Shakthi Peetam - Ujjaini Maha kali

 Ujjaini Maha kali:-

 Maha kali temple is in Ujjain. Here the devi is called as Hara Sidhi Mata and if you ask by Maha kali temple people may not be able to tell about this. Though it is a shakti peetha people are not aware of this.People are confused with Ujjaini Maha Kali temple at Secuderabad in Andhra Pradesh.

The Maha kali (hara sidhi mata) was the aradhana devi of The great King Vikramadithya. It is said that King Vikramadithya has offered his head (sirassu) by cutting 11 times to devi and all those times devi made him live by jointing it back. We will find his portrait a hall next to the temple.

About Goddess Mahakali:-

Goddess Mahakali is also known as Rakt Dantika or Chamnuda. Mahakali appeared to kill the demon Andhakasur.


Andhakasur, the ruler of Ujjaini in those days, was blessed with a power that every drop of his blood that touched the ground would produce a new Andhakasur. When Lord Shiva pierced him with his trishul, Mahakali appeared and drank all the blood and ate all the new Andhakasurs. The demon finally accepted his defeat and the world became free of demons.



Harsiddhi Temple (or)MahaKali Temple:-

 This temple occupies a special place in the galaxy of ancient sacred spots of Ujjain. Seated between the idols of Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati, the idol of Annapurna is painted in dark vermilion colour. The Sri Yantra, the symbol of power or shakti, is also enshrined in the temple.According to the Shiva Purana, when Shiva carried away the burning body of Sati from the sacrificial fire, her elbow dropped at this place. There is an interesting legend in the Skanda Purana about the manner in which the Goddess Chandi acquired the epithet of Harsiddhi. Once when Shiva and Parvati were alone on Mount Kailash, two demons called Chand and Prachand tried to force their way in. Shiva called upon Chandi to destroy them which she did. Pleased, Shiva bestowed upon her the epithet of 'one who vanquishes all'.The temple was reconstructed during the Maratha period and the two pillars adorned with lamps are special features of Maratha art. These lamps, lit during Navaratri, present a glorious spectacle. There is an ancient well on the premises, and an artistic pillar adorns the top of it.


Sthala purana:-

Mahakali is described as Rakta dantika/Chamunda in Skanda purana.

Demon Andhakasura, the ruler of Ujjaini in olden days, has a special power. In the battle field if his blood touches the earth, from each drop of blood a new Andhakasura will develop. Lord Shiva opposed Andhakasura pleased by the prayers of gods. Maha vinayaka (Sthirman ganesh) controlled the demon. Shiva pierced the chest of the demon with his Trishula. The blood produced numerous new Andhakasuras. With her Matrikas Mahakali appeared. All of them drank the blood. Mahakali drank all the blood and ate all the new Andhakasuras developed. Shiva lifted the demon in to the sky and burned him with the fire from his Third eye. Andhakasura accepted the defeat. prąyed the Lord. Shiva transformed him in to Bhringi and blessed him. The whole world became free of demons.

 some of the important festivals celebrated at Ujjain Mahakali Shakti Peeth-

    Chaitra Navratri
    Ashwin Navratri
    Durga Puja
    Shivratri
    Magha Purnima
    Falguna Purnima
    Paush Purnima
    Shravan Month
    Maha Kumbh Mela


Other Dieties in Ujjain:-

Ujjaini Mahakaleswar:-

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.It is mentioned in many Hindu epics that, Lord Shiva had killed a demon here named ‘Tripur.

Maaha Kaala litterally means the “Grand Time” or “Lord of Time”. The theory seems plausible as Ujjain has been and still is a seat of astrology and Indian astronomy having a “Nava Graha”, a “Nine Planet” temple and an observatory.

