Ujjain Mahakal Mandir, Darshan, Bhasma Aarti, Online Booking, Timing

One of the 12 Jyotirlingas, the Ujjain Mahakal Mandir is by far one of the powerful temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that these Jyotirlingas are self manifested and therefore hold a lot of spiritual significance. For a Shiva devotee it is one of a kind of an experience to visit these temples. And the Ujjain Mahakal Temple is no exception. Furthermore the devotees visit here with a lot of faith and belief for the deity. This is one such temple in Ujjain which is ancient and culturally significant. From the architecture to the rituals everything will leave you astonished here. If you are in Madhya Pradesh then you surely cannot miss out on visiting the Ujjain Mahakal temple. In this article I will mention details like Ujjain Mahakal darshan and the special Bhasma aarti ritual here. Keep on reading to know everything about the Ujjain Mahakal Temple.

Ujjain Mahakal Mandir

Timings: Ujjain Mahakal darshan timings vary on the basis of season. Also the Ujjain Mahakal aarti time is fixed and attracts a lot of devotees on a daily basis.

Chaitra to Ashwin months

• Bhasma Aarti: 4 am
• Morning Pooja: 7 am to 7:30 am
• Mid Day Pooja: 10 am to 10:30 am
• Evening Pooja: 5 pm to 5:30 pm
• Aarti Shri Mahakal: 7 pm to 7:30 pm
• Closing Time: 11 pm

Kartik to Falgun months

• Bhasma Aarti: 4 am
• Morning Pooja: 7:30 am to 8 am
• Mid Day Pooja: 10:30 am to 11 am
• Evening Pooja: 5:30 pm to 6 pm
• Aarti Shri Mahakal: 7:30 pm to 8 pm
• Closing Time: 11 pm

Entry fee: There is no entry fee for general darshan. For VIP Darshan there is an entry fee of Rs. 250.
Duration of visit: 4-5 hours

How to reach Ujjain Mahakal Temple

By air

The nearest airport to reach Ujjain Mahakal Mandir is Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport in Indore. Ujjain Mahakal distance from the airport is about 51 km. You can easily get buses or take a car to reach the temple from the airport.

By train

There are some nearby railway stations to reach the Ujjain Mahakal Temple. These are Ujjain Junction, Vikram Nagar, Pingleshwar and Chintaman railway stations. Ujjain Mahakal train ticket price starts from Rs. 400 depending on the location you are travelling from.

By road

The Ujjain Mahakal temple is well connected via roadways as well. You can drive through major nearby cities to reach here. Also buses are available from cities like Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Bhopal and Delhi. From Omkareshwar there is a convenient way to reach here. Ujjain Mahakal mandir distance is a 4 hour long bus journey from Omkareshwar to reach the Temple. Furthermore taxis are also available from here to reach the temple in about 4 hours.

Overview of Ujjain Mahakal Temple

Located in the old city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh the Mahakal Temple is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India. These Jyotirlinga temples are dedicated temples of Lord Shiva and are considered a very powerful abode of the God. It is believed that here the Shiva lingam is self manifested or Swayambhu. It means it has come up from the inner power or Shakti from within itself. The Ujjain Mahakal Temple is one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peeth as well.

Furthermore what makes the Ujjain Mahakal Mandir special is the fact that here the idol of Mahakaleshwar is south facing. The idol is known as the Dakshinamukhi here which is unlike any other Jyotirlinga.

Mahakaleshwar literally means the Lord of time and Mahakal literally means Great Time. According to religion it is believed that here one can attain Moksha. Furthermore it is believed that by visiting here one can get rid of the cycle of life and death. This temple is considered as one of the ancient temples and many Puranas have mentioned the Ujjain Mahakal temple as well.

The Mahakal Ujjain temple is spacious and an example of brilliant architecture. This temple survived through the rules of various dynasties. Furthermore the influence of these dynasties can be seen in the architecture of the temple. Here you can notice Chalukhya, Maratha and Bhumija styles of architecture. Other than the Shiva lingam here there are images of Devi Parvati, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya as well.

Ujjain Mahakal Lok

This is basically a mega corridor of around 920 metres that was created very recently. Ujjain Mahakal corridor is a long corridor that leads to the entrance of the Ujjain Mahakal Temple. It has 108 pillars and two massive entrances. This is also currently one of the major attractions for people visiting the Ujjain Mahakal temple.

Legend of Mahakal Ujjain

Here Lord Shiva is worshipped as Mahakaleshwar that means someone mightier and ahead of time itself. Different myths and legends are associated with the Ujjain Mahakal Temple. The most popular is the one where Devi Sati sacrificed her life into the Yajna fire. Lord Shiva carried the burnt corpse of Devi Sati and did his Dance of Death or Tandav. His dance would have destroyed the whole world. And therefore he was known as Mahakal who is beyond time and death.

