Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord
Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingams, which are supposed to be the most sacred abodes of Shiva.
It is located in the ancient city of Ujjain in the state of Madhy
Pradesh, India. The temple is situated on the side of the Rudra Sagar lake. The presiding deity, Shiva in
the lingam form is believed to be Swayambhu.,
deriving currents of power (Shakti) from within itself as against the other
images and lingams that are ritually established and invested with
mantra-shakti.
According to the Puranas, the city of Ujjain was called Avantika and was famous
for its beauty and its status as a devotional epicenter. It was also one of the
primary cities where students went to study holy scriptures. According to
legend, there was a ruler of Ujjain called Chandrasena, who was a pious devotee
of Lord Shiva and worshiped him all the time. One day, a farmer's boy named
Shrikhar was walking on the grounds of the palace and heard the King chant the
Lord's name and rushed to the temple to start praying with him. However, the
guards removed him by force and sent him to the outskirts of the city near the
river Kshipra. Rivals of Ujjain, primarily King Ripudamana and King
Singhaditya of the neighboring kingdoms decided to attack the Kingdom and take
over its treasures around this time. Hearing this, Shrikhar started to pray and
the news spread to a priest named Vridhi. He was shocked to hear this and upon
the urgent pleas of his sons, started to pray to Lord Shiva at the river Kshipra.
The Kings chose to attack and were successful; with the help of the powerful
demon Dushan, who was blessed by Lord Brahma to be invisible, they plundered the city and attacked all
the devotees of Lord Shiva.
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