[Chaturamnaya] Stories from the Shiva Purana - 13 (The Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain)

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Continued from the previous post. This recounts the history of the Great Shiva Temple of Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain,
Madhya Pradesh, India:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226517.html
Section 4, Chapter 16)
 
 
There is a beautiful city, Avanti (Ujjain), yielding liberation to all souls. It is a favourite of Shiva, highly meritorious and sanctifying.
An excellent Brahmin engrossed in the performance of auspicious rites lived there. He studied the Vedas and performed the Vedic rites.
The Brahmin maintained sacrificial fires. He was a devotee of Shiva. Everyday he worshipped the idol of Shiva. This Brahmin Vedapriya
was always interested in acquiring perfect knowledge. After securing the fruits of holy rites he attained the goal of the good.
 
He had four sons like him. They were not inferior to their parents and they were ever engaged in the worship of Shiva. There was a great
Asura Dushana on the Ratnamala hill. He was very powerful. He was the king of the Daityas incessantly engaged in hating virtue and
virtuous rites.
 
Thanks to the grant of boons by Brahma, he considered the whole universe insignificant. The gods were defeated by him and ousted from
their places and positions. Vedic rites and rites according to Smritis all over the earth were smothered by that wicked fellow like
rabbits by a lion. “There is a beautiful city Avanti”, thinking that, accompanied by a vast army, the Asura Dushana went there desiring
to harm the Brahmins staying in the city.
 
The Brahmins said, “Listen, we do not have an army to frighten the wicked Asuras. We do not have weapons to drive them back. The general
dishonour and insult reflects on him who supports us. Moreover, what can happen to Shiva who is omnipotent? Let Lord Shiva protect us
from the terror of the Asuras. Except Shiva, favourably disposed to His devotees there is no other refuge.” Emboldened thus, they performed
the worship of Shiva’s earthern idol. They sat firmly engaged in meditation.
 
On seeing them thus the mighty Dushana shouted, “Let them be killed. Let them be bound.” But the Brahmins, the sons of Vedapriya engrossed
in meditation on Shiva did not hear the shouts. When the wicked Daitya desired to kill the Brahmins, the spot near the Parthiva idol caved in
with a loud report. From the chasm thus created, Shiva rose up assuming a hideous form. He became famous as Mahakala, the slayer of the
wicked and the goal of the good.
 
“I am Mahakala (the great god of death) risen up against the wicked like you. O sinful one, go away, leave the presence of these Brahmins.”
After saying this Shiva reduced Dushana and his army to ashes immediately with a mere sound of Hum. Just as darkness is dispelled on
seeing the sun, so also that army was destroyed on seeing Shiva. Divine drums were sounded. Shower of flowers fell. Vishnu, Brahma and
other gods came there. After bowing to the benefactor of the worlds, the Brahmins joined their palms in reverence and eulogised Him with
different hymns. After consoling the Brahmins, the delighted Shiva asked the Brahmins to choose the boon they wished to have.
 
The Brahmins said, “O Lord, the chastiser of the wicked, O Shiva, grant us liberation from the ocean of worldly existence. O Shiva, You shall
stay here itself for the protection of the people. O Lord Shiva, save those who see You.”
 
Requested thus, Shiva remained in that auspicious chasm for the protection of His devotees after granting them the goal of the good.
The Brahmins attained salvation. The supporting base of Shiva in the form of Linga extended to 3 kilometres in each of the four directions.
Shiva became famous as Mahakaleshwar. On seeing this image no one will have misery even in dreams.
 
 
(To be Continued)