Furthermore there is another legend associated with Ujjain Mahakal Temple as well. It is believed that once there was a demon named Dushan. Dushan once preyed upon 4 Bhaktas of Lord Shiva. When he got to know about it he tore the earth into two halves in a fit of rage. It is believed that he later manifested himself as Mahakaleshwar here.

Ujjain Mahakal Mandir Bhasma Aarti

On a daily basis the Mahakal temple attracts a huge number of devotees. One of the prime attractions here is the Ujjain Mahakal bhasm aarti. This Ujjain Mahakal aarti timing is 4 am that is before the day breaks. Every day the aarti takes place at dawn and it is attended by thousands of devotees. Furthermore this is one of the special attractions here. However a booking is required to attend the Bhasma Aarti here. As the seats for Bhasma aarti are booked many days in advance, it is recommended to book it beforehand. From the official website of the temple you can book for Bhasm Aarti along with other Ujjain Mahakal darshan booking. This includes Pujan booking, Sheeghra Darshan and Garbh Graha Booking as well.

Website: shrimahakaleshwar.com
Email address: office@mahakaleshwar.nic.in
Office Address: Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple Management Committee, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

Ujjain Mahakal Bhasma Aarti online booking

The Bhasma aarti in Ujjain Mahakal temple needs a prior booking for anyone attending it. There are both online and offline options for booking. The online booking is done through the official website of the temple. Furthermore the site is open for booking prior one day of the aarti. But due to huge rush the dates are booked many days in advance. So it would be advisable to check the dates in advance and book your seats.

The booking for Bhasma aarti is not free. You need to pay a fee of Rs. 200 in case of online booking. Also the timings of the booking is from 8 am to 9 pm.

For the booking you will have to fill in your details like name, contact number. Along with that you will have to add your city, state and day of visit. Then choose the number of people who will attend the aarti. Later you will need a valid ID Proof that you should upload along with your picture. Then you will have to proceed with the payment.

On successful payment transactions you will receive a registration number. With that you will have to log in and print a hardcopy of your booking that is the E-Pass. Furthermore on the day of your visit you will have to carry the hardcopy of your ticket along with you.

Ujjain Mahakal Bhasma Aarti offline booking

There is provision for offline booking as well. This happens at the counter outside the temple. Furthermore you will have to reach there one day prior to the date you want to attend the aarti in. You will also have to carry your valid ID proof like your Aadhar card or PAN card.

For offline booking the charge is Rs. 100. From 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm further the list of confirmation is displayed. You will receive a confirmation message on your phone as well. Also you will have to collect your ticket from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm.

Bhasma Aarti Ritual

The Bhasma aarti ritual in Ujjain Mahakal temple is one of the unique attractions here. This is the only Jyotirlinga temple out of the 12 temples where this aarti takes place. Furthermore for this aarti sacred ashes or Vibhuti are brought from the Dhuni. The dhuni is the sacred fire that burns inside the temple premise all through the day. Then this sacred ash is applied on the Shiva lingam. And then the holy prayer starts. With the chanting of Vedic hymns the aarti starts. It is then followed by offering of sacred water that is known as Abhishekham. This aarti takes place at 4 am on all days throughout the year. Till 6 am the aarti continues.

After the aarti the devotees are given a small quantity of the sacred ash as blessings. The devotees apply the ash on their forehead. Furthermore it is believed that this would bring in purification and protection for them. It is considered as one of the most auspicious sites to witness the Bhasma Aarti in Ujjain Mahakal.

There is a special dress code for the Bhashma aarti as well. For men the outfit is Dhoti and for women it is saree. Other than the morning time of 4 am the Bhasma aarti also takes place two more times. However the morning aarti is the main and most popular one.

Ujjain Mahakal Bhasm Aarti timings:

• Morning Bhasm Aarti (Bhor aarti) – 4 am to 6 am
• Mid Day Bhasm Aarti (Madhyana Aarti) – 10:30 am to 11 am
• Evening Bhasm Aarti (Sandhya Aarti) – 7 pm to 7:30 pm (depending on the time of sunset)

Wrapping Up!

Now that you have all the major information about the Ujjain Mahakal Temple, plan a visit to this temple. Check out the Ujjain Mahakal photos and you would understand how brilliantly this temple is made. And you should not miss out on this one whenever you visit Ujjain.  One of the most revered shrines of Lord Shiva this would be an auspicious visit for you. Furthermore do not miss out on the Bhasma Aarti at Ujjain Mahakal Temple. You will find a lot of peace and tranquility after visiting this temple. So let me know when you are visiting this temple. Also let me know if this article is helpful for you in planning a trip to this temple.