{M:H:O} 3rd Jyotirlinga-Mahakaleswar in Ujjain

Om Sai Ram !Om Ganeshaya Namaha! Jai Maata di!Om Nama Shivaya! Mahakala of Ujjain is known among the twelve celebrated Jyotirlingas in India. The glory of Mahakaleshwar temple has been vividly described in various puranas. Starting with Kalidasa, many sanskrit poets have eulogised this temple in emotive terms. The tradition of Mahakala in minds of the people is eternal Ujjain used to be centre point of the calculation of the Indian time and Mahaklala was considered as the distinctive presiding deity of Ujjain The main deity, shiva in the lingam form is believed to be swayambhu (born of itself), deriving currents of power (Shakti) from within itself as against the other images and lingams which are ritually established and invested with mantra-shakti. The idol of Mahakaleshwar is known to be dakshinamurti, facing the South. Mahakaleshwar temple at Ujjain is located near a holy lake named Rudra Sagar; it is three storied temple. Ancient Shri Mahakaleshwara temple was renovated in 11th century. Delhi sultan Iltutmish, 140 Years later during his attack on Ujjain demolished the temple. The present temple is considered to be that of Maratha period. The temple was renovnated by Baba Ramchandra Shenvi, the devan of Sindhia state some 250 years ago. The temple is three-storeyed. In the lowest middle and uppermost parts are respectively installed the lingams of Mahakalesvara, Omkaresvara and Nagachandresvara. The pilgrims and the visitors can only have the glimse of Nagachandresvara on the festive of Naga Panchami. A very large-sized Kunda named Koti Tirtha also exists in the temple-complex. The Kunda is built in the sarvatobhadra style Night view of the Shri Mahakaleshwar temple The lingam of Mahakalesvara is colossus. The silver plated Naga Jaladhari and the inscribed and esoteric silver-plate covering the roof of the garbhagrha add extra grandeur to the shrine. Besides Jyotirlinga, attractive and small-sized images of Ganesa, Kartikeya and Paravati can be seen in the garbhagrha. All around the walls classical eulogies in the praise of Lord Siva are exhibited. The Nanda Dipa always remains lit. In the exit-path, there is a wide hall in which a most attractive metalquoted stone Nandi, in the sitting humble pose may be witnessed. The courtyard just opposite to the Omkaresvara temple add much to the magnanimity of the temple-complex. Just adjoining to this temple, there are two pillared projections facing the east and adding a lot to the architecture of the temple. History of the temple: According to the Puranas, the city of Ujjain was called Avantika and was famous for its beauty and its 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 Vrishabhsen, who was a pious devotee of Lord Shiva and worshipped 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. Kings 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, he started to pray to Lord Shiva inside 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 Mahakal form and destroyed the enemies of King Vrishabhsen. 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 Mahakal 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. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Shri Mahakaleshwar is the lord or king of the earth Out of the 12 Jyotirlingas only Mahakaleshwar is known as the lord of the earth and the lord of death. The meaning of word 'Mahakala' is taken as 'Lord of time' and also 'Lord of death In astronomical calculations Shanku-Yantra is an important instrument. It is believed that at the center of earth Ujjain, at the place of that Shanku-Yantra the Jyotirlinga Mahakal is established. From thes place the astronomical calculations for the whole world were done. At the navel point of the earth south facing Mahakal is situated, the only Jyotirlinga of its kind. This fact has a special significance in the Tantrik tradition. It is among the oldest Jyotirlinga, extrolled in the Puranas. Due to these considerations certainly. Shri Mahakaleshwar is the oldest referred Jyotirlinga of Puranas. From the Shivapurana reference it appears that the temple was build eight generations before Nanda, the guardian of Krishna. Perhaps at that time the Jyotirlinga was established. The Shikhar of the temple has been high and the premises been large from ancient times. May Shree Mahakaleshwar lingam bless us all with health , wealth and prosperity Aaarti at Shri Mahakaleshwar Below are Some Other temples close to Shri Mahakaleshwar and famous temples of Ujjain Mahakali Temple Entrance Mahakali Temple Mahakali - May Godess Mahakali give us the will power to always do what is right Navagraha Temple, Triveni: Situated on the Triveni Ghat of the Shipra, the temple is located away from the old site of Ujjaini town. It is dedicated to the nine planets, attracts large crowds on new moon days falling on saturdays. . The Navagraha Temple is a small one, with nine square rooms set out in a 3X3 matrix, thus 9 big rooms with a swayambhu idol of each planet at the inner corner, the central room with an idol of Surya (Sun). The main door opens into the sanctum of Shani, and then we circumambulate the temple, viewing all the other planets through the open doors . Shani Dev Mandir: This is another new temple, inspired by the recent TV serial dedicated to Shani Dev – the planet Saturn. In these days of blatant wrong doing, it is no surprise that the most revered deity should be the one who is said to give one the fruits of their actions – good or bad. It is no wonder that people rush to appease the lord and hope for a favourable glance from him! The vehicle of Shani is supposed to be a crow, and so it is in all the temples of Shani but over here Shani is depicted on an elephant. According to the pujari, this temple has been built for the purpose of ridding people of financial worries, which are, of course, of prime importance today. Since the elephant is the vehicle of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Shani Dev has been depicted here with the elephant as vahana. All the other Shani temples in India have the idol of black rock. Here, it seems, the idol has been made of iron, the metal most loved by Shani, hence the idol is more powerful! Sandipni Ashram where Lord Krishna took Tuition : The fact that ancient Ujjain apart from its political and religious importance, enjoyed the reputation of being a great seat of learning as early as the Mahabharata period is borne out by the fact that, Lord Krishna and Sudama received regular instruction in the ashram of Guru Sandipani. The area near the ashram is known as Ankapata, popularly believed to have been the place used by Lord Krishna for washing his writing tablet. The numerals 1 to 100 found on a stone are believed to have been engraved by Guru Sandipani. The Gomti Kunda referred to in the Puranas was the source of water supply to the ashram in the olden days. Kund dug by Krishna's Arrow Kal Bhairav Temple