The Linga in this temple is also called Dakshinamurti as it is the only one that faces South. Out of the twelve Jyotirlinga's, only Mahakal is known as the Lord of earth and death. The Linga in this temple is also known as Swayambhu as it derives powers from within, quite unlike the other Lingas where the powers are manifested by mantras or hymns.deriving The grandeur of Mahakaleswar is indescribable. Chandrasena, the king of Ujjain was not only a scholar, but also a staunch devotee of Lord Siva. Once his friend Maheswari’s follower Manibahdra gave him a beautiful gemstone called Sundara Chintamani. It shone so bright and beautiful when Chandrasen wore it on his neck, that he looked even more glorious than the celestial gods. It would make even them feel jealous. Once, some kings went and asked Chandrasen to part with the jewel and Chandrasen promptly refused to do so. This angered the kings, who in turn attacked Chandrasena’s kingdom. When Chandrasena realized that he was surrounded by the enemy he sought the help of Mahakal. Bhagawan Shiva was pleased with his prayers and showed him a solution for his problem. Just then, by chance, a Brahman woman wandered near Mahakal, carrying her child with her, and suddenly became a widow. An illiterate boy once saw the king performing Puja in the stone and installed it in his empty house. He imagined it to be an incarnation of Shiva and started worshipping it. The boy became so engrossed in prayer and chanting, that he even forgot all about food. When his mother went to call him, any number of calls had no affect on him. He was silently praying. Angered by this, the mother who was still bound by worldly love, threw away the SivaLinga. She destroyed all the thing of worship. The boy was very sad at what his mother had done. He started to pray to Shiva with his entire concentration. Siva was not long in coming to the rescue of his devotee. This stone SivaLinga which was brought by the son of a cowherd soon became adorned with gemstones and turned into a JyotirLinga. After singing in praise of Lord Siva, when the boy returned to his house, he was amazed to find a beautiful palatial home instead. Thus, with the Grace and Blessings of Lord Siva, the boy became rich and led a very happy life. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirling Temple, Ujjain.

Chintaman Ganesh: -

The temple is built across the river Shipra on the Fatehabad railway line. The Ganesh idol enshrined here is supposed to be swayambhu - born of itself. The temple itself is believed to be of considerable antiquity. Riddhi and Siddhi, the consorts of Ganesha, are seated on either side of Ganesha. The artistically carved pillars in the assembly hall date back to the Paramara period. Worshippers throng to this temple because the deity here is traditionally known as Chintaharan Ganesh meaning "the assurer of freedom from worldly anxieties".

Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir :-


This temple situated above the tank near the Mahakaleshwar temple, enshrines a huge artistic sculpture of Ganesh, the son of Shiva. An idol of this size and beauty is rarely to be found. The middle of the temple is adorned by an idol of the pancha-mukhi (five faced) Hanuman. There is provision for learning of Sanskrit and Astrology in the temple.
This temple situated above the tank near the Mahakaleshwar temple, enshrines a huge artistic sculpture of Ganesh, the son of Shiva. An idol of this size and beauty is rarely to be found. The middle of the temple is adorned by an idol of the pancha-mukhi (five faced) Hanuman. There is provision for learning of Sanskrit and Astrology in the temple.






Pir Matsyendranath :-

This is an extremely attractive spot on the banks of the Shipra quite close to the Bhartihari Caves and the Gadkalika Temple. It is dedicated to the memory of one of the great leaders of the Natha sect of Saivism-Matsyendranath. Since Muslims as well as the followers of the Natha sect call their saints 'pir', the ancient
site of Pir Matsyendranath is venerated by both. Excavations at this site have yielded some antiquities which date back to the 6th and 7th century BC.

Bhartrihari Caves: -

These caves are situated just above the bank of the Shipra near the temple of Gadkalika. According to popular tradition, this is the spot where Bhartrihari, who is said to have been the step brother of Vikramaditya, lived and meditated after renouncing worldly life. He is believed to have been a great scholar and poet. His famous works, Shringarshatak, Vairagyashatak, and Nitishatak, are known for the exquisite
use of the Sanskrit meter. These caves are situated just above the bank of the Shipra near the temple of Gadkalika. According to popular tradition, this is the spot where Bhartrihari, who is said to have been the step brother of Vikramaditya, lived and meditated after renouncing worldly life. He is believed to have been a great scholar and poet. His famous works, Shringarshatak, Vairagyashatak, and Nitishatak, are known for the exquisite use of the Sanskrit meter.

