Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple
Overview
Mahākāleśvara at Ujjain is one of the twelve Jyotirliṅgas, enshrined in Avantikā — one of the seven sacred mokṣa-giving cities. The shrine's antiquity is attested in classical literature: Kālidāsa's Meghadūta directs its cloud-messenger to the Mahākāla temple at Ujjayinī.
Sthala Purāṇa tradition · sacred narrative
Per the Koṭirudra Saṃhitā of the Śiva Purāṇa, when the demon Dūṣaṇa tormented the devotees of Avantikā, Śiva burst forth from the earth as Mahākāla, Time itself, destroyed the oppressor, and at his devotees' prayer remained in Ujjayinī as the Mahākāleśvara Jyotirliṅga. The Āvantya Khaṇḍa of the Skanda Purāṇa elaborates the māhātmya of the Mahākāla Vana.
History documented history
Classical attestation
The Mahākāla shrine at Ujjayinī is celebrated in Kālidāsa's Meghadūta (c. 4th–5th century CE), whose Pūrvamegha has the yakṣa direct the cloud to pause at Mahākāla's sanctuary — among the oldest literary attestations of any living Indian temple.
Festivals pending sourcing
The famed Bhasma Āratī and the festival calendar (Mahā Śivarātri, Śrāvaṇa processions) will be added once verified from the official temple committee pages — not shipped unsourced.
Visiting verified official data
- Darshan Hours pending sourcing
- The official site (shrimahakaleshwar.mp.gov.in) was unreachable from the build environment on 2026-08-01. Timings, Bhasma Āratī booking, and rules will be added only once read from the official pages. Beware unofficial 'Mahakaleshwar booking' websites — police have acted against fakes; use only the official mp.gov.in site.
Official
- Website
- https://www.shrimahakaleshwar.mp.gov.in/last verified 2026-08-01 · official source
Book darshan, pooja or donations only through the verified official channel above. MandirPal links to no other channel.
Map
Related in the knowledge graph
Part of circuit
- Collection
The Twelve Jyotirlingas
Dvādaśa Jyotirliṅga
Enshrines
- Deity
Shiva
Śiva
Where traditions differ, MandirPal shows each view with its sources and declares none of them absolute. Sacred narrative is labelled as tradition, history as documented evidence. Timings and rules change, so confirm with the official temple channel before you travel.