [[Shiva]] pierced the three worlds as an endless pillar of light, the ''jyotirlinga''. Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma decide to travel along the pillar downwards and upwards respectively, to find the end of the light. Brahma lied that he had found 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 ''jyotirlinga'' shrines, thus are places where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light.<ref>Eck 1999, p. 107</ref><ref name="Gwynne">See: Gwynne 2008, Section on Char Dham</ref> There are 64 forms of Shiva, not to be confused with Jyotirlingas. Each of the twelve ''jyotirlinga'' sites take the name of the presiding deity - each considered different manifestation of Shiva.<ref name="Lochtefeld">Lochtefeld 2002, pp. 324-325</ref> At all these sites, the primary image is ''[[lingam]]'' representing the beginningless and endless ''[[Stambha]]'' pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva.<ref name="Lochtefeld"/><ref name="E. U. Harding">Harding 1998, pp. 158-158</ref><ref name="paris_congress">Vivekananda Vol. 4</ref> The twelve ''jyotirlinga'' are [[Somnath Temple|Somnath]] in [[Gujarat]], [[Mallikarjuna Swamy|Mallikarjuna]] at [[Srisailam]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]], Mahakaleswar at [[Ujjain]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Omkareshwar]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Kedarnath Temple|Kedarnath]] in [[Himalayas]] in [[Uttrakhand]] State, [[Bhimashankar Temple|Bhimashankar]] in [[Maharashtra]], [[Kasi Viswanath Temple|Viswanath]] at [[Varanasi]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple|Triambakeshwar]] in Maharashtra, [[Baidyanath Temple]], Deoghar in [[Jharkhand]], [[Nageshwar Temple, Dwarka|Nageswar]] at [[Dwarka]] in [[Gujarat]], [[Ramanathaswamy Temple|Rameshwar]] at [[Rameswaram]] in [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Grishneshwar]] at [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]] in [[Maharashtra]].<ref name="R."/><ref name="Chaturvedi">Chaturvedi 2006, pp. 58-72</ref>

==The Temple==
{{Sapta Puri}}
The idol of Mahakaleshwar is known to be ''dakshinamukhi'', 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 [[Jyotirlinga]]s. 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 (bull)|Nandi]], the vehicle of Lord [[Shiva]]. The idol of Nagchandreshwar on the third storey is open for ''[[Darśana|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 ''[[shikhara|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.<ref>[http://ujjain.nic.in/mahakaleshwar/mahakaleshwar.htm Mahakaleshwar temple web-page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624163431/http://ujjain.nic.in/mahakaleshwar/mahakaleshwar.htm |date=24 June 2008 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.indiatravelogue.com/dest/mp/ujjain.html|title = Ujjain temple}}</ref>

Devotees are not allowed to bring bags , mobile phones and cameras during the visit . Lockers and Cloak Rooms are there for devotees where they can keep their belongings.

Also an awesome spectacle, with huge participation of devotees, is the procession of God Mahakaal in his [[Litter (vehicle)|Palanquin]], called ''Shahi Savaari'', to the river Kshipra, on last Monday of the holy period of ''Sawaan'' during the months of [[Shraavana]] or [[Bhadra (Hindu calendar)|Bhadrapada]]<ref>[https://www.patrika.com/ujjain-news/five-forms-on-one-rath-on-mahakal-shahi-mahasawari-on-sawan-bhado-6343742/ Shahi Savaari of God Mahakaal in [[Shraavana]] or [[Bhadra (Hindu calendar)|Bhadrapada]]][https://www.bhaskar.com/news/shahi-sawari-of-mahakal-on-last-monday-of-sawan-ujjain-mp-5941686.html][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXGLw4-Z9so][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBId66n6_RU][https://hindi.webdunia.com/shravan/shravan-month-dates-120070400039_1.html][https://www.drikpanchang.com/festivals/sawan/sawan-somwar-vrat-dates.html]</ref>