Gopal Mandir :-


This huge temple is situated in the middle of the big market square. It was constructed by Bayajibai Shinde, the queen of Maharajah Daulat Rao Shinde in the 19th century. It is a beautiful example of Maratha
architecture. The sanctum sanctorum is inlaid with marble and doors are silver plated. The door in the inner sanctum is said to have been carried to Ghazni from the Somnath temple and from thence by Mahmud Shah Abdali to Lahore. Mahadji Scindia recovered it and now it has been installed in this temple.









 
Mangalnath Temple: -

 This temple is situated away from the bustle of the city and can be reached through a winding road. The temple looks upon a vast expanse of the Shipra waters and fills the onlooker with an indescribable sense of peace.Mangalnath is regarded as the birth place of Mars, according to the Matsya Purana. In ancient times,
it was famous for a clear view of the planet and hence suitable for astronomical studies. Mahadev or Shiva is the deity which is worshipped in the temple of Mangalnath.

Vikram Kirti Mandir: -

Established on the occasion of the second millennium of the Vikram era, as the cultural centre to perpetuate the memory of Vikramaditya, the Vikram Kirti Mandir houses the Scindia Oriental Research Institute, an archaeological museum, an art gallery and an auditorium. The Scindia Oriental Research Institute has an invaluable collection of 18,000 manuscripts on various subjects and runs a reference library of important oriental publications. Rare manuscripts in Prakrit, Arabic, Persian and other Indian languages cover a wide range of subjects from Vedic literature and philosophy to dance and music. Palm leaf and bark leaf (Bhurja Patra) manuscripts are also preserved in this institute. Apart from an illustrated manuscript of Shrimad Bhagavata in which actual gold and silver have been employed for the paintings, the Institute has a rich collection of old paintings in the Rajput and Mughal style. The museum also exhibits a rich array of images, inscriptions, copper plates and fossils discovered in the Narmada valley. A huge skull of a primitive elephant is of special interest.

Sandipani Ashram :-

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.

Kal Bhairava Temple: - 

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. These intricate paintings are a speciality of this temple.







Situated on the Triveni Ghat of the River Shipra, the temple is located away from the old site of Ujjaini town. It is dedicated to the nine planets (Navagraha means nine planets), attracts large crowds on new moon days falling on Saturdays. Its religious importance has increased in recent years though here is no known reference to it in the ancient texts. The ruling planets have always had an important placeIndian rituals and tradition .

Situated about 2 miles from the city of Ujjain, the deity in this temple is believed to have been worshipped by Kalidasa. The legend goes that he was an idiot and it is by his devotion to the goddess Kalika that he
acquired great literary skills.Emperor Harshavardhan had this temple renovated in the 7th century AD. There is further evidence of renovation during the Paramara period. The temple has been rebuilt in the modern times by the erstwhile Gwalior State.











Gandakalika Temple:-

Siddhavat: -

This enormous banyan tree on the banks of the Shipra, has been vested with religious sanctity as the Akashyavat in Prayag and Gaya, Vanshivat of Vrindavan and the Panchavata of Nasik. Thousands of pilgrims take a dip in the Shipra from the bathing ghat built here. According to one tradition, Parvati is believed to have performed her penance here. It used to be a place of worship for the followers of Natha sect. One legend has it that some Mughal rulers had cut off the Banyan tree and covered the site with iron sheets to prevent its roots from growing. But the tree pierced the iron sheets and grew and flourished. The little village of Bhairogarh near Siddhavat is famous for its tie and dye painting for centuries. In ancient times when trade with other countries flourished, exquisitely printed cloth from Bhairogarh used to find its way to Rome and China.

