The
visit to this Shree Mahakalehwar Jyotirlinga Temple, at Ujjain, in Madhya
Pradesh, was a part of “Magnificent Madhya Pradesh Yatra - Bhopal / Indore /
Mandu / Maheswar / Ujjain”, from Nov 23 to Nov 29, 2025, organised by Mantra
Yathra. Thanks to Mr Balaji Davey and his team of Mantra
Yatra (website), for the excellent
arrangement and personal care.
This
Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple, in Madhya Pradesh, is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga
temples spread across India. This temple is located on the eastern side of the Kshipra River and Rudra Sagar.
This is also one of the Thevara Vaippu Sthalam. Thirugnanasambandar,
Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, and Ayyadigal Kadavarkon have sung hymns in praise
of Shiva of this temple.
நெற்குன்றம் ஓத்தூர் நிறைநீர் மருகல்
நெடுவாயில் குறும்பலா நீடுதிரு
நற்குன்றம் வலம்புரம் நாகேச்சுரம்
நளிர்சோலை உஞ்சேனை மாகாளம் வாய்மூர்
கற்குன்ற மொன்றேந்தி மழைதடுத்த
கடல்வண் ணனுமாமல ரோனுங்காணாச்
சொற்கென் றுந்தொலைவிலாதா னுறையுங்
குடமூக்கென்றுசொல் லிக்குலா வுமினே. 9
……. திருஞானசம்பந்தர் (2.39.9)
உஞ்சேனை மாகாளம் ஊறல் ஒத்தூர்
உருத்திர கோடி மறைக்காட் டுள்ளும்
மஞ்சார் பொதியின்மலை தஞ்சை வழுவூர்
வீரட்டம் மாதானங் கேதா ரத்தும்
வெஞ்சமாக் கூடல்மீ யச்சூர் வைகா
வேதீச்சுரம் விவீச்சுரம் வெற்றி யூரும்
கஞ்சனூர் கஞ்சாறு பஞ்சாக் கையுங்
கயிலாய நாதனையே காண லாமே.
….
திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் (6.70.8)
காளையர்கள்
ஈளையர்க ளாகிக் கருமயிரும்
பூளையெனப்
பொங்கிப் பொலிவழிந்து - சூளையர்கள்
ஓகாளஞ்
செய்யாமுன் நெஞ்சமே உஞ்சேனை
மாகாளங்
கைதொழுது வாழ்த்து.
……… ஐயடிகள்
காடவர்கோன், (11.6.13)
Moolavar : Shree Mahakaleshwar
Consort : Shree Parvati
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple is three-storeyed. In the lowest, middle and uppermost sannidhis are installed
with the Shiva Lingams and are called Mahakalesvara, Omkareshvara, and
Nagachandresvara. The pilgrims and the visitors can only have the darshan of
Nagachandresvara on the Naga Panchami festival day.
The
Shiva Lingam of Mahakalesvara is a colossus. The silver-plated Naga Jaladhari and
the inscribed and esoteric silver plate covering the roof of the sanctum
sanctorum add an extra grandeur to the shrine. Rishabam is in the mandapam just
opposite the sanctum sanctorum. Besides the Jyotirlinga Shiva Lingam, small-sized
images of Ganesa / Vinayagar, Kartikeya and Parvati are also in the sanctum
sanctorum.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple was built in the admixture of the Bhumija, Chalukya and Maratha styles
of architecture. The sikhara with the mini-urusrngas (mini-spires) is very
peculiar. In previous years, its upper part has been covered with a gold plate,
very favourite to the Paramaras. Remains are available in the temple complex, and the neighbouring places authenticate this fact. The temples of this style
had been either Triratha or Pancharatha in plan. The main feature of the identification
of such temples had been their star-shaped plan and the sikhara. So far as the
sikhara is concerned, urusrngas (mini-spires), generally of odd numbers,
gradually decreasing in size in rows between the well-decorated spines
(haravali or lata) rose up at the cardinal points from the Chityaas and the
Sukanasas, ultimately surmounted by the Amalaka. Every part of the temple was
glutted with decorative motifs or images.
Horizontally,
the shrine from front to back was respectively divided into entrance, ardhamandapa,
sanctum, antarala (vestibule), garbhagrha and pradaksanapatha. Upper components
of the temple rested on the strong and well-designed pillars and pilasters.
