Visiting Ujjain for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela? Don’t forget to offer prayers at the Mahakaleshwar temple!
The city of Ujjain is perhaps, one of the oldest inhabited cities in India that lies on the sacred banks of River Kshipra. Ujjain is amongst the four sacred places where the Kumbh Mela, one of the biggest known religious gatherings in the world is held. Also known as the Ujjain Simhastha, the Ujjain Kumbh Mela takes place, once in every 12 years. The Kumbh Mela spans across a period of one month with millions of people, saints and sages taking part in the holy bath.
Legend has it, from the bygone days of the universe when the demigods and the demons conjointly produced the nectar of immortality; a few drops fell at the four places namely Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik and since then these places are believed to have acquired mystical powers.
The Ujjain Kumbh Mela or the Ujjain Simhastha commenced on April 22nd and will end on May 21st 2016. With saints, sages and people from all over the world the simhasth kumbh mahaparv (grand event) is rejoiced by holy dip in the sacred river Kshipra. It is believed that by taking a dip in sacred river Kshipra on the occasion of Kumbh, purifies the soul overcoming all the sins. The holy dip in river is taken on the auspicious day and a particularly defined time. This is the time when it is believed that the ‘Nectar’ from ‘Kumbh’ was dropped in the holy river.
One of the major attractions of the city of Ujjain is the three stories Mahakaleshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Lingams of Mahakalesvara, Omkaresvara and Nagachandresvara are installed in the lowest, middle and the uppermost part respectively. A unique fact about the Mahakaleshwara temple is that it is the only shivalinga that faces towards the south. It is also the biggest and the most powerful manifestations of Shiva among the other 12 jyotirlingas in India. Though the exact year of when the temple was established is unknown, the earliest mention of the temple foes back to the 6th century BC.
The Mahakaleshwar Temple is the only temple where thousands of people flock together catch glimpses of the temple priests perform bhasma aarti, when they bathe the shivalinga with ashes.Watch the video of the bhasma aarti, a divine experience and visit the holy city of Ujjain with GeTS Holidays.
Image Courtesy: http://www.simhasthujjain.in