Temple Timings:-

The main temple opens at 3:30 am .The Bhasma Arti is performed between 4:00 am and 6:00 am. Between 7:30 am to 8:15 am the Naivadya Arti is performed. Between 10:30 am to 11:15 am,the Mahabhog Arti is performed. In the evening, the Sandhya Arti is organised at 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm and Shayan Arti at 10:30 pm. The temple closes at 11:00 pm.

Nitya Yatra:-

A Yatra which is to be conducted is narrated in the Avanti Khanda of the Skanada Purana. During this Yatra, after taking bath in the holy Sipra, the Yatri (Participator) respectively visits Nagachandresvara, Kotesvara, and Mahakalesvara, Goddess Avanatika, Goddess Harasiddhi and Agastyesvara for darsana.

Sawari (Procession):-

On every Monday during the Sravana month upto the Amavasya in the dark fortnight of the Bhadrapada, even from the bright fortnight of the Kartika, then to the dark fortnight of Magasirsha, the procession of Lord
Mahakala it taken throughout the streets of Ujjain.

The last Sawari during Bhadrapada is been celebrated with great pomp and show and draws attendance of lakhs of devotees. And the procession of Lord Mahakala on Vijaydasami festival and the huge celebration at Dashahara Maidan is also very attractive.

Harihara Milana:-

On the day of Vaikuntha Chaturdasi, Lord Mahakala visits Mandir in a procession to meet Lord Dwarakadhisa (hari) usually during the mid-night. Later then in a similar procession on that very night Dwarakadhisa visits Mahakal temple. This festival is the symbol of one-ness between the two great Lords.

Simhastha:-

Simhastha is the great bathing festival of Ujjain. It is celebrated in a cycle of twelve years when Sun and  Jupiter enters the sign of Aries and Leo respectively. It commemorates the falling of nectar into the Shipra river during the fight for amrita between the gods and the demons. A dip in the river during the Fair days is considered most holy. Ceremonial bathing in the holy waters of Shipra begin with the full moon day of Chaitra and continue in different intervals throughout the successive month of vaishakha culminating on the full moon day

How To Reach:-

By Air:-

 Indore is the nearest airport, which is well connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal and Gwalior.

By Rail:-

 The railway station in Ujjain connects it with the major cities of the country.

By Road:-

 A good network of road makes Ujjain easily accessible from cities like Bhopal. Delhi,Mumbai, Indore, Gwalior and Khajuraho.

Accomodation:-

Mahakal temple is located in Ujjain town. Here Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department Hotels "Shipra Residency" & "Hotel Avantika" are the ideal options for accommodation of tourists. In addition to them some budget category private guest houses and hotels are also their. Here we can't expect various options in different category. If visitor is looking for luxury option then it will be better to look for hotel in Indore city(65kms) and visit temple as excursion tour.

Shakthi Peetam - Vishalakshi ” Vast eyed “

Visalakshi Temple:-

The temple of Visalakshi or Divine mother Sati is just behind kashi Vishwanath temple and it is said to be one of the 51 shaktipeeths. It is said that when Lord Vishnu was cutting the body pieces of Sati by Sudarshana Chakra  the earing fell here ( Manikarni ) hence some pundit says that its a Upapeetha or a sub centre. Some say that third eye aksha  fell here hence she is called Vishalakshi ” Vast eyed “.

Visalakshi is the second consort of Shiva in this holy city of Kashi. This temple is one among the 52 Shakti peethams, and is part of the famous triad of temples- Kanchi Kamakshi, Madurai Meenakshi and Kashi Visalakshi. This small temple is situated in one of the narrow lanes around the Vishwanath temple, and it is mainly south Indians who seek out this temple.

