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Mahakal Corridor: Learn about history of Mahakaleshwar Temple

PM Modi will inaugurate the over 900-meter-long Mahakal Corridor of Ujjain’s ‘Shri Mahakal Lok’–the Mahakal Corridor built at a cost of Rs. 856 crores. The Rudra Sagar lake was also revived under the Mahakaleshwar Temple Redevelopment Scheme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today dedicate the first phase of Sri Mahakal Lok (Corridor) to the nation in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The Rudra Sagar lake has been revived under the world-famous Mahakaleshwar temple redevelopment scheme in Ujjain.

One of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country is installed in the Mahakaleshwar temple and is visited by a large number of devotees from home and abroad. During the inauguration of the temple, 600 artists, and rishis-munis will chant mantras. At the main gate of the corridor, a 20-feet shivling has been made of thread, from which the curtain will be lifted to formally inaugurate the corridor.

Kardo, the symbol of the greatest faith of Hindus, Mahakal temple is going to increase in splendor. World-class modern facilities will be provided to pilgrims coming for Darshan. The history of Mahakal and things related to the Mahakal people are also worth knowing.

What is Mahakal Lok Project?

Under this project, the temple complex will be expanded seven times. The total cost of this entire project is around Rs. 850 crores. The current number of devotees at the temple, which is around 1.5 crore annually, is expected to double. The development of this project is planned in two phases. Under this project, the Mahakala Path has 108 pillars representing the Ananda Tandava Swaroop (a dance form) of Lord Shiva. Many religious idols depicting the life of Lord Shiva have been installed on Mahakala Marg. The murals along the path are based on stories from the Shiva Puranas, including stories of creation, the birth of Ganesha, Sati, and Daksh, etc. Spread over 2.5 hectares, the plaza area is surrounded by a lotus pond and has a Shiva statue along with a fountain. The entire complex will be monitored round the clock by an integrated command and control center with the help of artificial intelligence and surveillance cameras.

An idol of Lord Vishnu and a Shivlinga were found during the construction of the corridor

Mahakal is a great place of unwavering faith of crores of people, during the construction of the Mahakal Corridor thousands of years old stones, the Vishnu idol, and the Shivling of Lord Shiva were also found. The works of great poets like Kalidas and Tulsidas also describe the history of the Mahakala temple of Ujjain for thousands of years.

Kalidasa’s epic imagination became a reality after hundreds of years

The Mahakala forest, beautifully imagined in Mahakavi Kalidasa’s epic poem Meghdoot, has been given a reality hundreds of years later. Two grand entrances to the corridor – Nandi Gate and Pinaki Gate have been built. This corridor leads to the main gate of the temple. 108 pillars have been built in the newly constructed corridor of the Mahakal temple. This entire 910-meter Mahakala temple will rest on these pillars.

History of Mahakaleshwar Temple

The Mahakal temple is considered very glorious in Hindu culture. According to the Puranas, the Mahakaleshwar temple was established by Brahmaji and is also mentioned in ancient texts. It is said that the foundation and platform of this magnificent temple were made of stones and the temple rested on wooden pillars. It is believed that before the Gupta period there was no peak on the temple, the roof of the temple was almost flat.

Where did the name Mahakal come from?

The ancient name of Ujjain is Ujjayini where the Mahakal forest is located. It is said that this Jyotirlinga was called Mahakala due to its location in this forest and later the temple was called Mahakal Temple. Lord Mahakal’s glorious aura is presented in the Avanti section of the Skanda Purana. Apart from this, the Mahakal temple is also mentioned in the Puranas. In fact, Kalidas has given the details of the Mahakal temple in the first part of Meghadutam. At the same time, Mahakal was honoured by a Gopa child, eight generations before Nanda, according to the Shiva Purana. As grand as the Mahakal temple is, so is its complexity. The temple is three storied with Mahakaleshwar at the bottom, Omkareshwar in the middle, and Nagachandreshwar ling at the top. Pilgrims can visit the top only on the day of Nag Panchami. The temple premises also has a huge tank called Koti Tirth, which is said to be of Sarvatobhadra style. This pool is considered to be of great importance in Hinduism. While walking along the steps of this pool, there are many pictures showing the splendor of the sculpture of the temple built during the time of Parmar. To the east of this pool is a large courtyard with a path leading to the garbhgruh sanctum sanctorum. There is a room on the north side of this courtyard, where Lord Ram and Goddess Avantika are worshipped.

This place is called the Navel of the Earth

This place is called the Navel of the Earth as the Tropic of Cancer Line passes right above the peak of the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain. Mathematicians involved in astrology used to determine in Ujjain how the sun started moving south after the longest day of the year. Hindus still have a tradition of observing auspicious and inauspicious times according to the lunisolar calendar. Mathematicians and astrologers worked here for a long time to make that calendar. Fasting and festivals are celebrated in India based on it.

Attack of Islamic invaders on Mahakal temple

Sultan Iltutmish also went to Ujjain and attacked the Mahakal temple. He also took the Shivlinga and other idols installed in the Mahakal temple to Delhi. He placed all those things on the steps of the Quwatul Islam Masjid located on the Qutub premises. So that people passing by would insult them by kicking them. This is mentioned in the book Tabaqat e Nasiri by historian Minhas ul Siraj. The Mahakal temple remained in ruins for about 499 years. In the year 1734, during the time of Maratha King Raneji Sindh, the reconstruction of this temple started. All things like Shivling were brought back. The reconstruction of this temple was completed around the year 1863. Later the temple was repaired as per need from time to time.

Mathematicians and astronomers made Ujjain the center of their research

Ujjain was called Avanti in ancient times, its name is recorded in old historical documents. It was an ancient center of scientific and mathematical research. Mathematicians and astronomers like Bhaskaracharya, Brahmagupta, and Varahamihira made Ujjain the center of their research. There were several reasons for choosing Ujjain for research. For example, this city was the center of the Prime Meridian. With the help of which Indian mathematicians used to calculate time. Standard time around the world is determined by this line.

Vibhuti Pathak