The Mahakaleshwar Temple is the most famous temple in the city of Ujjain. This temple of Lord Shiva is devoted to one of the twelve ‘Jyotirlingas’ in India. The temple is built in five levels and decorated with idols of deities like Omkareshwars Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh, Kartikeya and Shiva’s Bull – Nandi. The temple also has a towering ‘shikhara’.Its shikhara soaring into the skies, evokes primordial awe and reverence with its majesty. The Mahakal dominates the life of the city and its people, even in the midst of the busy routine of modern preoccupations, and provides an unbreakable link with past traditions. Bhasm Arti, one of the important ritual of this temple is a symbolic representation of Death and Life. This unusual sacrament that involves smearing the linga with hot ashes from the burning ghats is a mark of respect the Destroyer of the universe, Lord Shiva.

Mahakalam Lavanyam Madhura Karunarasa varithim |
Mahalingam Mangalaroopam Jyothir swaroopam sirasa namami||