The Nanda Dipa is always kept lit and towards the exit, a large hall houses a metal coated statue of Nandi the Bull. The foundation and platform are built of stones.
Most of the upper structure rests on the strong and well-designed pillars and plasters. The massive spire of the temple is a sight to behold and pays rich tribute to the builders. The temple celebrates several festivals and the Bhasm Aarti is truly special which takes place once a day. It involves worshipping the deity with sacred ash brought from the burning ghats of the cremation ground and is applied on the Lingam before offering prayers.
Devotees flock to the shrine during this time to witness this unique ritual which is exclusive to this temple alone. This ritual symbolizes the cycle of life and death and constitutes an integral part of Hinduism. Mahashivratri is a major festival observed in the temple and celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor.
A grand fair is held during this time, when night prayers and worship are offered to the Lord. The entire area comes alive during this time, with devotees from all over the country and the world visiting the temple to participate in the proceedings. Thank You for sharing! Your friend will receive the article link on email mentioned. Visual Stories Right arrow. Travel Beautiful getaways in South India that you can visit in December. Travel Offbeat places in India to take your last trip of Travel New Year holidays: 10 international destinations open to Indians.
Travel These festivals in November are the best reasons to travel. On the second floor above the Mahakaleshwar linga is the Omkareshwara linga. Enshrined on the third floor of the temple is an image of Nagchandreshwar — with Lord Shiva and Parvati seated on a ten-hooded snake and surrounded by other statues. The mention of this temple in the Puranas, where it is stated that Prajapita Brahma built it, is proof of its ancient existence. The temple is believed to be built in the 6th century AD by Kumarasena, the son of a former king of Ujjain, Chandpradyot.
Like all old structures and the stories that surround them, the legend behind Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga has many versions. One of them goes like this. While he was praying, a young boy, Shrikhar wished to pray along with him.
However, he was not allowed to do so and was sent away to the outskirts of the city. There, he overheard a plot to attack Ujjain by enemy kings Ripudamana and Singhaditya with the help of a demon named Dushanan. He began to pray to Lord Shiva to protect the city. Vridhi, a priest heard his prayers and also prayed to the Lord to save the city. In the meanwhile, the rival kings attacked Ujjain. They were almost successful in conquering the city when Lord Shiva came in his Mahakal form and saved them.
From that day on, at the behest of his devotees, Lord Shiva lives on in this famous Ujjain temple in the form of a linga. While devotees visit this temple throughout the year, it would be best to visit it in the winter months i. October to March. The Bhasma Aarti, exclusive to the Mahakaleshwar temple, is conducted with Vibhuti, sacred ash.
The reason why the aarti is done after smearing Bhasma could be because Mahakaleshwar means the God who controls time, which is beyond man's control. A man is reduced to ash post-death, and hence, it could symbolise the act of bowing in front of the Mahakal, meaning the one who is the God of time.
Follow us on :. The aarti is one of the first rituals performed at around 4 am, to wake up the deity after Jal Abhishek. Read on to know more about it.
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