Kal Bhairava: The worship of the eight Bhairavas is a part of Saivite tradition and the chief among them is Kal Bhairava, believed to have been built by King Bhadresen, on the banks of the Shipra. There is mention of a Kal Bhairva temple in the Avanti Khanda of the Skanda Purana. Worship of Kal Bhairava is believed to have been a part of the Kapalika and Aghora sects. Ujjain was a prominent centre of these two sects. Even today, liquor is offered as a part of the ritual to Kal Bhairava Beautiful paintings in the Malwa style once decorated the temple walls, only traces of which are visible

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Mangalnath Mandir: Another temple close to Mahakaleshwar temple is Believed to be the birthplace of

Mangal – the planet Mars – and is known as the Mangalnath

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Bada Ganpati Mandir: This is a small temple right opposite the Mahakaleshwar temple, known for its huge Ganpati.

Ganesh ji Viraajmaan at Bada Ganpati Temple --- May Lord Ganesh remove all the hurdles from our life and fill our lives with love, joy, success and good health

The Three Categories of Baba's Disciples

Those who serve Baba, without selfish motives, thinking that Baba knows their wants and He only fulfils them are devotees of superior quality. Those devotees who at times doubt whether or not their preceptor is really God, belong to the middle level. Many devotees lived in Shirdi merely to enjoy the benign looks and divine smile of Baba. Kaparde used to say that one can live in Shirdi as many years as possible, just to have a glimpse of the soul-enrapturing smile of Baba. Buti served Baba for twelve years. Mhalsapathy, though poor, did not seek anything from Baba. His firm faith was that Baba is aware of his wants. Once a person gave two rupees to Shyama to be offered to Baba. But, inquisitive Shyama wanted to test Baba and buried the two rupees. Few days later, Shyama's house was robbed. He went to Baba and narrated his woes. Baba observed, "Two rupees offered to Me were also robbed, to whom should I complain"? Shyama was aghast at Baba's omniscience. Though Shyama served Baba for many years, an iota of doubt in him, denied the privilege of feeling the Presence of Baba. Such disciples belong to the third category. Disciples who serve God just with an aim to get their desires fulfilled are of the inferior category. Despite having a golden opportunity to be in Baba's Divine Presence, they feel content by merely getting their worldly desires fulfilled.

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Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devoh Maheshwar;

Gurur Shakshat Parambramha Tashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"
May the Merciful Sri Sai Baba always shower His grace on us and our families and remove our problems and anxieties by giving us all - strength , goodluck, success and happiness with peace of mind.

Sai bhakt,

Deepa H

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