==Vaippu Sthalam==
It is one of the shrines of the [[Vaippu Sthalam]]s sung by Tamil Saivite [[Nayanars|Nayanar]] [[Appar]].<ref>[https://shaivam.org/hindu-hub/temples/place/449/maakaalam-mahakaaleswarar-temple மூவர் தேவார வைப்புத் தலங்கள், Muvar Thevara Vaippu Thalangal, மாகாளம் (உஞ்சை மாகாளம் / உஜ்ஜயினி) Makalam (Unjai Makalam / Ujjayini), Appar]</ref>

==The Mahakaleshwar Temple as a Shakti Peeth==
[[File:Dakshayani.jpg|thumb|Shiva carrying the corpse of [[Sati (goddess)|Sati]] Devi]]
{{main|Daksha Yaga|Shakti Peethas}}

The shrine is revered as one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peetham.<ref>{{cite book |last= (Translator)|first= F. Max Muller|author-link= Max Müller|title= The Upanishads, Vol I |date= 1 June 2004|publisher= Kessinger Publishing, LLC | isbn= 1419186418}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= (Translator)|first= F. Max Muller|author-link= Max Müller|title= The Upanishads Part II: The Sacred Books of the East Part Fifteen |date= 26 July 2004|publisher= Kessinger Publishing, LLC | isbn= 1417930160}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kottiyoor Devaswam Temple Administration Portal|url=http://kottiyoordevaswom.com/|work=kottiyoordevaswom.com/|publisher=Kottiyoor Devaswam|access-date=20 July 2013}}</ref>

[[Shakti Peethas]] are shrines that are believed to have enshrined with the presence of Shakti due to the falling of body parts of the corpse of [[Sati (goddess)|Sati]] Devi, when Lord [[Shiva]] carried it. Each of the 51 ''Shakti Peethas'' has shrines for [[Shakti]] and [[Kalabhairava]]. The Upper Lip of Sati Devi is said to have fallen here and the Shakti is called as Mahakali.

==References in Hindu scriptures==
According to the [[Puranas]], the city of Ujjain was called Avantika and was famous for its beauty and its status as a devotional epicenter. It was also one of the primary cities where students went to study holy scriptures. According to legend, there was a ruler of Ujjain called Chandrasena, who was a pious devotee of Lord Shiva and worshiped him all the time. One day, a farmer's boy named Shrikhar was walking on the grounds of the palace and heard the King chant the Lord's name and rushed to the temple to start praying with him. However, the guards removed him by force and sent him to the outskirts of the city near the river [[Kshipra]]. Rivals of Ujjain, primarily King Ripudamana and King Singhaditya of the neighboring kingdoms decided to attack the Kingdom and take over its treasures around this time. Hearing this, Shrikhar started to pray and the news spread to a priest named Vridhi. He was shocked to hear this and upon the urgent pleas of his sons, started to pray to Lord Shiva at the river [[Kshipra]]. The Kings chose to attack and were successful; with the help of the powerful demon Dushan, who was blessed by Lord [[Brahma]] to be invisible, they plundered the city and attacked all the devotees of Lord Shiva.

Upon hearing the pleas of His helpless devotees, Lord [[Shiva]] appeared in his Mahakala form and destroyed the enemies of King Chandrasena. Upon the request of his devotees Shrikhar and Vridhi, Lord Shiva agreed to reside in the city and become the chief deity of the Kingdom and take care of it against its enemies and to protect all His devotees. From that day on, Lord Shiva resided in His light form as Mahakala in a [[Lingam]] that was formed on its own from the powers of the Lord and His consort, [[Parvati]]. The Lord also blessed his devotees and declared that people who worshipped Him in this form would be free from the fear of death and diseases. Also, they would be granted worldly treasures and be under the protection of the Lord himself.

Bharthari was the elder son of King Gandharva-Sena, and received the kingdom of Ujjain from the celestial god [[Indra]] and the King of Dhara.

When Bharthari was king of 'Ujjayani' (modern-day Ujjain) in his state there lived a Brahman who after years of austerities was given the fruit of immortality from the celestial tree of Kalpavriksha. The Brahman presented the same to his monarch, Raja Bharthari, who in turn, passed it on to his love, the beautiful, Pinglah Rani or Ananga Sena Raja Bhartrhari's last and youngest wife. The queen, being in love with the Head police officer of the state, Mahipaala, presented the fruit to him, who further passed it on to his beloved, Lakha, one of the maids of honour. Eventually, Lakha being in love with the king presented the fruit back to the king. Having completed the circle, the fruit revealed the downsides of infidelity to the king, he summoned the queen and ordered her beheading, and ate the fruit himself. After that, he abdicated the throne, and became a religious mendicant.

