UJJAIN/UJJAYINI (MADYHA PRADESH)
Ujjain is situated about 60 Kms from Indore on the banks of River Shipra at an altitude of 1678 ft. According to Mahabharata and Skanda Purana, Ujjain city came into existence some 3000 yrs. ago.
As a great religious center, Ujjain ranks equal to Benaras, Gaya and Kanchi. Saivism, Vaishnavism and their various cults and sects, Jainism and Buddhism, have found a niche in this catholic city.
This is the city where according to tradition the exceptionally wise sovereign Vikramaditya, the patron of Kalidasa reigned, and this was where Prince Ashoka was posted to serve out his vice-regality during the Mauryan period. And this is the place where Emperor Ashoka’s son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra, were born, educated and later dispatched on their Buddhist mission to Sri Lanka.
It is believed that the prime meridian passes through Ujjain based on which Hindu Panchang timings are calculated. It is also believed that the line marking the northern limit of the sun’s apparent wintry passage across the heavens.(23 deg.11min.) passes through Ujjain. The astrologer King Jai Singh who had constructed famous observatories – constructed the Jantar Mantar here. In course of time it was recognized as a principal center of researches in astronomy and astrology. The observatory continues to be used for astronomical researches to date.
Ujjain was on the trade route joining North and South, East and West and hence was a commercial hub and was highly developed. Coins of different countries have been found in and around Ujjain which proves that the traders and pilgrims from all over the world used to visit this ancient holy city.
Ujjain is also known for its famous temples.
Mahakal Temple:
Mahakala of Ujjayini is one of the twelve celebrated Jyotirlingas in India. This Jyotirlinga is located by the Mahakal forest on the right banks of the river Shipra. The temple courtyard is dominated by the shikhara soaring into the sky. The glory of Mahakaleshwar temple has been vividly described in various Puranas. Starting with Kalidasa, many Sanskrit poets have eulogised this temple.
This temple has been renovated by successive dynasties Shunga, Kushana, Satavahana, Gupta, Parihar, Parmara and in comparatively modern period of Marathas. Altutmish pulled this temple down in 1235 A.D. Reconstruction of this temple structure was done at the instance of Ramchandra Baba Shenvi, a Subedar of Malwa under Ranoji Scindia.
Mahakaleshwar is also known as Dakshina Murti (facing South), the only one such among the twelve Jyotirlingas of India. An idol of Omkarshewar-Shiva is consecrated in the upper sanctum of this temple. Nagchandreshwar image is on the third story and is opened for darshan only on Nagpanchmi days. Mahakala is said to have been worshipped by Vikramaditya and Bhoja.
Harasiddhi Temple:
Harasiddhi temple is one of the prominent temples of Ujjayini. Seated between the idols of Mahakaleshwar and Mahasarasvati the idol of Annapurna is painted in dark vermillion.
According to Shiva-Purana, when Shiva carried away the burning body of Sati from the sacrificial fire of Daksha Prajapati, her elbow fell in this spot. Tantric tradition holds this seat as a Siddha-Pitha(Shakti pith). According to Skanda-Purana the name Harasiddhi came from the achievement of the goddess in vanquishing the demons. The folk tradition holds Harasiddhi as the family deity of the King Vikramaditya.
In the centre of this ancient Hindu temple is a rock smeared with turmeric paste and vermillion said to be the impression of the head of Vikramaditya (reigned a.d.380-415), offered to Goddess Durga on the occasion of Dusserah.
The temple has two unique pine-shaped iron lamp stands that tower to a height of 15 feet and display their brilliance after being lit. Hundreds of lamps burning simultaneously make a wondrous sight, especially on Navaratri, the nine-day festival celebrated in the month of October and dedicated to Goddess Durga.
Yet another feature of the temple is the Sri Yantra of nine triangles that represent nine forms of Durga. Sri Yantra is symbolic of the cosmos and is used for meditation.
The observatory:
This observatory was constructed by Savai Raja Jaisingh between 1725 and 1730 A.D. Similar observatories were constructed by him at four other places Delhi,Jaipur,Mathura and Varanasi.Samrat yantra, Nadivalaya yantra, Digamsha yantra and yam-yottara- Bhitti yantra are the main instruments constructed in this observatory. Motions and orbits of the planets are studied through these instruments.
This observatory was renovated by Madhav Rao Scindia then Maharaja of Gwalior state in 1923 A.D. Astronomical studies of planetary motions are still conducted in this observatory under the department of education and an ephemeris (Panchang) is published every year. In other words this is the only observatory among the observatories of Jaisingh where these instruments are even today utilised for astronomical studies.
Sandeepani Ashram:
The fact that ancient Ujjain apart from its political and religious importance, enjoyed the reputation of being a great seat of learning as early as the Mahabharata period is borne out by the fact that, Lord Krishna and Sudama received studied in the ashram of Guru Sandipani here. The area near the ashram is known as Ankapata, popularly believed to have been the place used by Lord Krishna for washing his writing tablet. The numerals 1 to 100 found on a stone are believed to have been engraved by Guru Sandipani.
Besides Mahabharata, Shrimad Bhagvata, Brahma, Agni and Brahmavaivatra bear references to Sandipani Ashram. Three thousand years old painted grey wares have been covered from this area. These bear a resemblance to the similar remains recovered ar Hastinapur, Indraprastha, Mathura, Ahichchhatra and Kaushambi.
The Gomti Kunda, next to the Ashram, mentioned in the Puranas was the source of water to the ashram in the olden days. A standing Nandi, belonging to the Shunga period is found near the tank.
The followers of Vallabha sect regard this place as the 73rd seat of the 84 seats of Vallabhacharya where he delivered his discourses throughout India.
Gadkalika:
Situated about 2 miles from the city of Ujjain, the Kalika deity in this temple is believed to have been worshipped by Kalidasa. The legend goes that he was an idiot and it is by his devotion to the goddess Kalika that he acquired great literary skills.
Images, bricks and a part of the plinth of first century B.C.the Shunga period, fourth country A.D. the Gupta period and tenth century A.D. the Parmar period, have been recovered from the basement of the temple.Emperor Harsha Vardhan got this temple renovated in the seventh century A.D. There is evidence of its further renovation in the tenth century under the Parmar Rule. The temple has been rebuilt in the modern times by the erstwhile Gwalior state
BhartrihariCaves:
These caves near the Gadkalika temple are where the great scholar poet Bhartrihari, who is said to have been the step-brother of Vikramaditya, lived and meditated after renouncing the worldly life. His famous works, Shrigarshatak, Vairagyashatak and Nitishatak are known for the exquisite use of the Sanskrit meter.Bhartrihari was a king who renounced this world when he discovered that his favorite queen pined for someone else.
According to the old belief this cave was used for the yogic practices of the King Bhartrihari. The present cave is the remains of a double storied monastery of the Parmar-period (10th century A. D.) In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries this place was associated with two important preceptors of the Nath cult Gorakhnath and Matsyendranath. The testimony of Shaivite and Bhairavi forms of worship is evident from the sculpture of this place.
The idol of Shiva wielding Khatvanga in a dancing pose shows its relationship with the Kapalikacult.
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