Though the temple is quite small, the idol of the goddess is very beautiful. Behind the main stone idol of the goddess is another idol (some say it is a silver casting, others say it is an idol), believed to be the idol prayed to in ancient times. One of our guides told us that it was the swayambhu idol of the goddess, while another refuted this claim. Whatever it is, it is certainly worth a look, so remember to look behind the idol when you visit the temple.

Adi Shankaracharya, when he visited the temple, performed prayers to renew the powers of the temple and the goddess which had borne the brunt of several invasions. He also installed a Sri Yantram there, and it is to this Yantram that puja is done. Kumkumarchana to this Sri Yantram is considered very special, and can be performed by asking the pujari there.

Sthala purana:-

The word Visalakshi means the one who has big eyes.
She is described as the one who rules the world.

Tantras tell that she will be in the form of Mahakali. She will break the Karma bandhas after the ďeath. Lord Vishwanath, in the form of Mahakala will give Moksha.


Other Temples in Kasi:-

Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga:-

Nirvikar cahitanya and Sanatan Brahma have assumed the form of Saguna Vishwarupa from the initial Nirgun Roopa or form. The Shiva Shakti roopa became the Purusha (man) and Stree (the woman) again. Prakriti and Purusha (Nature and man) (Shiva-Shakti) were once ordained by Shiva to do tapas in the universe in order to create the best being. He specified the best place for this purpose. When a prayer was held, Nirgun Shiva, with His own powers and aura, created a wonderful city called Panchakoshi. Vishnu, who resided there, spent a lot of time praying to Shiva after which several watersprings originated there. Vishnu was amazed at this wonderous event, and even as he tilled his head, a gemstone fell from his ear. Because of this place, it was also called Manikarnika. The entire Panch Koshi area of Manikarnika waters were then gathered into the Trident by Shiva. Then from the navel of Vishnu was born a lotus flower with Brahma in it. Brahma was ordained by Shiva to create a world, at which Brahma created this wonderful world. It had fifty crore Yojanas of area and fourteen lokas. In order to save the lives of these who are bound by their own actions or karma. Shiva kept panchakoshi city away from the entire universe. In this city, Shiva Himself established the saviour Muktidayak JyotirLinga, which He can never leave. Shiva removed this very Kashi from His Trident and set it in this mortal world. It was not to be destroyed when Brahma’s day ends, but during Pralay i.e., final destruction of the world, Shiva saved it by keeping it safe in his trident. So the kashi is called avimukta kshetra. In Kashi, the Avimukteshwar Linga is there forever. Those who can never hope for salvation, attain Moksha here.
This holiest city of Panchakoshi, with its capacity to destroy every conceivable sin, is the vehicle of a special Moksha by the name “Samyugha”. That is the reason why this city which is ruled by Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha, is the place, where even divines want to die. Sarwaguna from inside and Tamoguna from outside, are the qualities of Rudra here. When prayed to, Vishwanatha Bahagavan Sri Shankar made this abode and resided there with Parvati.



Annapoorna Temple:-

 A temple for Annapoorna has been constructed near Watrap, on the way to Saduragiri. The temple is in the shape of eight-sided pyramid.
Adi Sankara who had immortalized the power and glory of Annapoorneswari in his immortal hymns Annapoornastakam - eight verses rendered there, implores on our behalf the grant of Gnana Vairagyam -- the steadfastness born out of realization. The beautiful golden image of Annapoorneswari in the temple, which is hundred yards away from the Visweswara Temple is thrown open for darshan to the devotees during Deepavali festival on Dhanathriodasi Day when Pooja is performed for the golden idol and throughout next day on Chotti Deepavali Day it is kept open for public darshan.  and it is indeed a great sight! Annapurna sits in the middle with her trademark bowl and ladle. On her left is Lakshmi (Sridevi- the goddess of wealth) and on her right is Bhudevi (the goddess of the earth). All these idols are of pure Gold, and are beautiful to look at. In front of them stands Shiva, made of silver, asking for alms.