He later became a disciple of Pattinatthar who first indulged in an argument about ''samsari'' and ''sanyasi'' with king Bhartrhari. Later during the conversation ''pattinathar'' said that all women have 'dual mind' and it might be the true case even with Parameswari. King conveyed this news to Rani Pingalah and she ordered Pattinathar to get punished and to sit in ''kalu maram'' (tree, whose top portion would be sharpened like a pencil and whole tree is fully coated with oil, a person who is punished to sit in the top will be split into 2 pieces), they tried to kill Pattinathar, but Kalu Maram started burning and nothing happened to Pattinathar, the king came to know this news and went directly to Pattinathar and asked him to get ready to die the next day, but Pattinathar replied, " I'm ready right now, to die". The next day king came with tears in his eyes and released saint from jail because he actually noticed Queen Pingalah in love with horsemen that night, He threw away his empire, wealth, even full coat dress and dressed in a simple ''kovanam'' (loincloth), the king became a disciple of Pattinatthar and got ''moksha'' (salvation) in the [[Srikalahasteeswara temple|Srikalahasteeshwara Temple]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]] which houses the ''Vayu Lingam'', a part of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams of Shiva.<ref>Page 67, South Indian Hindu festivals and traditions, By Maithily Jagannathan, Published 2005, Abhinav Publications, {{ISBN|81-7017-415-5}}</ref>

[[Kalidasa]] (c. 2nd–1st century BCE), the great [[Sanskrit]] poet of the times who was probably a contemporary of king [[Pushyamitra Sunga]], has mentioned about the rituals of the temple in his works in ''[[Meghadūta]]''. He mentions about the ''nada-aradhana'', the performance of art and dance during the evening rituals.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Ujjain, a brilliant sliver of heaven on earth|journal=Tattvaloka|date=September 2018|volume=XLI|issue=6|publisher=Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal Educational Trust|location=[[Sringeri]]|issn=0970-8901|last=Subramani|first=Dr.Vijaya}}</ref>

==History==
The temple complex was destroyed by Sultan Shams-ud-din [[Iltutmish]] during his raid of [[Ujjain]] in 1234-5.<ref name="Abram 447">{{cite book |last= Abram |first= David |title= Rough guide to India |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=kAMik_6LbwUC&q=mahakaleshwar+iltutmish&pg=PA447 |year= 2003 |isbn= 9781843530893 |page= 447}}</ref><ref name="Reddy 2007,2003,1999 B119">{{cite book |last= Reddy |first= Krishna |title= Indian History for Civil Services |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=CeEmpfmbxKEC&q=mahakal+iltutmish&pg=SL2-PA119 |year= 2007 |edition= Third |publisher= Tata McGraw-Hill |isbn= 9780070635777 |page= B119}}</ref><ref name="Mahajan 1965 80">{{cite book |last= Mahajan |first= Vidya Dhar |author-link=Vidya Dhar Mahajan |title= Muslim rule in India |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=sLo9AAAAMAAJ&q=mahakal+iltutmish |year= 1965 |publisher= S Chand & Co. |page= 80}}</ref> The Jyotirlinga was dismantled and believed to be thrown into a nearby 'Kotiteerth Kunda' (a pond neighbouring the temple) with the Jaladhari (a structure supporting the Lingam) stolen during the invasion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2017/4887/4887_2017_Judgement_02-May-2018.pdf|title=CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 4676 2018 - Section 1.2 - RELIGIOUS AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE|publisher=[[Supreme Court of India]]|author=Archaeological Survey of India|author-link=Archaeological Survey of India|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>

