Mahakal - Swayambhu Jyotirlinga Installed by Prajapita Lord Brahma
King Gandharva-Sena's elder son, Bharthari was received the kingdom of Ujjain from the celestial God Indra and the King of Dhara. Where todays Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is present and this Jyotirlinga is "Swayambhu Jyotirlinga".
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is the third Jyotirlinga Shrines out of 12 Jyotirlinga Temple in India and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Mahakaleshwar is one of the most sacred "Tirta Sthan" of Lord Shiva which is Swayambhu Linga means installed by itself. It is located in the ancient and famous city of Ujjain in the state of Madhya Pradesh near Indore, India. The temple is situated in a beautiful scenic place, on the side of the Holy River called Kshipra. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is also famous as "Shakti Peetha" where Mata Parvati also stay with Lord Shiva with Her "Supreme Power". Shakti Peethas are shrines that are believed that the presence of Shakti due to the falling of the body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi, the wife of Lord Shiva, when She was insulted at Her father's place. Then She Self-Immolated. There are 108 Shakti Peethas are there in India and Undivided India, wherever Shakti Peetha Shrines are there Lord Shiva is present as Kalabhairava. The Upper Lip of Sati Devi is said to have fallen at Ujjain and the Maa Shakti is called as Mahakali. Ujjain Mahakal Jyotirlinga is famous for its "Bhasma Pooja", it takes place daily early dawn 4AM. Bhasma means "ash of a human being", collected from cremation ground daily.
According to the Shiva Purana, the city of Ujjaini was called Avantika and was famous for its beauty, devotion, education and become the devotional epicenter to the "Bhaktas"(devotees). Ujjain was one of the primary cities where students of Vedas went to study Holy Scriptures with Vaidic Mantras. It was the "Adhyatmic Place" where the schlors of Chaturveda chant all the four Vedas daily.
Ujjain - The Swayambhu Jyotirlinga
According to the Purana Stories, Chandrasena was the ruler of Ujjain, who was a pious and great devotee of Lord Shiva, who almost all his time was spend worshipping Lord Shiva.
One day morning, a farmer's son called Shrikhar want to pass a message to the King Chandrasena, that the neighbouring Kingdom Kings are planning to attack on Ujjain. He rushed into the palace and heard the King chanting the Lord's Mantra "Om Namaha Shivai". After listening the voice of King the boy Shrikhar rushed to the temple to say about enemies attack on Ujjain but he failed. Because the guards removed him by force and sent him to the outskirts of the city near the river Kshipra. By this time rivals of Ujjain, primarily King Ripudamana and King Singhaditya of the neighboring kingdoms attacked and started to take over its treasures. Vridhi priest of the temple heard Shrikhar's pray, he was shoked and started to pray to Lord Shiva at the river Kshipra. Meanwhile both the Kings, King Ripudamana and King Singhaditya chose to attack and were successful, with the help of the powerful demon called Dushan, who was blessed by Lord Brahma to be "Adrashya" i.e., invisible, they plundered the city and attacked all the devotees of Lord Shiva including women and children.
The Mahakala Form of Lord Shiva
Upon hearing the pleas of His helpless devotees Vridhi and Shrikhar, Lord Shiva appeared in His Mahakala form and destroyed the enemies of King Chandrasena and protect all the devotees. Upon the request and pray of His devotees Shrikhar and Vridhi, Lord Shiva agreed to reside in the Ujjain city and become the chief deity of the Kingdom. From that day onwards , Lord Shiva resided in His light form as Mahakala in a Linga form called "Swayambhu Linga" the powers of the Linga is "Supreme Power", at Ujjain Lord Shiva gives Darshan with His consort, Parvati.
The Lord Shiva also blessed his devotees and declared that the devotees who worshipped Him in this form would be free from the fear of death and diseases. Also, they would be granted worldly wealth, treasures and be under the protection of the Lord Himself.
Lord Shiva Worshipped as Mahakala by Several Dynasties
After the downfall of the Gupta dynasty, several dynasties including the Maitrakas, Chalukyas, Kalachuris, Pusyabhutis, Gurjara Pratiharas, Rastrakutas etc. dominated the political scenerio in Ujjain respectively. However, all these dynasties bowed down before Lord Shiva worshipped as Mahakala and distributed endowments and other gifts to the deserving. During this period a number of temples of various Gods and Goddesses,Tirthas, Kundas, Shelters for devotees(Bhaktas) and gardens took shape in Avantika. Several Shaiva temples including the 84 Mahadevas are built and every corner of the Ujjain city was dominated by religious monuments housed by the images of their respective deities the development and progress of Mahakala temple and its religio cultural structure was not at all neglected.
History of Mahakaleshvara Temple
When did first come in the existence of the Mahakal Temple is difficult to tell. According to the Shiva Purana that the Mahakaleshwar Temple was first established by Prajapita Lord Brahma.
According to the Pre-Historic History, there is some reference to the appointment of prince Kumarasena by king Chanda Pradyota in 6th century,BC for looking after the law and order situations of Mahakala temple.
The figure of Lord Shiva was Punch-Marked on the coins of Ujjain, belonging to 4th-3rd Century,
BC
Mahakala temple is also mentioned in several ancient Indian poetic texts during King Bhojaraja who told Kalidasa, "a famous and great Sanskrit poet of the times" was his friend. According to these texts, the temple had been very magnificent and magnanimous. Kalidasa has mentioned about the rituals of the temple in his works in Meghaduta. He mentions about the nada-aradhana, the performance of art and dance during the evening rituals. Kalidasa was famous as "Kavi Ratna Kalidasa", his famous writtings are "Abhignana Shakuntala and Meghaduta Sandesha" among other writings.
Mahakala - Jyotirlinga Temple at Ujjain |
Mahakala Temple - According to Kavi Ratna Kalidasa
According to Kalidasa, this Chandishvara temple might have been a unique example of that time art and architecture of classical type. On the whole a multi-storeyed with gold-pated temple is looking beautiful. The temple-complex were enlightened with lively rows of glittering lamps. The whole atmosphere echoed with the sound of various musical instruments. Jaya-dhvani like "Jai Mahakal, Jai Jai Mahakal" (Let the Lord be victories) of the devotees was heard far and wide. Priests remained busy in worshipping the main Deity and chanting the Vedic hymns and Stutis were sung.
Stones were used to built the foundation and platform of the temple. Previously the temple rested on the wooden pillars. Prior to the Gupta period, temples were built without sikharas and the roofs of temples had mostly been flat. That's why in Raghuvansa, Kalidasa described this temple as ‘Niketana’ means a place for dwell with splendid look. In Purva Meghadutam, Kalidasa gives a very interesting and more attractive description of the Mahakala temple.
Among many of the poetic texts composed during this period, which sung the significance and glamour of the temple and Ujjain city, some are famous texts like Harsacharit and Kadambari of Banabhatta, Naisadhacharit of Sri Harsa, and Navasahasamkacharit of Padmagupta are noteworthy.
To be Continued...
Hi. I’m Designer of Blog Magic. I’m CEO/Founder of ThemeXpose. I’m Creative Art Director, Web Designer, UI/UX Designer, Interaction Designer, Industrial Designer, Web Developer, Business Enthusiast, StartUp Enthusiast, Speaker, Writer and Photographer. Inspired to make things looks better.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Please do not enter any spam link in the comment box