Such temples, according to the contemporary Silpa-sastras, contained the images
of various gods and goddesses, Nava Grahas (Nine planets), Apsaras (celestial
damsels), female dancers, anucharas (attendants), Kichakas, etc. The sculptural
art of the temple had been very classical and multifarious. Besides the Saivite
images of Nataraja, Kalyanasundara, Ravananugraha, Gajantaka, Sadasiva,
Andhakasura-slayer, Lakulisa, etc., the temples were adorned with the images of
Ganesa, Paravati, Brahma, Visnu, Surya (Sun-god), Sapta Matrkas (Seven
mother-goddesses), etc. These images had been very proportionate, well-decorated,
sculpturally perfect and carved according to classical and Puranic texts.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
There
is no inscriptional evidence to prove the antiquity of the original temple and
the King who built.
In
the Eighth decade of the Eleventh century CE, one Gazanavide commander invaded
Malwa, looted it brutally and destroyed many temples and images. But very soon, the Paramaras rejuvenated everything. A contemporary Mahakala Inscription
testifies to the fact that during the later Eleventh century, and early twelfth century,
the Mahakala temple was re-built during the reign of Udayaditya and Naravarman.
A
few Sanads issued by the Sultans of Malwa and Mughal emperors have come to
light in Ujjain, which testifies that during the medieval period, these Islamic
rulers contributed some donations to priests for conducting worship, lighting
the lamps and offering prayers to Divinity for the safety of their reign.
Thus, it is evident that these Islamic rulers also had a respect for
Mahakalesvara, and they issued financial assistance for the appeasement of Hindu
subjects, too. The Maratha regime was established in Ujjain in the fourth decade of the Eighteenth century. The administration of Ujjain was assigned by Peshwa Bajirao I to his faithful commander Ranoji Shinde. The diwan of Ranoji was
Sukhatanakar Ramchandra Baba Shenavi, who was very wealthy but issueless. On the suggestions of many learned Panditas and well-wishers, he
decided to invest his wealth for religious purposes. In this connection, he
rebuilt the famous Mahakala temple in Ujjain during the 4th-5th decades of the Eighteenth century CE.
Proper
repairs and rejuvenation of the temple complex are done at the time of the
Kumbha Parva. In the year 1980, a separate mandapam was constructed to
facilitate the visitors. In 1992, the Madhya Pradesh Government and the Ujjain
Development Authority exclusively contributed special repairs and made
provisions for the stay of pilgrims. The same process is also being followed at
the time of the forthcoming Simhastha.
It
is said that Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, a devout patron of Hindu
temples, contributed to the renovation and preservation of the Mamleshwar
Temple during her reign in the 18th century. Her efforts ensured that the
spiritual and architectural legacy of the temple remained intact for future
generations.
Ref:
The
temple’s official website: office@mahakaleshwar.nic.in
LEGENDS
The
worship and the conduct of rituals continued in some way or another. Prabandha
Chintamani, Vividha Tirtha Kalpataru, and Prabandha Kosha were all composed during the 13th-14th century. reveal this fact. Similar mention is made in Vikramacharit and
Bhojacharita, composed in the 15th century CE. According to the epic Hammira
Mahakavya, Hammira, the ruler of Ranathambhor, worshipped Lord Mahakala during his
stay in Ujjain.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, which includes early morning Bhasmarti, special poojas are conducted on Pournami, Guru Poornima, Ranga Panchami, Phaga,
Dhvaja Pujana, New Samvatsana Celebration, Jaladhara, Jala mataki Phala dhana, Parjanya Anusthana
for eleven days, Sawari on every Monday, Dipa Pujana on Amavasya Days, The
Darsana of Naga Chandresvara, Uma-Sanjhi, Vijaydasmi Parva, Sami Pujana and
Sawari, Sharadotsava and distribution of Ksira in midnight on full moon days,
Maha Shivaratri Mahotsava, Special Pujana and Abhisheka, Phalguna Second
(Dvitiya) Darsana of five-forms of Siva (Pancha Swarupa), Holika festival after
Sandhya arati, etc.
Bhasmaarti
video link: https://youtu.be/VRgUSAjQELk
The
Bhasmarti in early morning, Mahasivaratri, Pancha-Krosi Yatra, Somavati
Amavasya, etc., are special religious occasions interwoven with the rituals of
the temple.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 04.00 hrs to 23.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
Mahakaleswar
official website: https://shrimahakaleshwar.com/
E-mail
address: office@mahakaleshwar.nic.in
The
landline number 0734-2550563 may be contacted for further details.
HOW
TO REACH
This
Shree Mahakaleshwar temple at Jaisinghpura, Ujjain, is about 1.6 km from
Ujjain Railway junction, 58 km from Indore, and 194 km from Bhopal.
The
nearest Railway Station / Junction is Ujjain.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Nearby Ganapati Temple
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