The present structure was built by the [[Maratha confederacy|Maratha]] general [[Ranoji Shinde]] in 1734 CE after [[Baji Rao I]] appointed him to collect taxes in [[malwa]] region. Further developments and management was done by other members of shinde dynasty, including [[Mahadji Shinde]] (1730–12 February 1794) and [[Daulat Rao Shinde]]'s wife [[Baiza Bai]]. (1827–1863). During the reign of [[Jayajirao Shinde]] (until 1886), major programs of the then [[Gwalior State]] used to be held at this temple.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

The [[Maratha Empire]] regime was established in Ujjain in the 4th decade of the 18th Century. The administration of Ujjain was assigned by [[Baji Rao I|Peshwa Bajirao-I]] to his faithful commander [[Ranoji Scindia|Ranoji Shinde]], The Diwan of Ranoji was Sukhatanakar Ramchandra Baba Shenavi who was very wealthy he decided to invest his wealth for religious purposes. In this connection, he re-built the Mahakaleshwar Temple during the 4th-5th decades of the 18th Century.

After [[India]] became [[Independence Day (India)|independent]] in 1947, the Mahakaleshwar Dev Sthan Trust was replaced by the municipal corporation of Ujjain. Nowadays it is under the collectorate office of Ujjain districrt.<ref name="Abram 447"/><ref name="Reddy 2007,2003,1999 B119"/><ref name="Mahajan 1965 80"/>

==Further reading==
1. *Shreenath Madhavji: Mahayoddha Mahadji Ki Shourya Gatha* (History Research book in Hindi) Published in 2013 at Gwalior, Author Pandit Neelesh Ishwarchandra Karkare
2. *Tawareekh-E-ShindeShahi* (History Research book in Hindi) Published in 2017 at Gwalior, Author Pandit Neelesh Ishwarchandra Karkare

== See also ==
* [[Ancient monuments in Ujjain]]
*[[Pashupatinath Temple, Mandsaur|Pashupathinath temple]]
*

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Notes==
*''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'', {{ISBN|0-500-51088-1}}, by Anna Dhallapiccola
*{{Citation
| last=Chaturvedi
| first=B. K.
| year=2006
| title=Shiv Purana
| place=New Delhi
| publisher= Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd
| edition=First
| isbn=81-7182-721-7
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bchgql0em9YC&q=jyotirlinga&pg=PA58
}}
*{{Citation
| last=Eck
| first=Diana L.
| year=1999
| title=Banaras, city of light
| place=New York
| publisher= Columbia University Press
| edition=First
| isbn=0-231-11447-8
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J57C4d8Bv6UC&q=jyotirlinga&pg=PA107
}}
*{{Citation |last=Gwynne|first=Paul |title=World Religions in Practice: A Comparative Introduction|year=2009|publisher=Blackwell Publication |location=Oxford |isbn=978-1-4051-6702-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tdsRKc_knZoC&q=jyotirlinga&pg=PT271}}.
*{{cite book
| last = Harding
| first = Elizabeth U.
| title = Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar
| chapter = God, the Father
| publisher = Motilal Banarsidass
| year = 1998
| pages = 156–157
| isbn = 978-81-208-1450-9
}}
*{{Citation | last = Lochtefeld | first = James G. | title = The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M | year = 2002 | publisher=Rosen Publishing Group | isbn=0-8239-3179-X | page=122 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kl0DYIjUPgC}}
*{{Citation
| last=R.
| first=Venugopalam
| year=2003
| title=Meditation: Any Time Any Where
| place=Delhi
| publisher= B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.
| edition=First
| isbn=81-8056-373-1
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZtnNw_hiA9oC&q=jyotirlinga&pg=PT113
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Vivekananda
| first = Swami
| title = The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
| chapter = The Paris Congress of the History of Religions
| chapter-url = http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_4/translation_prose/the_paris_congress.htm
| volume = 4
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mahakal Temple, Ujjain}}
* {{Official website|http://www.mahakaleshwar.nic.in/}}
* [https://www.ujjaintourism.in/ujjain-darshan/ Ujjain Temples]

{{Shaivism}}
{{Shiva temples}}
{{City of Ujjain}}
{{Vaippu sthalam}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Ujjain]]
[[Category:Jyotirlingas]]
[[Category:Religion in Ujjain]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Madhya Pradesh]]

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Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga