Ujjain. The world-famous Jyotirlinga Lord Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, is witnessing a flood of devotees during the month of Shravan. Today, on the second Monday of Shravan, Baba Mahakal was divinely adorned in the form of a king during the morning Bhasma Aarti.
Thousands of devotees enjoyed the divine darshan. In the evening, Baba Mahakal’s second procession of the month of Shravan will begin, during which he will tour the city of Avantikanath and inquire about the well-being of his subjects.
A large number of devotees from across the country have arrived in Ujjain today. Lines of devotees are lining up to have darshan of Lord Mahakaleshwar. The temple doors opened at 2:30 a.m. for the Bhasma Aarti.
The darshan will then continue until the Shayan Aarti at 10 p.m. Mahesh Guru, priest of the Mahakaleshwar Temple, stated that the temple doors opened at 2:30 a.m. on the second Monday of Shravan.
As per tradition, the first person to be worshipped was Veer Bal Bhadra. Following this, the ritualistic abhishekam and worship of Lord Mahakal, Lord Ganesha, Lord Kartikeya, and Nandi was completed. A camphor aarti was then performed. Devotees were then allowed in for darshan.
After anointing Lord Mahakal with water amidst Vedic chanting, he was worshipped with Panchamrit (a mixture of milk, yogurt, ghee, sugar, honey, and fruit juice). He was adorned with a silver moon, trident, crown, and jewelry, along with cannabis, sandalwood, and dry fruits, and then ashes were offered.
Fruits and sweets were offered. The Bhasma Aarti concluded amid chants of “Jai Shri Mahakal.” The Lord was then adorned with a silver crown, jewelry, and divine clothing.
Lord Mahakal, transformed from formless to tangible, appeared before the devotees. During this time, thousands of devotees also saw Baba Mahakal through the mobile Bhasma Aarti.
According to tradition, the second procession of Lord Mahakal during the months of Shravan and Bhado will begin today at 4 p.m.
Prior to the procession, Baba Mahakal will be worshipped with Shodashopachar (a ritual of worship) in the Sabhamandap of the Mahakaleshwar Temple complex at around 3:30 p.m. After this, Lord Chandramouleshwar, in his form, will embark on a city tour in a palanquin to offer darshan to devotees.
As the palanquin approaches the main entrance of the temple, armed police personnel will provide a guard of honor to Lord Chandramouleshwar seated in the palanquin.
The procession will then depart from the temple premises and, after covering a distance of approximately one and a half kilometers, will reach Ramghat at 5 p.m., where Baba Mahakal will be anointed with water from the Shipra River.
After the puja and aarti at Ramghat, Baba Mahakal will return to the temple. The procession will arrive at the temple at 7 p.m. Mahakal Temple Administrator Pratham Kaushik said that tribal cultural groups will give performances in Baba Mahakal’s procession.