 Kaalbhairav Temple Kashi:-


In Kashi Vishwanath legend, when Lord Shiva gets angry on Lord Brahma , he creates a dangerous form called Kaalbhairava . Bhairava beheaded one of Brahma’s five heads and since then Brahma has only four heads. When depicted as Kala Bhairava, Bhairava is shown carrying the decapitated head of Brahma. Cutting off Brahma’s fifth head made him guilty of the crime of killing, and as a result, he was forced to carry around the head for years and roam as Bhikshatana, a mendicant, until he had been absolved of the sin.His head was released when he reached the city of Kashi . From there on he lived in the city of Kashi and started guarding it. Hence he is called The Kotwal of Kashi. No one can enter Kashi without the permission of Bhairava.

 Tulsi Manas Mandi:-
7 km from the railway station, it is a temple dedicated to Lord Rama. Believed to be situated where saint-poet Tulsi Das lived and wrote the epic Ram Charit Manas. An exquisite structure of white marble, it has the text of Ram Charit Manas engraved on its walls.

Durga Temple:-
7 km from railway station, is one of the important temples dedicated to Goddess Durga. Constructed in the 18th century in the Nagara style of architecture, it has five shikharas (spires), which start from the bottom and converge on the top. Locally known as 'Monkey temple' because of the large number of monkeys inhabiting the place.

 Dundi Ganapathi Temple:-
 Its in the Kasi Viswanath Temple premises only.

 Sakshi Ganapathi Temple:- 
Its also in the Kasi Viswanath Temple Premises Only. This Ganapathi has gives the witness.

 Mrutunjaya Mahadev Mandir:-
 One more Important temple, near Varanasi. Its 2KM distance from the Kasi Viswanth Temple. Lot of small small shiva lingas you can find out in that temple.

Ganga Harathi:- 
In the evening it will start at 7PM. Lot of people has attend this Ganga Harathi in this evening time.

 Ganga Temple:-
 Its near the Ganga Ghat.

 Bindu Madhava Temple:-
 One more important Temple in Varnasi. This is one of the Pancha Madhava Temple in India. It has located near Ganga Ghat.


Getting there and Around:-

By Air :-
 Babatpur Airport, also known as Varanasi Airport or Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (IATA - VNS, ICAO - VIBN), is the nearest airport situated just 18 km north-west of Varanasi city. Varanasi lies on the daily air tourist shuttle route linking other major tourist places in India such as Khajuraho, Agra and Delhi.

By Rail :-
 The city is linked by trains with all metros and major cities across the country - New Delhi (760 Kms.), Bombay (1509 Kms.), Calcutta (735 Kms.), Madras (1970 Kms.) , Lucknow (286 Kms) . There are three railway station - Kashi, City and Varanasi Junction (also known as Varanasi Cantonment), which is the main station and has computerised booking. There are not many trains running directly between here and Delhi or Calcutta but most Delhi to Calcutta trains do pass through Mughal Sarai, 18 km south of Varanasi. This is about 45 minutes by bus or shared autorickshaw. From Varanasi Junction, expresses take 13 to 16 hrs. to Delhi and 13 hours to Calcutta. Other expresses take 28 hrs. to Bombay, 39 hrs. to Madras, 3 hrs. to Allahabad, 41/2 hrs. to Patna, 5 hrs. to Lucknow.

By Road :-
 Varanasi is connected with Calcutta (677 Kms.), Delhi (765 Kms.), Madras (1901 Kms.), Bangalore (1763 Kms.) and to the rest of the country by good motorable, all-weather roads.

Accomodation:-
Varanasi being an important tourist destination for both pilgrims as well as other tourists features numerous economic hotels as well as luxury hotels and guest houses. Hotel such as Taj Ganges, Hotel Surabhi International, Hotel Varanasi Ashok, Hotel De Paris, and Hotel M M Continental are all situated within a short distance from Kashi Vishwanath Temple.